Bible Study Time
I came across this when I was doing some research on Bible passages (yes, we "lefties" read the Bible too). It is an extraordinarily handy tool for looking up whole passages, chapters, and key words -even through different versions of the bible, even in different languages. I find the Bible to be rather dry reading and this cuts right to the chase. It can be used to fire back at the Evangelical right when they use the Bible to justify outrageous things.
posted by Smorgasbord @ 9:36 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Smorg,
This program is a handy one too to put on your computer. Its small, and very easy to use.
http://eveningdew.com/bible/
Oh, and definitely use it to fire back at anyone who uses the Bible to justify outrageous things!
-Jack
My favorite bit of hypocrisy that I see fairly often is how the bible clearly states homosexuality is an abomination. Sure it says something to that effect in Leviticus 18:22, but I have to wonder how many people have actually read the entire book of Leviticus. Not to be disrespectful, but it's kind of ridiculous. There are all kinds of goofy rules in there that nobody abides by, not the least of which are the foods one can and can't eat outlined in Leviticus 11. How many people who tout homosexuality as an abomination eat "whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters"? I bet most of them conveniently ignore those particular words of God. If not, then they should be protesting Red Lobsters before they start calling Massachusetts a land of sin.
Hi Smorg,
I understand where you are coming from. I think the primary failing of people in their understanding of the Bible is that they fail to divide it properly. The Bible is a vast book written to differing peoples, individuals, etc. There are parts of it written to the Jews (Children of Israel-Jacob), parts written to individuals, parts to Christians, etc. Learning how to parse those parts has everything to do with their applicability.
For example, the Law (Ten Commandments and Levirite Laws) were given to the Jews in order to make them a nation separate from others. The reason Paul explains to us is so that Jesus' lineage could be readily traced. If the Jews weren't a separate and somewhat closed society throughout time between Abraham and Jesus we would have had a hard time tracing Jesus back through Abraham. So in all reality, the Levirite Code is in no way applicable to Christians, but rather the ethnic Jewish nation. If people don't make this distinction, then we can end up eating kosher food, and taking a bath seven times after having sex.
So the Bible is divided up into sections of applicability. The Law was important up to the time that Jesus came, but after he died he said that he was the "fulfillment" of the Law. That means that Jesus was the reason the Law had been given to the Jews in the first place.
Now, does that mean that one can kill and its not a sin? No, sin is something that goes against the nature of God--or even against nature, and if one does it, he will most likely suffer an earthly consequence. In other words, sin is a bad idea as it has the potential often to hurt oneself, or hurt others.
Now, since you brought up the issue of homosexuality, there may be another reference that is not in the levirite laws. And what is interesting about it, is that it may point it out as a situation that is unhealthy and unnatural. (I'll leave it up to you to see what you think it might say) Before I get into it, keep in mind that historically, even in societies where homosexuality was accepted as a norm, there was often associated with it many disturbing statistics. Suicide, for example, is a high statistic among homosexuals, and this is true even in societies where homosexuality is the norm. Disease is another common denominator--but this doesn't only apply to homosexuality, it often goes hand in hand with promiscuity. Violence is another problem within homosexual relationships. Bottom line, even if homosexuality wasn't dealt with in the Bible, sexual promiscuity is, and wouldn't what most homosexuals engage in qualify for that? I'm not sure myself, but just a thought.
So, what is the other reference that may allude to homosexuality? It is in Romans 1:
Here is part of the passage:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
The last verse I think is fairly clear in saying that going into a homosexual relationship one runs the risk of "reaping what one sows". I am in no way condemning homosexuals--God knows I have probably done things much more worthy of criticism than being promiscuous--and I have no authority or power to judge someone. I think this last verse says that if one gets in a relationship with the same sex, then one is going to face hard times, and historically we have seen this played out.
But this is the way the Bible works. It tells us what we should and shouldn't do largely for our own good. For example, I had a friend who cheated on his spouse just for sex. Well, it blew up in his face, his spouses face, his children were hurt, etc., etc. I don't judge him for doing that--I am capable of the same, but regardless of whether I judge or not, the consequence of one's actions are always there.
Now, where does that leave a person who calls themselves a Christian who wants to do what he thinks God wants him to. Well, in relation to homosexuals, we are to treat them no diffferently than anyone else. If one thinks that homosexuality is wrong and that it hurts the individual and if you truly care about that individual then you could share your view with them as a caring person and warn them of the danger that you perceive, but if your intent is to judge or destroy, then that is not Christian at all. Judgement is God's jurisdiction, and he doesn't give people that authority.
Ok, this is getting huge so I'll wrap it up.
Smorg, just like people with political opinions, differing viewpoints, even varying levels of education, one has to look at others and realize that Christians are people too, and they may not have all the answers or have figured them out, but many of them are trying to do the best they can. Many times Christians think emotionally and let that do the talking rather than follow what is really in the Bible. That's not unlike a lot of political punditry I see out there! ha!
So the important thing about understanding the Bible is knowing which parts apply to where and who. If one can't figure that out, then they can go in there and get any message they want--albeit a wrong one.
Look forward to further discussion,
-Jack
Nice post Jack! Long, but nice. I don't know if you inferred from my comments that I was debasing Christianity as a whole, because I wasn't. You make a great point that judgment is God's territory alone. That is what's so damn aggravating about the folks who claim to be pious bible followers, but who preach hate and judge people as if they were Him.
I figure if they (these judgmental folks) don't want gays to get married in their church, that's fine. It's their church. But to try and stop gays from being married by the state is needless. It is playing judge and jury, then sentencing them to a life of second class citizenship. - Not very Christian sounding to me.
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