Word of God - Ivor Davies's Blog

Yet again I find that my beliefs are strengthened when being challenged not by arguments that will make me reconsider and evaluate, but by being told what I must believe and that I have no right to call myself a Christian simply because I do not exactly prescribe to the interpretation others place upon the scriptures.

My views change, I have never intentionally tried to inflict my views on others, just inform them of my opinions for them to make what they will of it.  As I said, my views change, given new criteria or understanding my conclusions will obviously alter in relation to what I gain from new knowledge.

The bible is full of conflicting information and, although I have read it, studied it, and learned from it, I will still come to my own conclusions from its scriptures.  It was written by man, not God, and therefore contains truths, lies, inaccuracies and misinterpretations.  The classic is about 'a camel passing through a needle's eye', later it was found that the word 'camel' was mistaken for the word 'rope' which looked similar in it's original language.  If you can mistake a camel for a rope imagine how many other discrepancies there may be!

According to the Old Testament neither my wife nor all of my children will ever enter heaven or should enter a church:

Deuteronomy:
A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. (23:2)

Likewise, when I slipped onto the crossbar of my bike when learning to ride, I could have suffered a similar fate:

Deuteronomy:
He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. (23:1)

Sounds funny doesn't it? But not long ago a church in England refused to marry a couple because the man was impotent!

So you see, I have to use the brain God gave me to come to my own decisions!

There is however a lot to be gained by reading the scriptures and I will leave you with Chapter 3 of James as this possibly affects our responsibilities as writers.  Whilst technically this is talking about the tongue it equally applies to the written word!

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James Chapter 3

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we offend all.  If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.)

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

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Have Fun and don't believe all you read,

Ivor