Feb 27, 2010
Misconceptions About the Bible part 7
Darin and Robert continue the discussion about Christians and the modern day teachings on the bible. After receiving hundreds of emails and comments this is perhaps one of the most popular and radical “Into the Wild” shows that’s been recorded to date. We encourage you to send this to your friends who are struggling with the same questions. Many Christians in our world today and severely oppressed by the churches teachings on the bible’s role in their life. This is perhaps the most abused and abusive topic in the Christian world today.
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Waaay back when I first came to know Jesus (1981) I began to hear how other people who had been saved loved reading their Bibles for hours and prayed for hours. I now think that was the beginning of my guilt trip in knowing I must be different from other Christians, because I knew not only was I not doing that, I didn't even have a great desire to read the Bible and pray for hours in my 'pray closet'. Oh the guilt I have been weighed down with...what a waste of a life given to Jesus! I have grown as a believer in spite of all the preaching I have put myself through. You are causing me to rethink why I deal with the issues you are bringing up, and what I will do from here, and that will be living free in loving my Father, walking with Jesus and trusting the Holy Spirit to teach me. Thanks!
I remember understanding something about God and trying to talk about but no one seemed to want to take time to listen. But I found out if I could quote a scripture that seemed to match what I was trying to explain then people would listen. Over the years it was just easier to talk about Bible verses than to speak from the heart. It became a disease that infected everything I thought about or did. I can't pinpoint when things started to turnaround but I am glad that our Father doesn't leave us to ourselves.
As a former IC prayer coordinator....LOL boy that sounds weird now...Praying scripture was core to prayer. First, if you know the scriptures are Gods word, God breathed you can not miss God's will praying them (know better now) Praying scripture is coming into agreement with God. We were taught that there was power in the word of God and releasing them back to God combined with our faith was very powerful in spiritual warfare etc.
another heart lifting podcast. i came across the comic last week, and found it funny and profound. http://xkcd.com/706/ i think it embodies the fear some x-ians have about what will happen if they actually really are free, and if we really did live from our hearts, of course what is missing entirely from their equation is LOve
Praying the scriptures example: the prayer of Jabez. We were told to pray it word for word every day and something wonderful would happen. I think in 3 months, was what that book promised. Great word about how we're not Jabez, we're ourselves.
Once again, the comparison between the Pharisees and the fisherman who couldn't read is a standout. The bald guy and the male nurse - now that's a traveling pair I want to go see :-)
Great job guys, right on. The irony is that "Head" people are obsessed with scripture even though all of scripture is a "Heart" document. I was that PK you were talking about. All my knowledge kept me from progressing in my relationship with Christ. He told me to put my Bible down and I did that for many years. Once he healed my heart, he gave the scriptures back to me and they came alive!
When I hear that expression "praying the Scriptures," my attention goes to Paul's prayers recorded in Ephesians 1 & 3, Philippians 1, and Colossians 3. In the past, I have prayed some of these things for others, such as, that Jesus would reveal Himself to them (Eph. 1:17), that they would be strengthened with might by His Spirit in their inner person (Eph. 3:16), that their love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment (Phil. 1:9), and that they increase in their knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).
I admit, I am a recovering Pharisee so I am probably approaching this with that bent…but the person who wanted a scripture to support hearing from the heart…2John v2…this “truth” cannot be knowledge because knowledge does not dwell in us, it resides in us. And knowledge will pass away. Jesus dwells in us, He is the truth that will be with us to the end as He said…so this speaks to an indwelling Christ that helps us to “walk in the truth” v4, it cannot refer to the bible as they did not have it when this was written. If they didn’t need it why do we, except for a reference point, it should not be used as a legal document which only informs and cannot transform us. I love listening to you guys just talk. Great stuff, Thanks.
I considered myself pentecostal in the 80's and I'm not sure what praying the scriptures is but I was influenced by Kenneth Hagin, Ken Copeland, etc. They taught using scripture when you pray. I don't see it as thinking God is dumb but rather that we are dumb and praying God's words help us pray rightly. I don't see anything wrong with that if you are agreeing with the words in your heart and mind. I mostly pray in my own words but God is big enough to hear our prayers from the heart no matter how we say them. Remember man looks on the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart.
An interesting thing about 'earning the right' to preach grace, etc. reminded me of a brother commenting on Charles Stanley's opposition to Randal Terry's stance on peaceful rebellion against the authorities when it came to abortion. Terry advocated blocking entrance to clinics and Stanley disagreed with this tactic. The brother I heard commenting said that Charles Stanley had 'earned the right' to his opinion due to his faithful service to the Lord but that 'an average everyday Christian' would be in rebellion to God if he/she disagreed with Randal Terry and Operation Rescue's tactics.
and then being a women in the church makes this all even worse..
Why don't you invite St. Paul to the podcast? Man, that would be great. I'd love to hear the guy's opinions on his letters and his laugh recorded. I think most of us believe he never even smiled in his whole life and that he only wrote letters and travelled all the time to generate new Saints. And made tents, of course. We don't believe those gyus were normal humanoids, like us. Darin, come on! I want St. Paul next week!
I'll try an get em.
Good. I knew I could count on you, buddy.
My take on this whole thing is that our attitude towards the bible is a direct result of the reformation and it feeds directly into the clergy / Laity divide. If we place such an emphasis on the bible THEN we have no hope but to go to a "professional" to get it's meaning. No different than Moses getting the Law and delivering it to "the people", BUT...If we are ALL indwelt by Christ THEN the clergy / Laity divide ceases because we all share in the portion of Christ. The New Testament scriptures talking about "the word" are talking about the Gospel of a Person...Christ. 2nd timothy 3:16 in the context of verse 15 is talking about making us wise unto the salvation that is in a person...Jesus Christ ! Hebrews 4:12 also is talking about a person who is the "Him" in verse 13...Jesus Christ !