Greetings, dear Terry - peace to you and thank you for another "thought-provoking" thread. Since dear tec (the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one!) answered in the same manner that I initially intended to, I won't be redundant. I would, however, like to respond to your latest comments, if I may. Thank you!
what about this consideration: Competing VERSIONS of the Jesus message have split opinion and interpretation into shards like a dropped and broken mirror. Which piece reflects something worthy of the Lord's intentions?
What many MISS is that this division is the EXACT INTENTION of the Bible: to confound and confuse. It was compiled by the "scribes and Pharisees", not by God or Christ... to do exactly what it does. What folks also miss is WHO it was compiled FOR: those who need to "see it in writing" - those who walk by SIGHT... and NOT those who are led by the Holy Spirit - those who walk by FAITH.
Are we all doomed to our personal preferences like what color lipstick or style of shoe we wear? Is religion, then, condemned to the lastest "fashions"?
Ummmmm... yes. Absolutely. That's why it's the divisive, confusing entity that it is. It's RESULTS show this, do they not?
Where is the unity of fellowship? Everybody brings contrary ideas to the table.
Which is why there IS NO unity of fellowship, except among sects, which themselves are divided. As a result, God... and CHRIST... is divided AMONG them.
What has split Christianity apart is that every fellowship ends up with the same AUTHORITY issues. Who gets to tell you what is right and wrong.
Well, since Christ IS recorded to have said (contrary to Paul ?) that we are to have no leader, that One is our leader... him... that question has been answered. That folks don't KNOW the answer... because they don't WANT to know... because they WANT to be (mis)led... is on them. They are only receiving what they WANT.
You can't stay in a fellowship very long without having to agree/disagree and mark yourself as IN/OUT.
While that's not entirely true, it is majorily true, yes.
Why is Christianity absolutely obsessed with the unprovable aspects of divinity and apocalypse?
Because they miss the point of what... or rather WHOM... they SHOULD be concerned about. They strain out gnats... while gulping down camels.
Why is the bible worshipped as being a source of absolute truth?
Because those that so worship do not know the Truth. At all. They totally miss the point of my Lord's words:
"You search the scriptures because you think that by means of THEM you will have everlasting life; and these are the one that bear witness... to ME. Yet, YOU DO NOT WANT TO COME... TO ME..."
They miss the point that even the BIBLE says that my Lord is God's Word, not it... that NOWHERE does it state that it is God's Word... and because they place the words of others, particularly Paul (?) over the words of my Lord. "PAUL" is a great many more's leader than Christ is. Why don't they see this? Because... they really are blind. Really.
The "Holy Spirit" was operating in Jonestown according to survivors. At least they "thought" so.
They thought so because a false christ told them so. Had they checked for themselves... indeed, had they even bothered to ASK... they would have learned differently.
Neither God, Christ, or the Bible is to blame for man's ignorance. It is man who is to blame: the blind guides that are the "scribes and Pharisees"... and the blind sheep who follow them. Why? Because both are CHOOSING blindness... rather than sight. If a man chooses to be blind he has no one to blame for his lack of sight than himself. It is like the man who has his hands over his eyes: although someone may tell him, "Hey, you don't need to cover your eyes!" and so he removes his hands... he still refuses to OPEN HIS EYES. His choice.
I hope this helps and, again, I bid you peace!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA