Bibliolatry: Worship/knowledge of the book MORE than the author
- Thread starter St. SteVen
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Rella ~ I am a woman
Well-Known Member
I gave you a like for this post as in essence you speak a truth. But if one had no knowledge of anything God, where should they turn if there was not the Holy Bible? Pastor, Priest, or Rabbi. In case you were not aware... they dont agree either.
Certainly you cannot advocate for man's teachings because you, as well as all readers here, know that man can and will be at odds with the next nam trying to teach their beliefs.
We have a book that we have been told was the very ideas of God the Father who inspired much of the writing of it within the four corners.
Do you need the bible?
Do I? Yes. But would my life crumble to the ground if all writings in my possession went up in flames. No.
I am secure in my beliefs... as I am certain you are.
Do we agree? Probably not,, but even a word by word , line by line study starting with in the beginning would not necessarily change one thing in either of our beliefs.... but we both had to have a starting point at some time in our lives.
Great post, thanks.
I'm not opposed to the Bible. But I do understand that it is not to be worshiped.
The first English language Bible, The King James Version, was not published until 1611.
What did English language speaking believers do before that point?
Or the rest of the world, for that matter. There was no such thing as a PERSONAL Bible prior to that.
The churches had a single Bible chained to the pulpit. And synagogues had the scrolls in Jesus' day.
As far as I know, Jesus did not have a Bible. He had to memorize, like everyone else.
And agreement on what the Bible means is not necessary. IMHO
Everyone takes their own path to meet God (the SOURCE)
All else are RESOURCES. (see new topic on this subject)
/
Agree.
I'm not opposed to the Bible. But I do understand that it is not to be worshiped.
The first English language Bible, The King James Version, was not published until 1611.
What did English language speaking believers do before that point?
Or the rest of the world, for that matter. There was no such thing as a PERSONAL Bible prior to that.
The churches had a single Bible chained to the pulpit. And synagogues had the scrolls in Jesus' day.
As far as I know, Jesus did not have a Bible. He had to memorize, like everyone else.
I would say we are in agreement on this.
And agreement on what the Bible means is not necessary. IMHO
Everyone takes their own path to meet God (the SOURCE)
All else are RESOURCES. (see new topic on this subject)
/
Rella ~ I am a woman
Well-Known Member
So if you see a bible carelessly tossed on the floor and you hav e a back problem you dont need to pick it up out of respect.
I do not worship a bible. But used to be when going to garage sales if one was for sale I would buy it so it did not end up tossed in the trash.... I have too many.... someone else can toss them when I die.
Word of mouth handed down I would think.
Just consider why... #1... God told Moses to write Genesis.
Also why...#2... Jesus told John to write certain things in Revelation.
Do you think by any chance that God might have figured... given the way man always gets things wrong... some things He just did not want expetived up?
Careful.
These are signs of a possible case of Bibliolatry.
Idolizing the book as much, or more, than the author.
Have you ever pulled God out of a dumpster.
Or bought him at a garage sale? Aha, I didn't think so. - LOL
Interesting point actually. I have felt bad about seeing Bibles in a dumpster.
And I probably would pick up a Bible carelessly tossed on the ground.
But more out respect for the author, his his church, than the book itself.
Yes. That and God meeting them in divine appointments.
Like Moses and the burning bush. Jesus on the road to Emmaus.
Encounters with God.
Good points.
But those are the only two I can recall.
How many books and how many authors?
We could add the Prophets?
/
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
Isn't that what has happened globally though time? ....from whatever group is labeled, paganism to christianity. It distorts everything. It was that which sunk Adam and Eve.
St. SteVen said:
It just occurred to me that Bibliolatry is a sort of pantheism.
Pick your Bible = pick your god
I think AW Tozer wrote (in Knowledge of the Holy) something to the effect that
idolatry can be as simple as a misunderstanding of who God is.
Sobering thought.
This is why my theology of UR centers on the character of God. (who he is)
/ cc: @Hillsage
It just occurred to me that Bibliolatry is a sort of pantheism.
Pick your Bible = pick your god
I think AW Tozer wrote (in Knowledge of the Holy) something to the effect that
idolatry can be as simple as a misunderstanding of who God is.
Sobering thought.
Yes.
This is why my theology of UR centers on the character of God. (who he is)
/ cc: @Hillsage
Rella ~ I am a woman
Well-Known Member
You have given me a great talking point as to why I wont give money to send bibles to any 3rd world country
or China, or Russia... or anywhere that they are not readily available......
