Church of Love in Jesus Christ

I don't consider the Bible to be at all a good book. Let me explain why.

Consider the possibility that you were born somewhere without any religion, but were given the opportunity to read about them as a cultural education. You were also taught language, science, math, philosophy, and critical thinking skills.

Then one day, you were introduced to a Christian who, following the evangelizing call, said to you that he had a story about God and humanity that was wonderful and would change your life. The story was in his Bible, and he proceeded to lead you through it.

The first thing you heard was that you were condemned by God because of some actions taken by a pair of naive progenitors. Nothing you did caused it; you could not have prevented it. But God condemns you and everyone you know.

Then God decides to choose a particular group of people to rule over called the Jews; the story continues with the history of their bloody, unmerciful battles and their leaders of highly questionable ethics. The Jewish people are carted off to various slaveries from their homeland, which, by the way, they have violently stripped away from earlier residents.

Various messages from this God are transmitted through prophets, whose words are mystical, incomprehensible and frequently full of condemnation (unless the people are suffering, and then they promise some later relief to be brought about by God at some distant time). There are also songs that describe how great this Jewish God is, there are suggestions of how to live, there is a sexually charged poem, and eventually the first part of the book ends, not with a bang but a whimper.

Then, in the second part, suddenly there's a story that says that God has somehow changed his mind. He's going to give a loophole in his condemnation. He's going to send himself/his son to teach things to this nation he has chosen. But from the beginning, The Bible notes that this God-man will be killed and raised from the dead, and he promised to raise others, too. (Not a bad outcome. Death is pretty frightening.)

However, the stories of this man, Jesus, do not make him sound overly attractive. He's a little pissy sometimes (killing a fig tree because it happened to be barren, chastising his disciples when they don't understand his strange way of speaking, manipulatively refusing to answer questions directly). He continues passing out judgment and condemning people to hell, and although he teaches some elements of love, you know people in your own life who act more loving than he does. He supposedly performs miracles, but you know from your studies that miracles were ascribed to almost any hero in the ancient world.

Anyway, as you were told, the story of his death and resurrection are told 4 times. There are some contradictions before the death, but the story holds together pretty well. But after the reputed resurrection, the story flies apart. Suddenly there are loads of contradictory accounts. The man appears in locked rooms, which doesn't sound like life on this planet. The man is not recognized by close friends who walk with him on a road. He's no longer flesh and blood, but you can touch his wounds. Suddenly things take on a fairy tale quality. And then, rather than hang around, this once-dead-now-raised person skips town, leaving a few people who believe he's alive.

The rest of the book is a bit of history, but mostly letters between early believers, trying to keep the flock in line, and always promising an end to death. One prominent member of the group named Paul decides that God no longer just means to claim the Jews for his special friends, but opens the deal up to the entire human race. The last book then once again goes back to describe horrors perpetrated by God and others. It sounds like things are as they were, with God back to his condemning ways. (Except for those who believe in the resurrection of his son.)

So now you know the story. The deal, in summary, is this. You're still condemned. You can get away from being condemned if you believe in this miracle of resurrection. If you don't, no dice.

Your mouth is agape. The story sounds grizzly and intensely pessimistic, except for that never ending life part. But you've studied history, religions, language, science, math, etc. You know that we are flesh and blood, just like the animals that we kill and eat. You love justice and cannot see the sense in condemning someone because some distant forefather happened to nibble on fruit or learned to think for themselves. You do not believe that you, your family, and your world are condemned. (You know we all suffer on occasion, but pain and suffering effect everyone, regardless of whether or not they believe in any one religion.)

Studies have taught you that there are lots of religions, each offering their special access to the benefits of belief if you turn off your rational mind and replace it with faith. Most of these religions have faded, but enough remain. And in truth, there is nothing special in the story you have heard about God, the Jews, Jesus, Paul, and the rest. They are just stories, a way that a primitive people tried to make sense of the ambiguous and the incomprehensible.

When you shared these thoughts with your evangelizing visitor he accused you of being arrogant and closed minded. But having looked at the world through a wider lens, you cannot see this story as any less mythological than any other told to justify religion. The tale is designed to keep people in line ethically and to relieve their anxiety about dying. You are willing to listen to suggestions, but you already do well in making thoughtful, ethical decisions. And because you have already considered death, you readily acknowledge that it will come. Its stark reality makes life's moments all the more precious.

That is why I don't "believe the Bible." I respect parts of it: It contains some good literature that has effected western culture (for good and ill) for millennia, but in quality it is no better than has been produced by authors since. It has some great advice, but it has no monopoly on valuable wisdom. By and large, it is a cultural history and religion rule book, similar to other ancient texts. If you find it useful in other ways, I will not protest when you grasp it tightly. To me, taking it more seriously than I described neither fits my experience nor benefits my life.

Just to add on..
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "all scripture is GOD BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
All the scriptures in the bible are God breathed. And in Genesis when God started to create heavens and earth, he said there is light and there will be light. God formed Adam by breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. The word of God is the breath of God. When we proclaim and hold on to it, we are going to see that the breath of life is breathed into our life.
no matter what are the circumstances or when you fall to the pit in life, the Word of God is life and spirit and it is going to give life to your every circumstances!
you may see that your financial is going to die soon, but this breath of life is going to make you prosper!
you may see that your life is just dull and bored, but this breath of life brings eternal joy and peace unto you!
you may see that life is worthless and hopeless, but this breath of life shall turn all the bad things into good things in you life! (Genesis 50:20)
because when God says "heal", and you will see healing in your diseases,
when God says "free" and you'll be totally free in the spirit!,
when God says "rejoice" and you will see abundant joy is going to flow into your life!
everything is not by our own might and power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit! (Zechariah 4:
6)
The most important thing is that in Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus has redeemed all your condemnations and sins in life 2008 years ago on the cross!
for he has promised in Hebrews 8:12 - For I will FORGIVE their wickedness and will remember their SINS NO MORE..
Christianity is not a religion with rules and regulations for you to follow, and if you fail to, the condemnations are there.. DEFINITELY not. Christianity is a relationship whereby when we understand and know this perfect salvation, the things we do are not for us to gain righteousness or holiness, but it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit! (Galatians 5:22-23)
the bible is not just a book, it is life. and you find life in it..
so that we are equipped in every good work, not in a state that we must do this or that, if not God will condemn; but God's deepest desire is to bless us abundantly! He longs to equip us with every GOOD works that Jesus has done once and for all on the cross! the Good works included healing, salvation, joy,peace,hope,righteousness, rest,blessings and a lot MORE!
Come to know Jesus, and you'll see all the impossible in your life is going to be possible!
there's nothing too hard for him.. (Matthew 19:26)
and he has cleansed our sins and paid all the debts on our behalf, therefore come boldly to His throne of GRACE with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need..(Hebrews 4:16)
God is GOOD all the time, and all the time God is GOOD..