This series evidently hit a hot button as the number of hits set many records for individual days, multiple days, and for the week. But I want to put a ribbon of sorts on the whole discourse and try to make sure you come away with the “pearls” and not the “seaweed“. John Shelby Spong put it this way, “I look at the authority of the Scriptures as one who has been both nurtured by and then disillusioned with the literal Bible. A literal Bible presents me with far more problems than assets.
Having written all that I have, the Bible is the most important book of all boos- for me! It is sacred but I do not fall into Bibliolatry. I am a member of the Christian community and I can’t imagine never not so being. though many question my “Christian standing”.
I have come to these important conclusions for my Christian journey.
1-The Old Testament is the recollection and collective memories of the Jewish community, written by Jews.
2-The New Testament is the story of Western Christianity, written by our community.
3-The Bible is not one book but a library of books.
4-The OT examples-stories of an intolerant God, a monster deity who should be indicted for crimes of genocide, is not the true God.
5-The NT God that Jesus, the Christ represents who is loving, compassionate, merciful, and forgiving is the God I know.
6-The Bible (in the hearts of people- not on stone, papyrus, or paper) is still being written. Man’s consciousness is still evolving. We know God is Spirit, not a He, not a gender. We know so much more than those who wrote what “they thought” about God, and when we get down to it, what we need to take responsibility for is what “we think” about God.
7-Above all, may we live to love for there is no better witness of your “standing in God” than a LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND!
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