But, what I am is a person who really appreciates what the bible teaches. I believe that the teachings of the bible are not the property on anyone group or church. They're above politics, denominations, ethnicities, and even religions.
Anyone who is open and sincere and seeking truth will benefit from reading it.
I was not raised in any particular church or belief system. But, about the time that I was finishing high school I started to read some of the little biblical pamphlets that you see lying around doctors offices and such. There were one particular series that I got a lot of benefit from.
What I liked about these pamphlets was that they were in question and answer format. The question would be something straight forward like "What does the bible say about blank". And then I would be pointed to a verse in the bible that answered the question. This was my first introduction to learning what the bible actually said about practical things in life.
That was how I got started.
I read and appreciate the bible as an historical document that, in my mind and experience, provide guidance in the practical aspects of life when it comes to understanding how to relate to people and character building.
Don't get me wrong. I do believe that the Bible is more than just a compilation of "jewish fables". I do believe that it is "the word of God" in that it speaks eternal truths.
But, I also believe that most "christians" have totally missed what the bible is in its essence. I like to believe that at it's core, the bible is a series of "letters" from God to humankind. The whole focus of which is not to "tell you how to live" per se. But to show you what God is like. What truth is like.
Imagine going to an antique store and buying a piece of furniture. And, when you got it home you planned to start cleaning it up. However, when you did start cleaning it, you discovered a "secret compartment". In that secret compartment was a stack of bound letters. There were hundreds of them.
After reading several of these letters, you realize that, even though they cover several different topics and issues and span several years, they are all a single correspondence between two people. And it's evident that there was a strong connection between these two individuals.
Who were these people? What was their connection? When did they live? What were they really like? Did they ever get together?
This is what reading the bible should be like in my opinion. It is not a test booklet. It is not a series of rigid rules and regulations. Nor is it meant to be a history book. Although it does have all those things in it.
It should be read with a sense of discovery. Discovery of what God is actually like. Discovery of what life was actually like. Discovery of what you're actually like.
My rule of thumb is that reading the bible should make a person better. If it doesn't, they're just not reading it right.
That is the spirit that this blog is written. I hope you like it.
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