There's a danger to it. Being exposed to all the cliches and bible school answers, we know em all. But it's sometimes scary how we assume a lot of things, or we says things like "somewhere in the Bible there's this part that says..." it's dangerous.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
This in my opinion is a good example. This line is a common line in which Christians use to find strength and comfort when facing difficult situations. We tell ourselves that through Christ, we can do all things, we're unstoppable, [insert line that can be found from random motivational book]. But when read in context, this verse, in my humble opinion, is Paul giving recognition to Christ sustaining his ministry, financially and maybe spiritually as well. Paul doesn't say that he's Superman. He's just saying that Christ enables him in his ministry.
Another example. One cliche line that you always here people say is this:
'Suicide is an unforgivable sin.' Just in case people don't get it, when we mean unforgivable, it means instant one way ticket to hell, to a life of eternal suffering and damnation. Now look it up in your bibles people and you'd find that no where in the bible does it explicitly say that it's a eternal life in Hell if you take your own life. The only time the bible mentions an unforgivable sin is when some Pharisees blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. (Mark 3.29-30)
So really, what we know as Christians, our "Sunday school answers", how sure are we that they're correct? How sure are we that we're living in accordance to what is required of us in the Bible? How sure are we that our way of life is grounded on the teachings found in the Holy book?
I don't think I can speak for all Christians when I say this, but personally I've become a 'somewhere in the bible' Christian, and that pisses me off. It's so dangerous, especially if we don't check it out and it so happens we're wrong. It changes our whole understanding, distorts the message that God tries to convey through his word. We become complacent, not really taking the Bible seriously. It's about time we realise how important the Bible is, as it's the main way that God speaks to us.
Another example. One cliche line that you always here people say is this:
'Suicide is an unforgivable sin.' Just in case people don't get it, when we mean unforgivable, it means instant one way ticket to hell, to a life of eternal suffering and damnation. Now look it up in your bibles people and you'd find that no where in the bible does it explicitly say that it's a eternal life in Hell if you take your own life. The only time the bible mentions an unforgivable sin is when some Pharisees blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. (Mark 3.29-30)
So really, what we know as Christians, our "Sunday school answers", how sure are we that they're correct? How sure are we that we're living in accordance to what is required of us in the Bible? How sure are we that our way of life is grounded on the teachings found in the Holy book?
I don't think I can speak for all Christians when I say this, but personally I've become a 'somewhere in the bible' Christian, and that pisses me off. It's so dangerous, especially if we don't check it out and it so happens we're wrong. It changes our whole understanding, distorts the message that God tries to convey through his word. We become complacent, not really taking the Bible seriously. It's about time we realise how important the Bible is, as it's the main way that God speaks to us.
I would say that there's a real danger with knowing all the 'sunday school answers'. We know what the right things to say, we know what are the right things to do. And we do say them, do them. We go through the motions of living a Christian life, do everything by the "book".
But are we living for Christ?
Excuse my lack of flair with words, I don't know where this is going anymore. To the point, what I'm trying to get to is this:
1. We need to stop acting like Christians and start being Christians.
2. We need to read the Bible properly.
