Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Do we have the right?
Honestly, I find it a bit worrying when people like Harold Camping give an exact date for the end of the world/the Rapture and he says that he has 'proof'. I feel that it could create the impression that all Christians feel the same way and that we all believe that it is going to happen on the same date. I've even heard about a billboard in Johannesburg where a church has said that the world will end on a certain day and that "the Bible guarantees it". Can we REALLY make statements like that? What impression does it create to people who are not Christians?
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Can we say that the Bible guarantees anything though? Surely most things can be debated?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it arrogant to say that your way of interpreting the Bible is the only right way and everyone else is wrong?
I get nervous as soon as ANYONE claims to have the sole claim on truth...
Ja fully, there's one of the billboards just by Cresta. It seems a bit weird that they rented the billboard space after the 21st May (when they claim the Bible guarantees the world will end...). They totally should have saved some cash.
ReplyDeleteAnyways. I agree with Jackie over there, the concept of absolute truth is a weird one, especially with topics in the Bible. God even admits that God's ways are not our ways and thoughts not our thoughts, so where do we get off saying we KNOW stuff for sure.
That being said, are we not just trying to be less controversial and not committing (thanks Brendon!) to our own beliefs? Like, I believe that God exists, which rules out other peoples beliefs that God doesn't. Isn't that a sole claim on truth?
Its awful when people go out making those sorts of statements, does so much harm.
ReplyDeleteJax, I think we can say that the Bible guarantees a whole bunch of things. Jesus told us to go out and make disciples. It's like - let's say your aim is to mount-up and ride a horse.
What's worse? Collapsing half way up the stirrup, or bolting right over and wallowing face -down in the mud on the other side?
Either way, you're still not on the horse.
What's worse? Knowing the truth and failing to stand up for it for fear of offending. Or blurting out on something you don't understand.
I think Paul, for example, stood up for stuff and offended quite a few people. At least I think they were offended - them trying to stone him and what have you. He was convinced he knew and taught the truth. Isn't that necessary?
And then there's this, by insisting that the truth is not absolute, aren't we claiming sole authority on the nature of truth?
I really like the way Jesus says
ReplyDelete"I am the relative Way, the relative Truth and the relative Life, no one comes to the relative Father except through the relative concept of what I might be"!!!!