"Well Jesus came to tell us that we were interpreting God's word wrong."
Fundies are often easier to deal with then "moderate-conservative" Christians.
One major problem I have with them is that they ignore the attrocities in the Old Testament and
they will readily and eagarly tell me why.
"Well, sure, there were a lot of bad things mentioned in the Old Testament, but that was because the people didn't understand the word of God correctly. That's why Jesus came, to correct us. He came to teach us that God is about love."
Okay, so I'm still stumbling a bit to answer this, and as you may well know, if you stumble at all... theists call "victory."
A LITTLE HELP PLEASE?
Thank you
Tags: Gospel, Jesus, NT, New Testament, OT, Old Testament, vs
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jānis Ķimsis on -
Not real Christians.
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Permalink Reply by Matt on -
Aren't some of the atrocities directly caused by god, as in he tells someone to go kill the people in so and so village? They aren't exactly vague, misunderstood commands when he tells you exactly what to do for him.
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on -
Er... tell them to explain why there are so many Christian denominations, each dismissing the other as not having "true" version of the New Testament. The Church of Christ think they're the only ones going to Heaven; The Jehovah's Witnesses believe they're the only ones going to Heaven (but only 140,000 of them); The Mormons believe they're the only ones going to Heaven... I could go on with this, and they're all quoting Jesus.
Jesus was not clear. If he had been clear, we wouldn't still be spilling blood over who's right.
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Permalink Reply by M on -
Someone telling you that Jesus came along to explain our misinterpretations about the Old Testament is an opinion, not a fact. Unless there is something else to back that statement up, they may as well have said, "I have an imp that lives in my shoe and grants me wishes" for all the truth it may hold.
I, too, and constantly amazed at those who ignore the Old Testament as though it doesn't exist. It's pretty specific on how Christians and Jews are supposed to behave and how they are to structure their lives, and yet I really don't see the animal sacrifice or extensive cleansing rituals practiced on a daily basis, not to mention random diet restrictions. You'd think the fact that they haven't been brought down with the prescribed plague would be enough to discourage their beliefs in their usually bad-tempered deity, but perhaps that's just me.
And honestly, what is the truth? That book has been translated and retranslated, interpreted and reinterpreted, things have been omitted, others have probably not even been discovered, and random "men of god" have been allowed to include their own ideas into various versions of the bible as though they held the original thoughts of a deity or his supposed son. You play your cards right, and maybe you could be the next contributor!
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Permalink Reply by James on -
That's why Jesus came, to correct us. He came to teach us that God is about love.
Sigh... Looks like you have a 'fun' one to talk to here. It becomes obvious that many Christians don't know the Bible when they use that defense. According to the Bible, Jesus did NOT come to change or correct any of the laws. From Matthew 5 KJV:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Translation meaning, until the end times, the law (old testimate) is that law and it shall not change.
Heck, in Mark Jesus was even critical that the Jews ignored the commandment of killing their disobedient children.
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Permalink Reply by David on -
/ in Mark Jesus was even critical that the Jews ignored the commandment of killing their disobedient children./
Where in Mark?
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Permalink Reply by David on
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I dont claim to know everything about where everything is. So I guess sometimes I must ask you high and mighty atheists some questions about your statements. That being said that is not what mark 7:8-13 teaches. I would suggest reading the whole passage.
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Permalink Reply by Leo on -
I didn't recognize the passage either, but it has nothing to do with ignorance. It is because no where in Mark or any of the Bible does this occur - "Heck, in Mark Jesus was even critical that the Jews ignored the commandment of killing their disobedient children."
Although I agree with James about the lack of understanding in the case of Christian's making the statement quoted in the OP, I don't think he has much room to be a critic of their misunderstanding. His lack of comprehension is no less than the confused Christian. The same can be said for you Doone.
Here are a few helpful hints to get a basic understanding of this passage.
1) Read verses 6-8.
2) Add to that 20-23 to get to the root of Christ's position on the spirit of the Law and the letter of the Law.
3) Perhaps a little study on early Jewish history and family relationships.
4) A little greek might help as well.
5) Most importantly though, "THINK" as you read - Actually that is probably the most important and no different from reading a secular book that you are trying to comprehend.
Of course if comprehension is not important and you just want to spew some venom to support your position, then disregard my post and carry on as you are doing quite well.
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Permalink Reply by David on
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Could we get those in a new version, anything newer than 400 years old will do as long as its in English except the MESSAGE version
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Permalink Reply by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on -
Another Christian! Nice! Maybe you guys can finally put the attrocities of the Bible to rest. At the time being, when I look at that book all I can see is the blood of it's millions of victims soaking its pages, staining its cover, dripping in long ropes off the pages, and puddling on the floor. All I can hear upon opening it is horrific screams, wails, and sobbing of the people who's lives, children, dignity, and freedom it took. It fills me with horror and makes me have a strong impulse to set it on fire and dump it into the nearest rummage bin. Although I do not do this, because I have to read it to understand how delusional and blind many Christians can be. And I fail to understand often how you cannot see within every Christian church and within every Bible, a written [and unwritten] record of two thousand years of horror as bad as or worse than the Holocaust.
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Permalink Reply by James on
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My apologies. I remembered wrongly when I sated that Jesus being critical of not following the old testimate law toward disobedient children as being from Mark.
That was also in Matthew as well:
Matthew 15 (KJV) - Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying
Comprehension and understanding is indeed important to me... but I hardly think that one has to read the Greek to properly understand. Tell me, what version do you read?
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