Why would God write a book of lies and why would you worship such a being?

Hi
Glad you're back.How many sermons have you heard referring to the "Good Samaritan" or the "Prodigal Son". If you were to take the sermon at face value you would conclude that it was actual events that were being referred to. Even now it is logical to refer to Adam as being a specific historical individual. It is done in order to represent a greater truth. Just because the Hebrew Scriptures are constantly being referred to in the NT does not mean that they were understood to be historical. Even Josephus when writing about the Torah said that Moses wrote with great metaphors. According to the Gospels the message is not about you and your salvation. Salvation is actually just a side issue. The Gospel message is that Jesus has established His Kingdom on Earth. This Kingdom is led by a Servant King who calls on His followers to serve the creation lovingly. Remember Christ's command is to love God and love neighbour, and even further to love our enemies.Remember what Paul says in Galations 5. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."The message is not just about me and my salvation. It is as a Christian that I have been given a job to do, which is to reflect God's love to the world. The NT is very clear when it tells us that we aren't to judge. It is God who judges. As Paul says in 1 Cor 4.,

quote:

---

I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

---

This message can be understood from the Bible without it all being read as inerrant. As I said the story of the "Good Samaritan" is just as authoritative whether it actually happened or not. The story of the "Great Flood" tells us that in the end God loves us and doesn't give up on us. That is an authoritative message whether it actually happened or not.God is not dependent on the Bible. The religion is called Christianity. It is supposed to be Christ centred not Bible centred. The question that essentially needs to be answered is whether Jesus is alive or dead. If Jesus was truly resurrected then we are on the right track. If Jesus was not bodily resurrected then as Paul tells us our faith is in vain. If Jesus was resurrected it is true whether or not the flood is historical, whether or not there was such a place as the Garden of Eden etc.There is no certainty. If there was certainty then we would not be able to freely choose to have hearts that love unselfishly. There is considerable ambiguity and uncertainty in the Bible and there is nothing wrong with that. Even the Bible tells us that Jesus is the word of God. It's Christianity not Biblianity.Welcome back.

In one sense it is about being saved, but the point about being saved is that one is saved for a purpose. The purpose is to reflect God's love into the creation. If you make all about you personally getting on the right side of God you have turned Christ's message of unselfish sacrificial love completely around and made it all about self love.I suggest you don't just read the Bible with the mindset that is preached within your specific church body. Please read what it actually says. Read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chap's 5 to 7. This for example is from Matthew 7.

quote:

---

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

---

There is nothing in this that talks about getting your theology right so that you will get on the good side of God. The gospel message is the message of the "Kingdom of God" or in Mathew "The Kingdom of Heaven" being established by the Messiah and the kingdom is all about having hearts that love unselfishly and sacrificially.When your understanding of the Bible is Christ centred as opposed to being Bible centred then the Bible comes into focus and it can be used by God in the way Paul talks about in 2nd Timothy.If the Bible is understood properly God can and will speak through it and you no longer have to rationalize the loving God we see incarnate in Jesus with the god that wants to have his people stoning to death some poor sap who picked up firewood on the Sabbath.Does it really make sense that a loving God would create us with reason then ask us to throw reason out the window when it comes to understanding Him and what He desires of us?