These days it seems that simply quoting a passage of scripture from the Bible is automatically offensive in our collective culture. Do not pass GO and do not collect $100. I can certainly understand controversy arising when an individual starts waxing eloquently regarding his or her interpretation of a passage....but that's not what I'm talking about. I’m talking about the source of the document. If a person has concluded that these ancient words are nothing more than clever fairy tales originating from tablets of stone or papyrus scrolls, then why get so offended? Aren't we supposedly a culture which welcomes all truths and viewpoints and not just a few? And why the need to remove them from public institutions and monuments due to the intolerance of a few? Regardless, the Bible and American history are most definitely intertwined whether some folks like it or not. If one were to examine the great works of literature since the beginning of time, I would imagine that someone would eventually find something to be offended about. One should ask, is it possible portions of our recorded history could be eviscerated altogether?
A public exhibition of the Ten Commandments (found in Exodus chapter 20) seems to send some people into quite a tizzy. Again I ask, if they are simply words in a book, then what's the big deal? Astonishingly, the answer is sitting right before our eyes in a very old book entitled Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 12 where the author writes: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Clearly, they are not merely words in a book. Granted the Bible does not speak to everyone, however even in the eyes of many unbelievers the Bible is certainly revered as profound literature.
Alas, I now find myself guilty of waxing not so eloquently.
Personally I strive for balance in all things and have found the best solution to maintaining such in this particular matter is to follow the wisdom of Paul in 1 Peter 3:15 who wrote: "In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
The application of this comes with time, patience and firm resolve. And that's all I have to say about that.
Jim
Part one here:
Offended By The Truth
Listen folks, this post will offend someone, I’m quite sure of it. As for me, I just can’t remain silent anymore. I’ve tried as hard as I could but unfortunately that train has left the rails. A cultural cancer is working its way through our society, in fact most likely the entire civilized world. Certain truths are no longer considered absolute. During my lifetime the cult of relativism has inched its way into prominence and is now in a fully embraced sprint. Just so we clearly define our terms, relativism is the belief that there is no absolute truth, only the truths that a particular individual or culture happen to believe at the time. I had to look this up but in fact relativistic views of morality first found expression in 5th century B.C. Greece, but they remained largely dormant until the 19th and 20th centuries. Today they have flourished and are inhabiting the minds and thoughts of proponents worldwide.
This is a good subject to consider!
As I have watched, listened and participated in discussions regarding the truth, especially Biblical truth, I have noticed the following. Most of these conversations are actually about religion. If one person speaks of genuine Truth, the other speaks of religion. Thus, both participants talk past each other, as they are conversing about two distinctly different subjects. Such a conversation is in conflict regardless of the content. It is important when speaking the truth in love to discern how the audience interprets what is said - they may need to remove their "religious eye-glasses".
However, you seem to want to be the one or one of the ones to determine what Jesus Christ defines for us to believe and how to conduct ourselves. Who are you to do that? What makes you so special? Why is your interpretation or belief superior to mine? It is not. I am not a corporation nor have I quoted a corporation. Jim asked me questions about my own Church so I answered them in which I explained that the UCC is not dogmatic about beliefs. You want to pretend that somehow you are above religion because apparently you do not belong to or participate in a church, I gather? However, the Church for me is more a place of community and care and spirituality and as I also explained already, individual churches in the UCC are independent regarding our beliefs so it is not akin to a corporation but more like a support network. In any case, you are not some special believer with some special insight into God and Jesus and the Bible. You are just an ordinary person with your own beliefs which by all your accounts appear to be those of a Christian Fundamentalist. So you do you but I, in fact, do believe that God cares very much that Fundamentalists have hijacked Christianity for their own purposes…That of controlling those that are different. 😢