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Non-issues in the Bible = Non-issues Today. -
November 15th, 2009, 01:46 AM
Two big issues on TOL are the doctrines of Calvin vs Open Theism and the interpretation of Genesis in light of modern science vs a simple reading.
I'm of the opinion that such doctrinal disputes are not directly discussed in the bible. In the bible the debates are over the legitimacy of Christ's claims and the means by which we are saved.
It's not evidence one way or the other on how creation and freewill should be determined, but I think the bible is a good indication over where the battle lines should be drawn.
Perhaps it is a distraction to argue freewill/predestination when it is not an issue in the bible.
Perhaps it is a sign of how immature the debate is when we cannot agree that modern scientific thinking and Genesis are incompatible.
Perhaps we should pick our battles more according to how the bible picks its battles.
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Amen Brother! -
November 15th, 2009, 02:43 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stripe
Two big issues on TOL are the doctrines of Calvin vs Open Theism and the interpretation of Genesis in light of modern science vs a simple reading.
I'm of the opinion that such doctrinal disputes are not directly discussed in the bible. In the bible the debates are over the legitimacy of Christ's claims and the means by which we are saved.
It's not evidence one way or the other on how creation and freewill should be determined, but I think the bible is a good indication over where the battle lines should be drawn.
Perhaps it is a distraction to argue freewill/predestination when it is not an issue in the bible.
Perhaps it is a sign of how immature the debate is when we cannot agree that modern scientific thinking and Genesis are incompatible.
Perhaps we should pick our battles more according to how the bible picks its battles.
What say you?
You have hit the nail on the head! The Bible is a book which helps us battle our own individual and corporate will to sin. peace, bybee
Two big issues on TOL are the doctrines of Calvin vs Open Theism and the interpretation of Genesis in light of modern science vs a simple reading.
I'm of the opinion that such doctrinal disputes are not directly discussed in the bible. In the bible the debates are over the legitimacy of Christ's claims and the means by which we are saved.
It's not evidence one way or the other on how creation and freewill should be determined, but I think the bible is a good indication over where the battle lines should be drawn.
Perhaps it is a distraction to argue freewill/predestination when it is not an issue in the bible.
Perhaps it is a sign of how immature the debate is when we cannot agree that modern scientific thinking and Genesis are incompatible.
Perhaps we should pick our battles more according to how the bible picks its battles.
What say you?
Generally, I'm in agreement. I'd probably go even further.
A sensible reading of the Bible needs to focus on discerning the themes of each section and the intent of the writer (the human ones). Large parts of the OT have history as their primary intent. The creation stories are teaching only one thing. "ONE God, not many, made the universe." This is not big news to us now but when it was written it was radicle stuff. The "science" in genisis is just what everyone else in the world believed in those days. The intent of the writer was to teach/explain that one God could and did do all the things that everyone in the surrounding cultures attributed to many gods. That does not work if you propose a whole new creation story, only if you tell the same story but with only one Actor. Most of the OT rings the same Bell. "ONE GOD". There are minor themes about the importance of law. And there is the promise of the Messiah.
In the NT the themes are the messiah has come, salvation is at hand, this is what you must do to be saved.
My opinon re: predestination is that it is a question about the nature of time. Time is one of the great scientific mysteries. We do not intuitively understand time. It has taken until the 20th century for us to even understand that we don't understand. It is not a theological question but a science question. Since it is not theology, inspiration does not help the biblical authors so they slant their writing what ever way makes since to them. The result; scripture that can be quoted to support both sides of the question.
The creation stories are teaching only one thing. "ONE God, not many, made the universe."
The bible also teaches that people easily come to reject the facts of the history recorded. You cannot use what I've said in the OP to claim we should not disagree with you when you deny the factual validity of Genesis.
Quote:
My opinon re: predestination is that it is a question about the nature of time.
Not interested in your opinion. The bible does not bring up great debates about the nature of time which indicates that the issue is not overly important. Thus the simplest and common reading should take precedence. There is no need to accept your opinion and interpret scripture through that lens.
Are you saying that Genesis should be disregarded because God acts in such a way that doesn't line up with the 'laws' of science?
Exactly the opposite. I'm saying we might learn something from the fact that the bible simply ignores the debate.
It's my opinion that when God ignores stupid ideas it's good evidence that the ideas are stupid.
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I certainly hope that you are taking it a 'just a story'. However, I do agree that science and Genesis don't match. But I don't see the problem.
Genesis is the word of God and describes the facts of history and creation. If you reject that truth then the bible categorises you as a scoffer and an unbeliever. Otherwise scripture is silent on any debate over the literal or otherwise nature of Genesis. Perhaps this makes it easy for Christians to turn into scoffers, but I think there is a very good and simple reason why God does not attempt to refute every stupid idea that comes up.
Exactly the opposite. I'm saying we might learn something from the fact that the bible simply ignores the debate.
It's my opinion that when God ignores stupid ideas it's good evidence that the ideas are stupid.
Genesis is the word of God and describes the facts of history and creation. If you reject that truth then the bible categorises you as a scoffer and an unbeliever. Otherwise scripture is silent on any debate over the literal or otherwise nature of Genesis. Perhaps this makes it easy for Christians to turn into scoffers, but I think there is a very good and simple reason why God does not attempt to refute every stupid idea that comes up.
Amen Brother! -
November 15th, 2009, 02:43 AM
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