BibleDude.net: [the naked gospel] part 2: religion is a headache
twistedxtian
· 3 months ago
I love where Farley starts to take people with this section. He leads them away from the guilt that is associated with imperfect people trying to live up to a perfect set of laws. Guilt has no place in Christianity, and it kills me to see people feel guilt before Christ. Christianity is all about a loving relationship with Christ, not one where we feel we can never measure up, and this point can't be stressed enough.
Farley does a great job of getting this point across, but I think by saying that the law is "all or nothing," it leaves us in a bit of a lurch. The law has a number of great moral standards that are the basis of our society; things like don't kill, lie, or steal. I don't see how we can throw these away, or how the Holy Spirit that is within us wouldn't lead us down a path of a life that demonstrates this. I agree that we shouldn't be picking and choosing which laws to follow at our convenience, but I also don't understand how we can throw them all away. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what Farley is saying, maybe someone else can clarify.
I'm also not so keen on the idea that, "law causes more sinning." (p53) Sin has always existed, the Law just gave words to it, and told us what we already knew in our hearts was wrong. Yes, children enjoy doing things that they know are wrong in order to push the envelope, but I don't think the same is true for adults. Sin will happen, we are sinful by nature since we've been born in the image of Adam, but I don't think that knowing what the law is makes us want to sin more.
Again, I love the ideas that Farley puts forth in this book, and it can't be reiterated enough that guilt needs to be stripped from our religion. These are just the two points that I've come across that I'm having trouble with.
kristabelieves
· 3 months ago
What a great review! I have been talking with Dan about this blog project quite a bit. If I wasn't compelled enough before to read this book I am now!
I have often questioned the old law and how it is relevant to today, and why we follow some of the law, but not other parts. I can totally relate to how you have felt going into churches where it seems like they have everything, and everything is masterfully organized, yet there is a sense of unfulfillment.
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK! I have a feeling I'm gonna get rocked, and left searching the scriptures as if they are completely new to me. :)
kaleozone
· 3 months ago
Wow! What a great post baby! And thank you so much for taking the lead on this one. I just couldn't do it.
I think you did an excellent job and I really feel you "hit the nail on the head" and I think that is why so many have problems with the church. Even Christians. I know for us, there was a reason why we "church hopped" for so many years. I would love to see all of us stop "doing church" and start being the church!
glennthomas
· 3 months ago
I think some of "God's laws" which are written on our hearts are also part of the Old Covenant law. To love God and love one's neighbor are two of the 600 plus Mosaic laws. The rest of the law is really fleshing out the details of these two great commands. Holy Spirit guidance and context is everything and I think we can know which parts of the Old Covenant law transcend the Old Covenant into the New and which parts are ancient and do not apply today. To say God abolished all 600 plus commands and started from scratch in the New Covenant simply isn't biblical!
BibleDude
· 3 months ago
You make a great point!
This is exactly what this whole conversation is about! You stated, "To say God abolished all 600 plus commands and started from scratch in the New Covenant simply isn't biblical!"
Paul, repeatedly taught that Christians are no longer under the law. When the OT Law is mentioned, it is in the context of being something that convicts the unbeliever of their sin.
Our churches often preach that we are no longer under the law, but then we still teach about all of the things that Christians must do. And I think that is the point of this book... it is the idea that Christianity does not come with a list of requirements that people must live up to, In my opinion, if it did, then we would ALL be in some serious trouble!
The author of the book that we are working through here just commented on the next post in this series, and I think that his comment may further clarify his position in relation to the points that you make here... http://bibledude.net/2009/09/the-naked-gospel-p...
Thanks for being a part of the conversation! I think that this is an important one to have!
PriestSevina
· 3 days ago
My opinion is that many people have started to get lost in religion and I think that the word "law" doesn't come with religion. God is offering choices for everyone of us. The law just offers one choice and that is simply wrong. I am under the christianity religion because my parents are. I realised that my religion was fake when I was about 10 years old so I guess that if a child can spot that, an adult should do that too. At the age of 10 I raised so many question that my school priest talked to my mother. My mother is a very open-minded woman who was on my side and she replied to him: "I'm sorry about that, but he is a kid and kids ask many question. Maybe you should pray to God and he will help you answer his questions".
All Comments
Farley does a great job of getting this point across, but I think by saying that the law is "all or nothing," it leaves us in a bit of a lurch. The law has a number of great moral standards that are the basis of our society; things like don't kill, lie, or steal. I don't see how we can throw these away, or how the Holy Spirit that is within us wouldn't lead us down a path of a life that demonstrates this. I agree that we shouldn't be picking and choosing which laws to follow at our convenience, but I also don't understand how we can throw them all away. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what Farley is saying, maybe someone else can clarify.
I'm also not so keen on the idea that, "law causes more sinning." (p53) Sin has always existed, the Law just gave words to it, and told us what we already knew in our hearts was wrong. Yes, children enjoy doing things that they know are wrong in order to push the envelope, but I don't think the same is true for adults. Sin will happen, we are sinful by nature since we've been born in the image of Adam, but I don't think that knowing what the law is makes us want to sin more.
Again, I love the ideas that Farley puts forth in this book, and it can't be reiterated enough that guilt needs to be stripped from our religion. These are just the two points that I've come across that I'm having trouble with.
I have often questioned the old law and how it is relevant to today, and why we follow some of the law, but not other parts. I can totally relate to how you have felt going into churches where it seems like they have everything, and everything is masterfully organized, yet there is a sense of unfulfillment.
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK! I have a feeling I'm gonna get rocked, and left searching the scriptures as if they are completely new to me. :)
I think you did an excellent job and I really feel you "hit the nail on the head" and I think that is why so many have problems with the church. Even Christians. I know for us, there was a reason why we "church hopped" for so many years. I would love to see all of us stop "doing church" and start being the church!
This is exactly what this whole conversation is about! You stated, "To say God abolished all 600 plus commands and started from scratch in the New Covenant simply isn't biblical!"
Paul, repeatedly taught that Christians are no longer under the law. When the OT Law is mentioned, it is in the context of being something that convicts the unbeliever of their sin.
Our churches often preach that we are no longer under the law, but then we still teach about all of the things that Christians must do. And I think that is the point of this book... it is the idea that Christianity does not come with a list of requirements that people must live up to, In my opinion, if it did, then we would ALL be in some serious trouble!
The author of the book that we are working through here just commented on the next post in this series, and I think that his comment may further clarify his position in relation to the points that you make here...
http://bibledude.net/2009/09/the-naked-gospel-p...
Thanks for being a part of the conversation! I think that this is an important one to have!