| | Note: "every word," not "some words." The counterargument of many cafeteria Christians is to assert, typically [[Logical_fallacy#Manufacturing_facts_from_a_theory|without evidence]], that the word of the authors of certain parts of the Bible is not necessarily the word of God. However, absent evidence that a certain passage of the Bible is not God's Word (e.g., Paul's explicit statement that he is expressing a personal view), that counterargument is [[beg the question|circular]], as it assumes the propriety of cherry-picking the Bible in order to justify cherry-picking the Bible. | | Note: "every word," not "some words." The counterargument of many cafeteria Christians is to assert, typically [[Logical_fallacy#Manufacturing_facts_from_a_theory|without evidence]], that the word of the authors of certain parts of the Bible is not necessarily the word of God. However, absent evidence that a certain passage of the Bible is not God's Word (e.g., Paul's explicit statement that he is expressing a personal view), that counterargument is [[beg the question|circular]], as it assumes the propriety of cherry-picking the Bible in order to justify cherry-picking the Bible. |
| − | Few would argue, for example, with the statement: 'However, the bible cannot be interpreted literally'. Jesus statement, "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee", or "If any man come to me, and [[hate]] not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple". These are not biblical commands. Jesus's words, "judge not lest ye be judged" is similarly echoed in "let he among you without sin cast the first stone." It is an admonition against [[pride]], thinking you are smarter or morally superior to someone else because you hide your sin better. | + | Few would argue, for example, with the statement: 'However, the bible cannot be interpreted literally'. Jesus statement, "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee", or "If any man come to me, and [[hate]] not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple", are not biblical commands. Jesus's words, "judge not lest ye be judged" is similarly echoed in "let he among you without sin cast the first stone." It is an admonition against [[pride]], thinking you are smarter or morally superior to someone else because you hide your sin better. |
| | So while Christians are admonished not to judge, we are at the same time instructed to learn how to exercise discernment. We are to learn to try the spirits, whether they are of God. Not only will we learn how to have fellowship with other believers, discernment teaches us how to avoid dangerous situations, falling into bad behavior, habits, and sin. This same discernment applies not only to judging ourselves, or our relations with others, it applies to our reading and understanding of scripture. | | So while Christians are admonished not to judge, we are at the same time instructed to learn how to exercise discernment. We are to learn to try the spirits, whether they are of God. Not only will we learn how to have fellowship with other believers, discernment teaches us how to avoid dangerous situations, falling into bad behavior, habits, and sin. This same discernment applies not only to judging ourselves, or our relations with others, it applies to our reading and understanding of scripture. |