does anyone have a problem with this…
in my church anything from the bible is the word of god…
Would say that the bible reveals the word of God, but that we need to be real careful of who is speaking and anyone in the bible who speaks or acts ‘on God’s behalf’… Even those we put in high esteem. (Moses, etc.)
In other words, trust only those words / actions that are direct from God as God’s. Anything else, including all the laws, are the words and actions of men, and we need to discern if in the spirit of God.
Isn’t that a Catch-22 situation?
If you know the spirit of God, then you have no need of the Bible. If you don’t know the spirit of God, then you don’t know which parts of the Bible contain the spirit of God.
But the bible is a collection of stories, so there must be something greater than any of the writers in the entire story, and the word of god must in the least expand beyond the mindset of any individual [or their input].
The word of god is greater than any word orall words of man!
Is it not reasonable to assume that divinity was here equally before and after the bible, the same voice occurring? And for the length of the universe in time.
Then can we not add that many other religions also hear the voice and presence of divinity within them. You wouldn’t say they don’t get that surely?
You could reasonably say that given the vast array of listeners all claiming to hear an inner voice, including people hearing Satan’s voice, are not all listening to the same voice. To clarify, Christianity [and any] must state why any of it’s arguments are superior to that of others, and concede where they are not [like how forgiveness works].
Hence; let the philosophy ensue, for the word is not directly in the bible!
Nothing from the bible is the word of god, but everything is that is.
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Nothing could be more true.
BUT, and hopefully this resolves your paradox: the bible is a learning tool. It is didactic. If it is successful, it does away with the need for itself, like any teaching device.
It’s only usefulness remains in teaching others, or in edifying the spirit.
^^ I agree. Also for anywhere one may find wisdom.
there is no word of god…this is used to establish authority to rule others…
The only word of God I respect is Love. All else is for the Pharisees.
how can you say that this is a word of god which implies authority over all
What other word could be useful in a world riddled with hate and fear?
does that word come from god
I’d say it does. Read the Sermon on the Mount. It goes against human nature. Love enemies, etc. Humans are going to preach retribution/revenge for wrongs done against them.
love is in the bible but how do we know this is the word of god…isn’t this the word of man…it was written down by men
The ‘word of God’ doesn’t have authority over all in virtue of coming from some central being at the top of the cosmic hierarchy. Authority is not centralized and hierarchical but dispersed and flat. We each have authority over our own…
If the word of God has any authority over all it is only in virtue of the fact that all others have voluntarily accepted it as authoritative, and have ‘come into the fold’, so to speak, committing their power and authority to God’s own…
Why would they do this? Because of the spirit that God’s word is in… Because it is wisdom…
But let’s be clear: Sometimes God commits God’s authority to others, because it is their word, and not God’s, that is in the spirit of wisdom.
One example of this is Exodus 32, when God’s first word to Moses is to smite the Israelites for their idolatry. But then Moses speaks wisdom, asking God to relent, and God commits Godself to Moses’ word.
How do you know anything?
By way of reason.
What are the consequences of acting in a particular way? Does this book make the world better or worse?
What would the world be like if everyone understood and followed the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount? To follow Jesus’ teaching in our time may cause one to be killed. Re-crucifying Jesus is par for the course for both atheists and religionists alike.
That one line alone would transform the world.
but that line alone takes human action not god action
You can honestly admit that?
but that line alone takes human action not god action
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You can honestly admit that?
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where are you coming from ier