Re: Bible: Authoritative from God or Religion?
Submitted by Cat Daddy on August 22 2001 01:34:08
In reply to Bible: Authoritative from God or Religion? submitted by Collin on August 21 2001 17:26:16
|
Let me say that I find your query very thought provoking. Perhaps you will allow me to ramble a bit as I share thoughts as they come. First, let me say that I would not describe myself as a fundamentalist. I am an evangelical, but, according to your definition, I do indeed fit in the category of fundamentalist. My perception of fundamentalists lends them to be somewhat dogmatic and that is where I would definitely differ. I do have my own position on most issues, but I am also willing to listen to other viewpoints and alter my position if I see the fallacies of my own point of view. As to the question at hand, I believe that the Bible is authoritative. My reasoning is based on logic and Scripture. As a matter of faith I choose to believe that there is more to life than being born, living a few years, and dying. If that is all there is, then it is a sorry existence. So I choose to believe that there is a greater plan at work and, thus, my existence is not futile. Psalm 139 seems to bear that out. If all the days of my life are already charted, then my life is not merely random existence. William Shakespeare said something to the effect of "All the world is a stage, and we are merely the players." Now, if there is a greater plan at work, then I, along with every other person who has ever lived, has a contribution to that plan, however small. It is difficult to understand how the single tile of my life fits in that cosmic mosaic. But, I do know that it is God's desire for me to have a relationship with Him, and, ultimately, to reign with Him. "Don't you know the the saints will judge the world?" If I am to reign with Christ, then I must have the same character as Christ. My life on earth is my preparation time to be conformed to His image. The trials and struggles I experience are the very things that God uses in my life to develop His character in me. If that is so, then how I live my life on earth is extremely important. How I respond to life's trials is equally important. If it is God's desire for everyone to have a relationship with Him and reign with Him (John 3:16), then He will not leave us to our own devices to make it to heaven. Neither does he leave us to our own devices to learn how to live. He has given us a handbook, a love letter, a manual on living. II Timothy 3:16 tells us, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." NLT Following this line or reasoning, it only makes sense to have one authority. That authority must be higher than me. That authority must be God. He made me. He knows me better than I know myself. He loves me and wants only the best for me. If every man is an authority to himself then everything becomes relative. Then everything or nothing can right or wrong. That opens a whole new Pandora's box of ills for the world. I hopethis makes sense. If you see any glaring fallacies in my argument, let me know. It is late and my thinking may not be as clear as I would like. |
Follow ups: