Guest post by Brent HodgeI heard someone say this the other day:
“The Christian Bible”I understand what they meant, but it made me think about something else I had heard:
“God is too big for one religion”This one made me think. This came from a person that does not have the same beliefs I have. I see the Bible as my authority. In
2 Timothy 3:16 –
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, the bible tells me that it is enough, for all I need.Back to the first statement – it bothers me.
I believe the Bible is purely and simply…The Bible. God’s Word. Although it teaches us what I believe to be Christian principles, I do not see it as Christian.
Christianity is a religion. Good or bad. It is a series of theologies and beliefs that sometimes make us into Christ followers, but often times just make us religious to a practice or pattern. I am a Christian, but my Bible is so much more. It is God’s Word. It is not His Word for my religious beliefs. it IS my beliefs. It IS God. Doesn’t
John 1:1 say that?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.I don’t want to hold the bible up as my manual for Christianity. I want to hold it up as my manual for living. I want God in me and through me. Teaching me. Correcting me. Sustaining me. By His Spirit. And by His Word.
The second statement, makes no sense at all. I don’t believe God is too big for one religion. I think God has no interest in labels or doctrines. I believe His plan is secure and His plan is perfect. I read and hear lots of ideas and thoughts towards how church is done. Sometimes I feel like, God just doesn’t care about any of that. When we start to add this complex set of measurements and goals to who God is, we’ve lost sight of that fact that God IS and WHO He wants to be in our lives.
Don’t get me wrong – I believe in absolutes. I believe in right and wrong. The Bible has labeled that out for me. Bottom line. God is not the god of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, etc. He IS God. He IS the God of all people. Regardless of their beliefs.
So am I preaching one religion? Absolutely not. I am preaching one God, One Bible, one Way.
What do you think of those two statements?
Comments (182)
I think I could just as easily say that my invisible friend is the GOD of all people, regardless of their beliefs... But people are going to think I'm pretty coocoo if I start announcing that the books written by people of their religion are actually the word of my invisible friend.
I am preaching one God, One Bible, one Way.
Shouldn't you be preaching Jesus as Savior, repentance and forgiveness of sins?
I want God in me and through me.
Says a lot about you, that it is merely a desire for you while some are indwelt.
good post! :o)
i agree with you 100%
the Bible is God's Word. there may be other "gods" but there are no others Bibles, they may name it a Bible, but it's just a book. The Bible is the living Word of God :)
i've never heard the term 'christian bible' used, esp as the holy books of other religions aren't called 'the bible'
i also believe in the 'one god' concept; but obv many people do not and they differentiate between the 'christian god' and the 'islamic god' etc, that's the reason for the religious qualifier - for those ppl who want to imply with their wrods that they believe their god is a different god than yours; but that is their belief and they are letting their words reflect that, i don't let it bother me
...I'm a little confused.
I am trying to decide if the issue really matters. No one is going to hell with your point of view and no one is going to heaven with the other point of view. It is a Jesus issue to me, and whether Christian or just God and Bible just seems like another reason for another denomination.
@Christenstein@xanga - Shouldn't you be preaching Jesus as Savior, repentance and forgiveness of sins?
I thought that was what he was saying by One God, One Bible, One Way.
I think you meant well with this entry, but it came out very vague. I'm not exactly sure what you were trying to say.
@newguy153@xanga - I agree. But I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he's trying to get at the difference between practicing Christianity as a religion and practicing Christianity as a way of life.
@You_See_Flowers_in_These_Weeds@xanga -
Christianity is neither a religion nor a way of life, it is a relationship with the Living God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
@Christenstein@xanga - Yes, that's what I meant to say. Oh never mind. I'm confusing myself.
@ChrisRusso@xanga - I'm confused too...
I'm a little unclear what Brent Hodge is really saying, but here are some of my thoughts on the Bible being Christian:
The Bible is all about God's plan of redemption for lost men in sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to come to die for the sins of men so we might be reconciled to a holy God.
Hebrews 12:1-2: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son...
Luke 24:27: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
The Bible is Christian since it points to and is all about Christ. In fact, all of
history has pointed to Christ and is leading to the time when He will reign
forever and ever.
The Bible is all about Jesus Christ, of whom God said, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him."
The Word, whom you reference, became flesh and dwelt among us. Why did He come to dwell among us? Because we needed to be saved. The law, philosophy, moral codes, living a good life were not sufficient to save. God Himself provided salvation for us through the Lord Jesus Christ. The righteous God lived and died for us, became sin for us, took the punishment we deserved for sin, so we might be brought back to God. There is one man and mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
So, my conclusion from all that is that the Bible is Christian.
Words and symbols are forms of communication that summarize or describe information, ideas, and concepts. They attempt to codify something typically abstract into something relatively standardized. To that effect, what you argue is really a matter of semantics, and as far as communication is concerned it is entirely reasonable to call the Bible the "Christian Bible". By definition, Christianity refers to the belief system of those who identify themselves Christ's followers. Because Christ himself makes reference to "the Word" and the law, e.g. the Bible, it is not inappropriate say that there is a "Christian Bible", as it is relatively standard in terms of communicating what type of association you are referring to.
