The church has taught...

He said that the church has taught for 2,000 years the reality of hell and that is not up for debate.  Just like a literal 7 day creation? Just like the Earth being flat was not up for debate? Just like the imminent return of Christ? What about slavery? What about persecution of those that disagree with Christianity? The reality is that deep down it really is up for debate because no one knows.  This isn't to undermine the Bible but simply to understand that we just simply do not know.  What is literally true? What is allegory?

Which is it, of or in?

Galatians 2:15, 16
KJV
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

ESV
yet we know that a person is not justifiedfn by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.


Is it the faith of Jesus or faith in Jesus that saves us?  One little word changes the whole landscape of Christianity and it rests on a translation! If it is the faith IN Jesus, then it is all up to me. I have to have faith; it is my work that saves me.  Read as the faith OF Jesus, then it is done; it is finished, as Jesus said from the cross. It is no longer up to the works of the law but left up to the work of Christ on the cross, HIS faith, not mine saves me....

Unorthodox....

"Not conforming to rules, traditions or modes of conduct, as of a doctrine, religion or philosophy."- Dictionary.com

     I was told my views of the Bible were bordering on the unorthodox.  I was floored.  I simply had a question; an honest question and I was told that while it was OK to question  I should be careful because I might confuse others.  

     It got me to thinking; I'm always thinking. Sometimes I can't shut it off.  Jesus was unorthodox. Now, I'm certainly not comparing myself to Jesus but, we are are called to live like he did and he was unorthodox; so much so that it cost him his life.

     Faith is simple. Religion, Christianity, Westernized Christianity is difficult. They tell you that it's simple; that it's about following Jesus and I certainly agree with that but the moment you do it in a way that is different, well, then you are labeled.  The moment you question the Bible and it's interpretations you are unorthodox because everyone is supposed to believe the Bible is inerrant and infallible, never mind that the Bible doesn't even say that of itself and forget the fact that none of the gospel writers even agree on the "facts" of pivotal stories such as Christmas or Easter but we are supposed to believe they are true and without error.  

     I'm not interested in the "facts" or the details. I don't care if there was a real virgin who got pregnant and gave birth to a boy that became the Messiah. I don't care if he really had a physical resurrection that was actually witnessed. Those stories don't matter to me as much as the truth that Jesus was a man who had such an extraordinary impact that we still talk about him today and strive to live a life like his.  God was so present in his life that it emanated and changed peoples' lives; that to me is a better story than arguing over whether or not something actually happened.   

But then again, I'm unorthodox....