cardw Posted August 2, 2005 Posted August 2, 2005 This was for Dennis, but anyone is welcome to answer. What is your definition of making an idol out of the Bible. Idolatry is making an image of God and worshiping that. My belief is that a literal interpretation of the Bible is idol worship because it is worshiping an image made of words. And these words hold more authority than one's experience of the Spirit of God. Richard Quote Rich http://tiny.cc/CM2j8
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted August 2, 2005 Moderators Posted August 2, 2005 NOTE: The following response comes from another pereson who does not come to CA. I am not responding for myself in this post. One makes an idol of the Bible when one worships the Book--the paper and the ink. Such is represented when one refuses to set another item on top of a printed copy of the Bible, and/or resuses to set that printed copy on the floor. Other examples might be given. Quote Gregory
wicklunds Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 These both seem ridiculous... If we cannot interpret our Bibles literally in places duly justifiable, then we may as well toss our Bibles into the flames as did the French during their apostate times. One can reverence the words of scripture without worshiping the materials that comprise the book. We worship the thoughts and ideas given on different practical and ideological themes written as holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy ghost. Making an idol of the Bible is using scripture only for purposes that exalt and justify selfish ideas of "church growth" and liberalized worship methods and then keeping other portions of scripture that refute our ideas at arms length because they offend us. This crowds out the will of God and exalts a God of selfishness in a place He only should occupy. Quote It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. {ST, February 19, 1894 par. 4}
Dr. Shane Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 Now Brother Matthews, you have to sit down for this. You are sitting... Right? Ok, ready? My mother taught me never to place anything on the Bible and never to place the Bible on the floor. No, don't leave. - - - There is more. So as an adult I noticed my mother placing her Bible on the floor and placing other things on the Bible. I asked her why she taught us not to do that and then when we become adults she starts doing it. She told me she only taught us that because her mother taught her that. As a child I always obeyed since.. "mom said" As an adult I had questioned it in my mind but never asked anyone until the time I just mentioned. However I agree with you. That would be making the Bible an idol. The Bible itself is a conversation with Christ. The Bible is the Word "and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." Now I don't believe the Bible was inspired word by word but rather the message was given to prophets and apostles and they conveyed the message the best they could in human language. However that may be another topic - Biblical inspiration. Well, maybe the two are related. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
cardw Posted August 3, 2005 Author Posted August 3, 2005 Quote: We worship the thoughts and ideas given on different practical and ideological themes written as holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy ghost. This is idol worship. Since when can our thoughts and ideas contain anything equal to the great mystery of God? And don't tell me that language, even if it is written in the Bible, can contain things equal to God. Worshiping anything (even thoughts and ideas) other than God is idol worship. Thoughts and ideas can only create a reflection or image of God. If your thoughts and ideas can contain God then you are claiming to be greater than God, for only something greater than God could contain God. Quote Rich http://tiny.cc/CM2j8
wicklunds Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 Sorry, I forgot to insert the words "God who inspires" the thoughts and ideas... But great catch Richard. Feel better? Quote It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. {ST, February 19, 1894 par. 4}
cardw Posted August 3, 2005 Author Posted August 3, 2005 Quote: Sorry, I forgot to insert the words "God who inspires" the thoughts and ideas... I don't believe you forgot because you are saying that we should reverence the WORDS in the previous sentence. I don't believe that two errors like this are all that likely. Here is your statement for reference. Quote: One can reverence the words of scripture without worshiping the materials that comprise the book. We worship the thoughts and ideas given on different practical and ideological themes written as holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy ghost. Quote Rich http://tiny.cc/CM2j8
wicklunds Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 Well I forgot to put the words in, but you just go on believing what you want to... Quote It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. {ST, February 19, 1894 par. 4}
cardw Posted August 4, 2005 Author Posted August 4, 2005 Quote: Sorry, I forgot to insert the words "God who inspires" the thoughts and ideas... Ok, then if we are worshiping God and God exists outside of scripture, why do we need to hold scripture to all that authority when we have the real thing? Its like getting a computer and only reading the instruction manuel. Once we know how to use the computer, we don't generally need the instruction manuel as much. In fact its pretty hard to understand much of the instruction manuel without trying it out on the computer. In fact when we use the computer we might find that some of the manuel wasn't really written all that well and is confusing. Quote Rich http://tiny.cc/CM2j8
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