Bibliolatry..... fantastic.... a great excuse
cause they can learn if they want to from their own undergrounds.St. Steven................................................ I do as much for the American flag.
No, no dumpster diving for me but I did but dungeons and dragons at a "church" sale once and dropped it into the nearest dumpster.
And see.... I have lost all respect for His (please make sure YOU capitalize that) church. All of them.
Especially with the likes of Joel Osteen who prayed for the dead woman.............. Even you have to know better then that
Why not?
It's on our To-Do list from Jesus.
Matthew 10:8 NIV
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a]
drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
/
Also at thrift stores --to give to people at church. I got a Bible at a church long ago, that had been left there for years and heavily marked. i loved that Bible. It was one of the old Crusade editions. A few years ago, I found one on eBay, and bought it. It's marked up pretty good--well, both of my Bibles are.
I love Bibles marked up.
This one was the Crusade edition. Mine is a pretty blue. Amazon.com
Reminds me of the NIV Bible that I used until it fell apart. (well marked)
Got some help from a workmate to tape it back together after the binding broke.
It also had a throwing dart impression hole in the cover from a dart that glanced off the dartboard
in the Crusade Hall building we were staying during a missions trip in at Golder's Green, England.
Reminded me of the trip every time I saw the hole.
/
Rella ~ I am a woman
Well-Known Member
Oddly I have not received the ability to raise the dead... And seemingly neither has he.
I am merely a woman who would not have that given to me... But you and Joel, more power to you
To be clear, NONE of us has the ability to raise the dead.
Only God can do that, Hopefully you agree.
However, we do have the ability to be obedient should God call us to the task.
Hopefully you agree. Or would you inform God that you don't have that ability?
You say that you are merely a woman who would not have that given to you? ???
Seems you are severely under-rating yourself.
Moses told God that he wasn't up to the task. God said, You're hired! - LOL
/
Rella ~ I am a woman
Well-Known Member
Who was it that said women are to be quiet in church and they are to ask their husbands at home.
That is the one who underates women but I cannot question that....
I think that was a cultural issue ONLY for that time.
Seems the women were talking amongst themselves and being disruptive.
Men and women sat on separate sides of the room. ???
This white paper is very eye-opening. Some very scholarly work.
/
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
The question? ....what is God really like, that is the question.
All religions have representations of their Gods, from the Vikings, to those in African tribes, to the Hindus in Asia and so on, but what is the Creator God really like? The Hebrews wrote what they perceived God to be like; they were so sure God had no rivals that they attributed all that unfolded in the world to Yahweh, both good and bad. Jesus challenged this understanding. 'You have heard said, he said, but I say unto you.......'
It was their scriptures (Torah) where they had heard said....from the 'law giver' Moses to the great reformer, Elijah yet when these two appeared on the Mount of transfiguration with Jesus, the boys with him assumed they were dealing with equals but how mistaken they were. The voice from the cloud singled out Jesus as preeminent; 'this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!'
Yes, listen to him. Jesus is the only eye witness to God, he speaks with the authority of God, he represents God completely ie, every aspect of God which is important for us to know.
Hebrews 1:1-3 answers the question;
'In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.'
1 John tells us that God is Love and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 defines love....in fact it is permissible to substitute the word God for Love.....
'Love (God) is patient, love (God) is kind. It (God) does not envy, it does (God)not boast, it (God) is not proud. It (God) does not dishonor others, it (God) is not self-seeking, it (God) is not easily angered, it (God) keeps no record of wrongs. Love (God) does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It (God) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres...'
The question, 'what is God really like' is answered by the reality of Jesus and the witness of the Apostles, don't miss it.
Great post, thanks.
Reminded me of this.
John 14:8-9 NIV
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
/
Bibliolatry is my pet peeve in my interaction with the evangelical community. Mine is not a popular position, but I have said that my advice to a new Christian would be to read the Bible three times and forget about it. The gospel message is not that complicated. Walking the walk does not require constant reference to the Bible. I personally do not find large portions of the Bible edifying or instructive in the slightest, and I don't know how many times I am supposed to need to read Romans to "get it." Actual communion, in the sense described by the anonymous medieval author of The Cloud of Unknowing, is far more important to me than reading the Bible for the umpteenth time. Bibliolatry strikes me as part of what I call pretend Christianity - things we think we are supposed to say and do because "that's what Christians do" as opposed to having any reality to them.
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