QUESTIONING THE BOOK

Some one asked me a question on a different forum today and I thought that this belonged here after my answer to them. As a Christian Pastor I thought it encapsulates my feelings about why I feel what we do here is important.
Rev. Bruce....................tawodi

Questioning the contents of the Book"


From the time I was able, intelectually, to understand what I was pursuing (about twelve and a half ) I have questioned the "contents of The Book".

Why? Because of good old Reverend Bell, of the Bethany Methodist Church on Wells street in Chicago Illinois!!

He very often would explain a point of scripture in Catechism and then would give us the position of the "Roman Catholics". Now look at your foot and repeat after me, AND MEAN IT!! Ah crap!! I stepped in dog 5hit!! Now, listen to the inflection, tone, and accenting, of sylables. That is EXACTLY how he would say the words, Roman Catholic!!

As a twelve year old I knew that was wrong!! Half of my buddies were Catholic and there certainly wasn't anything wrong with them!!

So after confirmation, when my Grandmother gave me my first Bible, I went and took some of the money I had been given for confirmation and bought Harpers Bible commentary and a Bible dictionary, and began reading it all, like I would read any book.

I was told not to do that, as I could not discern the "mysteries with in the "BOOK" unless somebody told me what it meant...silly me!!

I'm almost 64 years old and have contested with many Semenarians and Pastors Priests and Rabbis in my time and with many right here on these threads. AND especially since Beginning the People of Abraham, Christians, Muslims and Jews.

When in the closing years of my life I consider how foolish we all are to concentrate on our differences, instead of our similarities, I mourne for our race of beings and our future.

It is only in knowing that we will be brought into a future that is not now understandable to us, and the mechanisms necessary to make it function are not fathomable either, that I do not despair totally.

Ever since, all those years ago, I have questioned the Book...yes I have....But I have NEVER questioned the intent, or the existence of, the inspiration for it. As the imposition of command STILL allows free will. And that is the true sign, to me, of a loving Creator, one who givess us room to make our mistakes, is standing by to pick us up, dust us off, and send us on our way to try again. That is the meaning of agape' LOVE, UNQUESTIONING, UNENDING, ALWAYS THERE, NEVER FADING, ALWAYS READY TO FORGIVE IF WE LOSE OUR STUBBORNESS AND.... SIMPLY ASK.

And that right there, is the only mystery to me. Why woulsd God do that? Well because he has that kind of love for us, that's why!!!

T