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Delirious Dwemer said: I think due to my horrific constraining brainwashing Christian upbringing as a kid, I naturally stray away from Christian text. But hey, I may find it in me to check it out one day. Please specify why you guys think the bible is a good read and what it has done for you.
I have much I want to share but I'll try to keep it short. The Bible (if it's God is indeed true?, is a map, a training program, a teacher, a key and a book for everyone (believers and non-believers)
As I do believe in the God of the Bible I will naturally share from that point of view.
A MAP
Basically it tells how to find life, in the same way a map tells how to get somewhere. And like a map you and I may use to find an address, if we don't follow the map we won't reach the destination. Simple as that. For those that want to find 'Life' that the God of the Bible offers, one must follow it's direction. To not, is to stay lost (in the grand scheme of things).
A TRAINING PROGRAM
For those that desire to find this 'life', the Bible has teachings on how to walk the walk and talk the talk. Why do you ask? Well the Bible says to me that for reason out of my doing, I have become separated from God. This may seem unfair to you, I know many times I've wondered why a God of love would put me in such a situation. So as I begin to desire to find 'Life' I first am told that I am a sinner, and then the process is that God teaches me how to live a different life. One way to look at is before someone begins this journery they are walking in the dark, their sins stain who they are and the a lost and going in the wrong direction. The Bible is about turning these things around. Walking in the light, having the stain (and guilt) of sin removed, becoming found and now heading in the right direction.
A TEACHER
As the Bible says of itself, it is the word of God. That it is alive, and so on. Remember the karate Kid movies?. Let's say that you are Daniel-son, and that God is Mister Miyagi. But unlike the movie that Mister Miyagi (aka God) is not in the movie 1, 2 or 3, but instead writes down all that he want to teach you. All that he says (for training purpose) in one book. Now Mister Miyagi would need to make it so that you (Daniel-son) would learn your lessons in the correct order. or else Daniel-son would hurt himself. Sounds fair Mister Miyagi would be unfair to not cover all aspects in his book to his student. I believe the Bible does this (but more on that later).
A KEY
One thing the Bible will tell you is that in your sin you deserve death, a one in hell. Understandable people have a problem with that. I do believe there is a good answer to that, but what I want to share about is that God is stating some facts that he says is true. I may disagree with him but what he is saying is that to find and have this LIFE, one needs to accept what God is saying. Now not all will learn the same things or in their life time come to the full understanding of all God's ways. But I think that God has made away that is attainable. For example, the Bible says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. Now this can be looked at in a variety of ways. Leaving the one pondering this point and feeling good towards God, or feeling mad at him. I think that what is missed is what God is doing when he make a statement like "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God".
Imagine you came from a place where there are no bears or loins. You get a chance to see one for the first time and you take the chance. Remember at this time you know nothing about them. Would the person who shows you the cage need to warn you of the danger? Imagine the cage to have bars. Well based on what you don't know, you may want to stick your arm or head in the cage. The point I am making is it is a healthy thing to a fear of the bear or tiger. But then why is it a healthy thing to fear God. Well for starters, If this God is saying that your eternal existence depends on your accepting or rejecting his message he has made for you, that you better take it seriously. For the choice is Life (given only by God (this is something that you start to accept when the good fear kicks in)), or the other option is death (also made by and given only by God). The fear of God should be that you understand that God have given you a choice, and that those choices are eternal. It is a serious matter. Do you think Jesus dies for nothing. It's life in full, and Death in full. See now how some fear is a good thing?
The key is in when believed in and followed, the Bible becomes the key that opens the door to life.
A BOOK FOR EVERYONE (BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS)
Part of the choice that God is giving us is that there are ones that will choice death. In fact Romans 9 talks about how God has made a people destined for death, that's right he made a group of people that their only purpose in life is for destruction. You may say that's just wrong. I would say ask God why. You see Romans 9 mentions why. and in desiring understanding to why God would do so allows God to teach you something. He's been teaching me this point lately and I now better understand what God is doing. In fact I recognise some of these people in my life. But not only that, I see how they are fulfilling the purpose that God made them for. In my case, it's to love my enemies as the Bible commands.
Now remember what I said before about Mister Miyagi (God) and you (Daniel-son)? What if Daniel-son competitor was to get hold of this book he left for Daniel? Could Mister Miyagi write the book in such away that Daniel would understand and learn, but that the guy Daniel ends up fighting won't understand Miyagi's teaching and see the book as useless?
Well what do you think happens when one of these people (destined for death) read the Bible? will they find life? No, fact to those who ultimately chose death, the Bible will not hold any truth. This is because God has spread his message in the Bible so that it has truth for the believer and is a useless book to the unbeliever. God has it all covered.
To those that God knows will find life, he reveals the truth in his words
To those that God knows will reject life, they will see no life in the Bible at all (the truth is covered, hidden), and mark it off as a rubbish book. Fulfilling what God foreknew, and planed.
So I see two groups of people in the Bible
One God predestined for life, the other he made for death.
There could maybe be another group, maybe. These people would be in a position where they truly do chose their eternal home. Thing is it's made possible because of all that God has made. This group could exist. They would have no excuse for where they ended up for God has made life attainable, but death too. I could be wrong on this point, but I could see how it could fit in.
If it's just the two groups? it would be much like actors selected for a movie. Their parts and scripts are made before the camera rolls. The End movie would be this life unfolding with each actor playing their predetermined part in what God is doing in history, that is His Story.
Finally, I have had experience with the Bible that would maybe make some say wow, really?. But I won't share them now due to the length of this post already. Another time.
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"Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse is a well respected text on buddhist ideas. It is based on the life of prince Siddhartha Guatama. Also the Bhagavad Gita may be up your alley, plus it is a quick read. If you read the Gita, do it at least three times - once as a story, another through the perspective of Arjuna and finally through the perspective of Krishna.
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