God is like a tree

As Christians it is so important to be knowledgeable in what you believe in.

1 Peter 3:15 New International Version (NIV) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

'Cultural Christian' is a term banded about a lot recently. Cultural Christians like Jesus and his message of love and hope but have no grounding in the faith's teaching.

One argument Muslims like to use in their dawah (evangelism) is that Christians believe in many bibles, that there isn't one bible.

If you are a cultural Christian you would have no defense against this because you wouldn't know how to answer back.

The truth is Christians believe in one God and one word of God. The word of God is Jesus, and the message is the same in whichever TRANSLATION you read.

The most basic of illustrations is of a tree and God being the tree trunk.

Out of the tree grow many branches and each of these branches grow from the trunk, which is at it's core.

The branches are the translations of the bible. They all have the same message at it's root - which is God and the Good News of Jesus, it's just they use some different words, sentences/phrases etc from each other to get the message across to the different type of reader.

These are not adding or taking away from God's word, they are not introducing new theologies or principles (aka cults such as JWs or Mormons).

Here are two passages of scripture which show what I mean:-

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV) 16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:16-18 The Message (MSG) 16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

Can you see how the two passages of scripture don't deviate from the truth of the main message? Same message for a different generation.

One God, one bible, not many bibles and 3 Gods.

Of course there are those who only believe the KJS version is the correct one to follow but that's ok too, God didn't make us all as robots... we're individuals and God speaks to us individually :smile:

Reply 1

JaydorIV

I disagree

https://youtu.be/kFtI_mVOXbQ

Reply 2

iamElectro

God is like my girlfriend. Non existent.

God is a woman

Exists because squirrels forget where they buried their acorns?

Reply 5

Racoon

Original post by JaydorIV

I disagree

https://youtu.be/kFtI_mVOXbQ

The KJV works for you and that's great. You found a translation from the original manuscript that reaches your heart. For others they understand God's word from studying other translations.

Ultimately what's important is that people believe that Jesus is the Way and come to know Him.

It's interesting though what one of the commentators say

"After studying Koine Greek, Aramaic and a touch of Hebrew, I've realized that the KJV is wrong in as many areas as are the NIV, the NKJV, the ASB and most other modern translations. The KJV is NOT perfect, nor are any other translations. Why? Because they're TRANSLATIONS. God's Word is eternal and unchanging, but man's interpretation is always faulty. Take one verse, and read its interpretation in 16 different translations, and you'll arrive somewhere in the neighborhood of what was originally written."

FYI

https://bible.org/question/what-bible-translations-were-available-kjv

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 6

JaydorIV

Original post by Racoon

how do you know the commentator wasn't lying? or in fact their interpretation of reading the greek is faulty? they said they studied it, but for how long? they said they studied a touch of Hebrew, so their understanding of the old testament (minus the book of Daniel) must be faulty/not accurate.

in Acts 2 the disciples preached the gospel in every man's native tongue as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, do you think that when the word of God was being said in different tongues, the Holy Ghost couldn't translate some parts or got parts wrong? if so, then alright.

but if the Holy Ghost can translate perfectly the word of God. don't you think men can translate the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts to any language perfectly without error under the influence of the Holy Ghost?

lastly do you think the devil is trying to change the word of God through the other 'translations' to decieve Christians? I believe he is. if you watch the documentary, it shows how scripture has been changed.

Reply 7

Racoon

Original post by JaydorIV

The main thing is we need to continually check our hearts and make sure they are right before God.

People who never even read one page of scripture can come to know the saving Grace of Jesus.

Amen

Reply 8

JaydorIV

Original post by Racoon

The main thing is we need to continually check our hearts and make sure they are right before God.

People who never even read one page of scripture can come to know the saving Grace of Jesus.

Amen

Amen!👌