DCF, I frankly believe that whatever examples Jesus gave to the world, they have been lost on many people, most specifically those who use his words to divide and judge. There are many versions of the Bible, and a multitude of ways to interpret them. You can find something in the Bible to prove almost anything under the sun.
The reason I quote urls is that there is a lot of very interesting and thought-provoking content on the internet. I like to throw ideas out to discuss, and might provide three urls that say different things because I think it is fun to discuss the ideas entertained therein. I am not afraid of contradiction or exploring provocative subjects.
When people quote the Bible to me I am simply frustrated. If you have lived your life with a particular religion, surely you should be able to discuss what your beliefs are without constantly quoting the Bible when someone says something with which you disagree. Much of the Bible quoting around here seems to be a way of arming yourself against "Satan", a concept which I find pretty amusing. And Emile quotes the Bible incessantly. What on earth does that prove? If you looked at who quotes the Bible the most here, you would have to conclude that the Bible was a book of pure evil!!
I could find many pretty verses in the Bible to quote. I just think it is a poor way to communicate.
In reality there is no "church of what's happening now". I just threw it back to you to show you that it is not something that can be used to rattle me. In fact, I think the churches that are growing and evolving with the people who need them are doing wonderful, loving things in their ministries.
If everyone really took the love and tolerance and acceptance that is the true spirit of Jesus to heart, you are right, there would be very little that man could add to it. Obviously, however, almost the opposite has happened. People have become lost in words that are two thousand years old, do not always mean what you think they do, were written sometimes for political reasons, and have caused enormous amounts of pain for a very long time on earth. There is an enormous debate among theologians about what of Jesus' real words are even in the Bible. |
