This is what I learned today in Sunday School
1. The Bible is not the Word of God. However, it does contain the Word of God.
2. Not everything in the Bible is true. The Bible contradicts itself. It is not the inspired word of God. You don't need to believe everything in the Bible.
Example: In the King James Version, a unicorn is mentioned. There is no such thing as a unicorn; therefore, not everything in the Bible is true.
3. The King James Version was written by King James in a formal manner because King James felt that God's Word should be formally addressed.
4. For a prayer to be beautiful, it must first be written down in advance. A prayer on the spot cannot be beautiful.
5. God is neither male nor female.
6. Not everything in the Bible is from God. John wrote that everyone should be celebant.
7. You don't need to have blind faith or believe everything the Bible says.
This particular lesson was about faith and discipleship. We need to have faith in God and we need to spread the word about God. I sat there in shock because, no surprise here, I am very much a fundamentalist Christian. I am Nazarene through and through. I wasn't expecting this in the United Methodist Church. (Brief church history-The Church of the Nazarene was organized by former United Methodist Church minister Phineas Bresee back in 1908. At the time, the UMC's focus had strayed away from preaching holiness living, the foundation of the Church of the Nazarene).
This was only my second time to go to Sunday School. I am still debating whether or not to go back. I am worried about the rest of those in the class. I wonder if they all believe this way. This class has 20 year olds through 50 year olds. What bothered me most was that no one brought a Bible, they used the churches, and nobody could look up a verse without checking the concordance. I am wondering if anyone has read the Bible through in that class. Of course, if you believe that the Bible is not the Word of God, what's the point?
And you knew this was coming...My thoughts about "What I Learned in Sunday School (with some help from the Reverend Angie):
1. The Bible is not the Word of God. However, it does contain the Word of God.
If the Bible is not the Word of God, but merely a reference to some things God has done, then most of Christianity is based on myths and stories. It's a good piece of literature like the Qua'ran and the writings of Confucius. I know that many Christians do not believe that it is possible for the Bible to be completely accurate. After all, the canon was not put together until three hundred years after the last books were written. And then there are all the different translations.
To me, believing that the Bible is the
inerrent word of God is a step out on faith. I am not going to argue with others about the impossibility of an accurate account after 2000 years. It's my personal step out on faith. For me, to believe in the Bible is to believe in God. It is
impossible to know if the Bible is entirely true or a made up story. It's a choice based on one's personal belief.
2. Not everything in the Bible is true. The Bible contradicts itself. It is not the inspired word of God. You don't need to believe everything in the Bible.
If the Bible is not entirely true, then God is not all knowing, nor all powerful. To be a Christian would be simply illogical.
Example from Sunday School Teacher: In the
King James Version, a unicorn is mentioned. There is no such thing as a unicorn; therefore, not everything in the Bible is true.
I will not claim to know Hebrew, but I am pretty sure this is a variance in translation from the original Hebrew text. In the NIV the word "Oxen" is used. Still, a large animal, with horns and known for it's strength.
3. The King James Version was written by King James in a formal manner because King James felt that God's Word should be formally addressed.
Or maybe to get a
translation into English that was directly from the original Greek and Hebrew.
4. For a prayer to be beautiful, it must first be written down in advance.
A prayer on the spot cannot be beautiful. "In the same way, the Spirit helps in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26
5. God is neither male nor female.
Our teacher apologized to the women for calling God "He" at one point. Obviously, if one does not believe that the entire Bible is true, then there is no argument for this point. However, if the Bible is completely true, then who is one to say that God is neither male nor female when he states that he is male. Do they know more than God? Because if they do, then we are worshiping the wrong being.
Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. "Our
Father, in heaven, hallowed be Your name..."
6. Not everything in the Bible is from God. John wrote that everyone should be celebant. This is not from God.
Ummm... I just read 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and found nothing about celibacy. I am assuming our teacher must have meant Paul. In this case I would assume that he meant the following: "Now about the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry (also translated as not having sexual relations with a woman). But since there is such immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (I Corinthians 7:1-2) Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think it is good to remain as you are. 7:25-26 I do not know what the Corinthians wrote in their letter to Paul, nor do I know what the "current circumstances" were. However, I do not feel that Paul was addressing that no one should marry.
7. You don't need to have blind faith or believe everything the Bible says.
No, you don't. It's called free will. However, if one doesn't have faith or belief in the Bible, I would think that this would cause one to never fully grow as a Christian. As for blind faith..."I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven..." Matthew 18:3