However, if you were to say "the Christian's Qu'ran", it would be less clear what you mean because most self-identified Christians do not define themselves in terms of the Qu'ran. Could you invent such an association and say that it applies to you and your beliefs as a Christian? Sure, but it would function poorly in terms of language and communication.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - I completely agree, but I'm not sure that's what he meant.
And I know I've commented on this post a lot, but I finally know what I meant to say
I think he means that to him the word Christian evokes the idea of a person who follows the Bible in a way that they don't emphasis the relationship with Jesus Christ. Someone who practices a religion instead of a relationship, who follows a rule book instead of reading the word God has spoken to those he loves. That's why he doesn't see the Bible as Christian because he's defining Christian this way.
I came to the point a couple of years ago of renouncing Evangelicalism. This was not because I'm no longer an Evangelical, but because it's not correct doctrine that saves me, it's a relationship with the Creator that saves me. I believe Evangelicals have the facts pretty close to right, but what Jesus called people to was to know him and follow him. Correct doctrine is important in the long run, but it isn't, in itself, the relationship.
I agree. God's word is God's word. It's not just a set of doctrine set up by man. It is the LIVING word. It's the standard.
I also agree that God is God. There is only one God...it's not the Christian God...it's just GOD. The Supreme Ruler, whether one believes in Him or not.
I give this one an E for Effort.
The Hebrew Bible is the first part of the Christian Bible. Neither is part of The Pro Tools 6.1 Bible.
@Christenstein@xanga - "Christianity is neither a religion nor a way of life, it is a relationship with the Living God through the blood of Jesus Christ."
Why can't it be all three? I mean, by definition it is a religion, regardless of how much that may or may not be hard for someone to swallow. And if you have a r/ship with Christ it should also be your way of life.
However, I think OP is right. Only people can be Christian. Churches, Bibles, music etc. are all things. Objects. And worthless without people. (Yes, even the Bible. If not for people God never would have wasted His time writing it, now would He?)
@princess1505angel@xanga -
"Christianity is neither a religion nor a way of life, it is a relationship with the Living God through the blood of Jesus Christ."
Why can't it be all three? I mean, by definition it is a religion, regardless of how much that may or may not be hard for someone to swallow. And if you have a r/ship with Christ it should also be your way of life.
Notice that religion and way of life emphasizes mans ability, while a relationship with Christ emphasizes God's ability. It is important to note that we cannot follow a whole bunch of rules and get to heaven. It is also important to note that no way of life even if it is according to the Bible could get us into heaven.
It is by Jesus Christ and the blood of Christ alone that provides the atonement and payment for our sins. It is by our sincerely repentance and acceptance of Him as our Savior and initiating a relationship with Him that He brings us to heaven based on His righteousness, not our righteousness through religion or through our way of life.
I don't get it. Nor do I think the author fully gets what's meant by phrases like "The Christian Bible," or "The Christian God."
"The Christian God" does not mean there are other gods out there, it refers to "The Christian conception of God." In other words, what Christians believe about God. It's more a philosophical differentiation than anything else.
"The Christian Bible" is a phrase to differentiate between The combined Old and New Testaments and the "Hebrew Bible," which is just what we call "The Old Testament."
Neither phrase has any connotations of multiple gods, they just acknowledge that there are different conceptions of God out there.
@Christenstein@xanga - @Pass_the_Aura@xanga - @ChrisRusso@xanga -
I agree with all of you.
Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, the bible tells me that it is enough, for all I need.
The part of the quote in bold print is not in the original texts. So the author of the post begins by calling a lie the truth.
If God were too big for one religion he would have turned a hapless tribe of Hebrews in Jews and he wouldn't have sent Jesus to turn the entire world into Christians.
Judaism and Christianity are religions that have saved the world. There is no need to apologize for being religious.
I agree with the others that said what you wrote is confusing. You said - "God is not the god of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, etc. He IS God. He IS the God of all people."
Islam and Buddhists do not believe what the bible says about Jesus. Not everyone is saved and going to heaven, so how could God be the God of everyone? Now, if a Buddhist repents of their sin and believes that Jesus is the Son of God and died for their sins and rose from the grave, then yes they would be one of God's children.
So am I preaching one religion?
It sounds like you are. If you aren't, you need to make yourself more clear in your writing.
I am preaching one God, One Bible, one Way.
Again, it doesn't sound like you are.
@LoBornlite@xanga - Religions don't save the world; people do.
@misswonderj@xanga - Religions don't save the world; people do.
True. People practicing Christianity have saved the world. I mentioned Judaism because Christianity owes so much to that other great religion.
@LoBornlite@xanga - People in all religions have saved the world, not just Christians. One should acknowledge the achievements of all people in all religions.