Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: psburns@lims03.lerc.nasa.gov (MAUREEN BURNS) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Biblical Contradictions Message-ID: Date: 15 Jun 91 06:16:08 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu You are MISSING THE POINT!!!! God loves you and wants a relationship with you. Only then will you truly be able to **begin** to understand so many of the things that you point out as contradictions. As a whole, the bible does not contradict itself. God is perfection, and his word, in its original Greek and Hebrew text, is flawless in communicating his what he wants us to know about his purpose and plan for his creation. Simply refusing to believe that fact doesn't make it untrue. Truth is truth. Many of your contradictions do indeed seem to be valid. But scripture also says (in Jeremiah, I think) that God has chosen to not reveal everything about himself to us. He only chose to reveal to us that which we need to enter into a relationship with him. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. We are so limited, that there is no possible way for us, on this side of heaven, to begin to understand Him. I believe in taking the Bible literally. But I also know that one needs to study the context in which each book was written. Scripture also says that unless you have the Holy Spirit of God living within your heart, so much of the Bible will seem like nonsense. It's like reading someone else's mail. If you don't know the person who wrote the letter, it may seem to make little sense. ANd God is writing letters to his loved ones promising a salvation with him in heaven for ETERNITY! I would challenge you to approach our loving creator; admit that you cannot meet his standards of righteousness on your own power. Invite him into your life, and ask him to begin to clarify His word for you. HE IS FAITHFUL!!! He truly is! And he is desparately in love with you, my friend. Invite him today! Maureen