Hi. This is an invitation - just an invitation. You have your own choices to make. I do not intend to mislead or negatively influence any human mind (or heart if you would insist). I only want to share what I can impart with everyone - scriptural knowledge (which I must continue to acquire as well). And it is still up to you to examine the facts and the underlying principles. Religion is a choice, belief is a choice, and everything is a choice for us to make.
People sometimes say that they don't have choices; but the truth is they always have. We often close our minds to the right choices because they are difficult; and justify thereafter the wrong choices that we have chosen. Free will is a gift which we must exercise with great care. Knowledge and skills are special things which we must prove and utilize. While we must make use of our minds to prove and conclude things, we shall never "completely" rely on it. And what of the heart? Jeremiah 17:9 states: "Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed."
Nearly everyone believes in what the Bible says - that it is the "Word of God" and must therefore be looked upon for guidance. It is seldom to find a person who is an atheist. In fact, even atheists and other religions agree to "some" of what the Bible says. But here lies exactly the problem. Many people have learned to believe only on those which they personally find favorable. Okay, it is definitely a sin to murder, it is wrong to commit adultery, ETCETERA. But there are more to Scriptures than these very things. There are more to Scriptures that, like most of the right choices we avoid, are difficult to follow and believe in. But we must never turn our backs on these truths, because they are truths. And the key to a truly wonderful life is acquiring "accurate knowledge" in as best as we can.
History attests to the Bible's accuracy and integrity. A historian would be a great witness for the fulfillment of many scriptural prophecies - the fall of Babylon, the fall of Jerusalem, the birth of Christ, etc. Even the shape of the earth is already revealed in the Bible long before man was able to prove it. I hear a lot of people saying that the Bible has so many inconsistencies. With little knowledge, one might easily say so. But the Scriptures contain different laws. Mosaic Law (from the term "Moses" and which can be found in the Old Testament/Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures), for example, is definitely in contradiction with some of the laws which Jesus Christ gave, and which can be found in the New Testament/Greek Scriptures. Stoning is an example of some of these laws, including provisions on clean foods, etc. (the law on circumcision was also revised some time later after Jesus Christ's death). But this contradiction is not an inconsistency. In the Bible, Christ changed some of these laws. You may check Hebrew 7:18 as well. So, when you think there is an inconsistency, try searching first whether you missed an important scriptural detail. Other scriptural accounts may also appear questionable to the human mind (ex. Lot offering her virgin daughters to the wicked men of Sodom and Gomorrah just to protect his visitors, etc.). Yet one must know and understand that the Bible sometimes expresses details in "what-the-eyes-see perspective". It sometimes does not convey the underlying thoughts and motives of the people involved in its stories. Thus, while we find later accounts to be questionable, it is only truly God who knows of the entire truth - and He alone can rightfully judge.
"It is up to you on how you understand the Bible" - this is a very sad statement - although we must understand the people who have this notion. When you write a book and found that its contents are being twisted, or discovered that your messages were differently understood, would you be happy? The Scriptures were written for our benefit. But we definitely would not benefit if we do not grasp its accuracy, and make ourselves believe that we know when we actually may not know. Search - this is the key. Study the Bible and see for yourself. God does not want human beings to just keep on believing every inspired expression that is presented to them - that includes this blog. Instead, test these things whether they do originate from God (I John 4:1). Prove whether your beliefs are indeed right and do not be a victim of apathy.
John 4:24 states that we must worship God with TRUTH. And 1 Timothy 2:4 says: "This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and COME TO AN ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH."
It is, of course, your choice. ;-)
Note: Image from: http://www.maranathacc.com/uploads/bible2.jpg
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