Believe 100 percent in the bible
I am starting a new post in which I address a topic that deeply concerns me. I want to make it clear that by sharing these messages, I do not intend to assume the role of teacher for anyone. They are simply personal reflections that I have decided to share with all those who read this article.
If you do not agree with what is expressed here, you can simply continue without stopping. However, if you share my perspective, I kindly ask you to spread it to more people.
What I want to talk about today is trusting the Bible 100%.
Frankly, this is just a wish, because although I say that I believe in the Bible 100%, my actions and my works say something else.
Let me explain. The Bible has many sections that are difficult to believe. We tend to believe that the most difficult are those paragraphs where the power of God is manifested in a prodigious way.
Examples: the flood, the sun stopping to make the day longer, the Red Sea parting on itself to make way for the chosen people, and so on of miraculous miracles.
About these miracles I can say: I definitely believe in them, but even if I believed in them with reservations, nothing would happen.
That is, I can say that the flood is a historical fact, or that it is an allegorical narrative that is based on common legends of ancient peoples. In general, I could continue with my life as is, whatever position I take regarding this story.
But there are other parts of the Bible, often subtle passages, that if we believe 100% in them, based on that conviction our life could not continue being the same.
For example, just to quote this paragraph from 1 Corinthians
“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore, let no one boast in men, “For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
I ask myself: Do I believe what is said here 100%?
And even if my mind answers yes, I know that I will only accept it with reservations.
I will try to explain myself. It is clearly stated here that everything belongs to me, since I am Christ’s.
Do you interpret the same thing as me?
It says that everything is mine. That is, as far as my eyes can see, everything belongs to me.
I lived for a while in Tijuana, on the border between Mexico and the United States. From the office where I worked, I could see the imposing border wall. I could also witness the desperation of migrants who encountered a steel wall that prevented them from crossing beyond the border. According to the Bible, that territory is mine. Why don't I go and tear down that wall that prevents these people from going where they want to go?
I could... no, that's not the right word. I should do something about it, since someone has taken what belongs to me.
But that's the easy part. The hardest part to understand is the reverse. If everything is mine, then everything is yours as a consequence. As far as your eyes can see, everything is yours. This includes MY HOUSE, MY CAR, MY MONEY, MY DOG. Everything that I consider MINE is actually yours too. Nothing belongs to me.
From this point on, my faith weakens. It's no longer convenient for me to believe 100% in what the Bible literally says. I prefer to look for alternative interpretations that make me feel comfortable in my weakness. And it's not hard to find numerous ways around this. I can invent a doctrine that "contextualizes" what was clearly stated. A little manipulation of the text here, a little there... and a deaf ear to the cry of the needy is all that is needed. And everyone will be happy, well, not everyone, but at least I will be.
I speak all this for myself, but I know that many of us are limping on this same foot.
Today I realize that I cannot say to the beggar who searches through the trash in "my" house: "Come, sit at the table, I will serve you. What would you like for breakfast?"
I sincerely hope that one day this can happen.
Greetings.
If you do not agree with what is expressed here, you can simply continue without stopping. However, if you share my perspective, I kindly ask you to spread it to more people.
What I want to talk about today is trusting the Bible 100%.
Frankly, this is just a wish, because although I say that I believe in the Bible 100%, my actions and my works say something else.
Let me explain. The Bible has many sections that are difficult to believe. We tend to believe that the most difficult are those paragraphs where the power of God is manifested in a prodigious way.
Examples: the flood, the sun stopping to make the day longer, the Red Sea parting on itself to make way for the chosen people, and so on of miraculous miracles.
About these miracles I can say: I definitely believe in them, but even if I believed in them with reservations, nothing would happen.
That is, I can say that the flood is a historical fact, or that it is an allegorical narrative that is based on common legends of ancient peoples. In general, I could continue with my life as is, whatever position I take regarding this story.
But there are other parts of the Bible, often subtle passages, that if we believe 100% in them, based on that conviction our life could not continue being the same.
For example, just to quote this paragraph from 1 Corinthians
“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore, let no one boast in men, “For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
I ask myself: Do I believe what is said here 100%?
And even if my mind answers yes, I know that I will only accept it with reservations.
I will try to explain myself. It is clearly stated here that everything belongs to me, since I am Christ’s.
Do you interpret the same thing as me?
It says that everything is mine. That is, as far as my eyes can see, everything belongs to me.
I lived for a while in Tijuana, on the border between Mexico and the United States. From the office where I worked, I could see the imposing border wall. I could also witness the desperation of migrants who encountered a steel wall that prevented them from crossing beyond the border. According to the Bible, that territory is mine. Why don't I go and tear down that wall that prevents these people from going where they want to go?
I could... no, that's not the right word. I should do something about it, since someone has taken what belongs to me.
But that's the easy part. The hardest part to understand is the reverse. If everything is mine, then everything is yours as a consequence. As far as your eyes can see, everything is yours. This includes MY HOUSE, MY CAR, MY MONEY, MY DOG. Everything that I consider MINE is actually yours too. Nothing belongs to me.
From this point on, my faith weakens. It's no longer convenient for me to believe 100% in what the Bible literally says. I prefer to look for alternative interpretations that make me feel comfortable in my weakness. And it's not hard to find numerous ways around this. I can invent a doctrine that "contextualizes" what was clearly stated. A little manipulation of the text here, a little there... and a deaf ear to the cry of the needy is all that is needed. And everyone will be happy, well, not everyone, but at least I will be.
I speak all this for myself, but I know that many of us are limping on this same foot.
Today I realize that I cannot say to the beggar who searches through the trash in "my" house: "Come, sit at the table, I will serve you. What would you like for breakfast?"
I sincerely hope that one day this can happen.
Greetings.
61-69, M
