i was thinking the other day about how people struggle with the bible. there are those who don't believe it at all, and then there are those who believe parts of it, and then there are those who believe their interpretation of it, etc. etc. etc.
it seems the inability to sufficiently explain the bible to one another is a big obstacle to people seeking Christ. they are told to believe in Christ, to be a Christian, they must believe in the bible and everything in it. too hard to do, so many turn away. in fact, to me it seems those who claim to believe in the bible completely have decided much of it actually means what they are comfortable believing. there is a consensus among groups as to what the bible actually means when it says "...pluck it out" for instance.
so wondering why God would make it so difficult, i kind of decided maybe He didn't. Jesus was quoted as saying that unless He left, the counsellor (holy spirit) that he was sending us, could not come to us, instead it would come to us in His absence. i am very much aware of the holy spirit in my life, it is a promise that was made that i have received. what i am struggling with as regards the new testament is that Jesus made no mention of it. i find no where that Jesus says, "there will be a new testament, watch for it and adhere to everything it says" or anything like that. He makes reference to the old testament so it is clear to me that He endorses the old testament. but nothing about the writings of paul or any of the other disciples did He tell us to be looking for. Christs' message was clear in His teachings, a message we receive from the new testament, which makes those writings invalueable to me. but to make the point that unless you believe completely in everything written in the new testament you can not call yourself a Christian, i think that's a mistake. had Jesus been quoted as saying, "keep an eye out, this is coming" i would be on board, but i can't find this. the counsellor He promised, i received, the truth of that is in my heart and can not be taken from me. the bible, i don't know, almost seems to have a little too much human influence for me. let me know what you think.
