I’m having trouble with a few theological issues.<\/p>\n
First of all – my theological background.\u00a0 I was once a fairly involved member of a Presbyterian PC(USA) congregation.\u00a0 I was also a religion minor at Rutgers University, and I took several classes on Christianity and the Bible.\u00a0 I have not gotten any farther than that as far as formal theological education. One thing that conservative Christians (often calling themselves evangelical) list as one of their core beliefs is the idea that the Bible contains no errors.\u00a0 This is explained by stating that the authors of the various books of the Bible were inspired by God, and therefore there could be no errors.\u00a0 This leads to the logical conclusion that we must follow every instruction in the Bible.<\/p>\n There are some problems with that.\u00a0 In some places the Bible directly contradicts itself.\u00a0 (For one glaring example, take a look at the different accounts of creation in the first two books of Genesis.\u00a0 For an entire list, look HERE<\/a>).\u00a0 Other times, the Bible prohibits things that we clearly allow today (check your clothing – is it made of mixed fibers?).<\/p>\n It gets worse when people start interpreting the words.\u00a0 I had a very conservative on-campus Christian group tell me once that 2 Corinthians 6:14 (“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do Almost all forms of Christianity today pick and choose different instructions that are supposedly from the Bible.\u00a0 I have yet to find a church that preaches that eating shellfish is sinful.\u00a0 However, some admit it and others do not.\u00a0 The PC(USA) is officially a Confessional church – meaning that there are documents called Confessions that the PC(USA) has adopted as official interpretations of Scripture.\u00a0 Most of these are historical and go back decades at a minimum, and centuries in many cases.\u00a0 These contradict each other as well.\u00a0 Presbyterians are exhorted to study the Bible and the confessions and so gain both the tools to make their own interpretations of scripture and the decisions that have been made through the consensus polity of the church.<\/p>\n The problem comes when Person A’s interpretation differs from Person B on an issue that either person considers Very Important.\u00a0 This could be divorce.\u00a0 Or homosexuality.\u00a0 Or how often to celebrate Eucharist\/Communion.\u00a0 Or whether or not the altar is behind the choir or in front of the choir.<\/p>\n Once upon a time, these differences erupted into actual violent conflict – complete with armies (both of which were the Army of the Lord).\u00a0 Today, it’s fought with words and fought with money.\u00a0 It’s fought with words like apostasy and intolerance.<\/p>\n canadian levitra online<\/a> According to a recent survey in US most of divorce cases are filed by females who are unsatisfied with their relation as their partners fail to give pleasure in bed. It means that the couple suffers from bad sex and the buy viagra in canada<\/a> decline in sexual satisfaction often leads to extramarital flings. In some of the cases, arthritis patients are highly reduced after they got daily doses of Wisconsin ginseng for a couple of months. order cialis robertrobb.com<\/a> They improve the functioning of the male sex hormone, testosterone which helps the viagra online uk<\/a> man perform better. <\/span>For the record, I do not believe in Biblical Inerrancy.\u00a0 I believe that the authors of the Bible were divinely inspired but that this does NOT mean that their product is perfect.\u00a0 Further, we do not have an original of each book of the Bible.\u00a0 We have translations of copies.\u00a0 Each translator or scribe may have made subtle or not so subtle changes to the text.\u00a0 Some were accidental and some were intentional.\u00a0 I do believe that there is such as thing as The Word, but our version of the Bible isn’t it.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit can act through each of us to aid us in our interpretation of the Bible, the closest thing to The Word that we have, and through that we can approach the original intent.<\/p>\n Diversity of Belief vs. Purity of Belief<\/strong><\/p>\n With the late unpleasantness in many Protestant denominations many people are concluding that “I can’t stand being in a church that doesn’t believe X”.\u00a0 Some are using a different form, saying “I can’t stand being in a church that doesn’t accept me as I am”.\u00a0 I can understand the latter – it goes to personal identity and staying in a place where you are clearly unwanted (or part of you is unwanted) is a bad idea all the way around.\u00a0 So I’ll concentrate on the former.<\/p>\n Personally, I believe that our beliefs should be challenged.\u00a0 We must be exposed to different ideas in order to continue to grow spiritually.\u00a0 Some of those ideas will be tested and rejected.\u00a0 Some of those ideas will be interesting but “not for me”.\u00a0 Others will be accepted and become part of our spiritual makeup.<\/p>\n A church where homogeneity is mandated, where the Bible is made into a rulebook rather than a message, in that church the challenge is not there.\u00a0 Everyone who chooses to be part of that church may be comfortable, but nothing is changing.\u00a0 Beliefs are the same, year in and year out.\u00a0 There is no new light.<\/p>\n I would much rather be part of a church where people who hold opposing views are not just tolerated, but encouraged.\u00a0 Where people can debate the various ideas that they have, and learn from each other.\u00a0 Chemical reactions happen when atoms build and break bonds, moving from one form to another.\u00a0 That is my picture of how faith is built – through constant interaction with new and different ideas.<\/p>\n There is a point where it can go too far.\u00a0 There is a place for a core set of beliefs and behaviors that are tolerated.\u00a0 But even then, there is room for those who disagree to be present and part of the community.<\/p>\n Put more simply – how can you learn and grow in faith if you aren’t exposed to other beliefs?\u00a0 How can you spread your message if you don’t associate with those with whom you disagree?<\/p>\n I would much rather belong to a church that chooses to include a few people who don’t check off all of the church’s belief-system check boxes than one that chooses to exclude them.\u00a0 If I (and others) don’t agree with their beliefs, my faith is strengthened by understanding and rejecting their ideas.<\/p>\n Or maybe I am the person without all of the checks on the list.\u00a0 Who has 100% of the checks?
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\nBiblical Inerrancy<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nrighteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can
\nlight have with darkness?”) meant that I should not be friends with Jews unless I was actively trying to convert them.\u00a0 Others believe that this passage says that Christians should not marry non-Christians, or even form business partnerships with non-Christians.<\/p>\n