I am a Christian who does believe the whole Bible is true. But what is that truth? Over my lifetime, my beliefs have been shaped by the beliefs of many others, and some of those beliefs must be wrong, because they don't all agree.

Sadly, it seems that rather than try to understand what God is saying in the Bible, people look for ways to make it say what works for them. Others get into discussions about the original meaning of each word, but I'm not sure God depended on the scribes who copied the scriptures to get every word exactly right, or maybe He did, but no matter what translation I read, it seems I am able to get the "gist" of it, even if the words are not exactly the same.

I'm not sure things have to be as complicated as humans make them, nor do I believe God is as hard on us as we are on ourselves—which sounds inconsistent, given the fact that we are to be perfect, "even as He is perfect". We might not be understanding God, and maybe His idea of perfect is not the same as ours, which often hinges on following the "rules" of a religion or a denomination. Maybe it is easier to make up (and try to follow) rules than it is to get our hearts right. (I'm just throwing out ideas here.)

I believe God has set plenty of non-negotiables where our faith is concerned, and people are good at getting themselves mixed up when they try to put God into the box of human thinking and make comments like "Well, I know that's what the Bible says, but it doesn't make sense that God would do something like that." Because the Bible also says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death.

My point being, we make mistakes by being to easy on ourselves, and also by being too hard on ourselves.

Would it not be cool if a person could have a conversion experience devoid of any preconceived ideas or influences, and just have God teach them what He was really saying in the Bible and how He wants that individual to live? That would be a very different life style than what many Christians are living today.

Your way of thinking is a little scary (to a very traditional person like me) because it appears you've tossed out a lot of traditional thinking–but it's good for the same reason. And there are still a lot of traditions that are very good, as long as they don't hold us back from the truth as it is revealed to us.

Wow! I wasn't out actively seeking blogs like yours this morning but I'm so glad I was divinely directed here, somehow. I love what you have to say, how you say it and the fact that, indeed, you are gutsy enough to simply say it. I'm also interested in the fact that you are a writer who actually makes a living writing (one of my dreams, but I heard writers writer a lot and mostly starve doing it so I haven't quit my day job yet). I'd like to put you on my blogroll. It's been an enjoyable morning (after way too much distracting holiday cheer last night) reading you and refocusing myself spiritually. Thank-you!

Gotta love those mysterious ways.

I enjoyed your testimony.