01-17-2008, 05:06 PM
Hey Akhi,
Nothing. I've never believed there's anything magical or critical to our faith contained within the ink of a written word. That Christ dwells within me, is enough. I don't need to read on a piece of paper, "Thou shall not kill". I feel that law in my heart already.
Again, it's you that said:
Our experience with the faith is different from other religions that are dependent on a written book for their every move...to the extent that they direct their prayer in a certain direction, and he who strays is smitten in the neck.
The funny thing is that Muslims always called us "The people of the Book", which couldn't be further from the truth. We aren't the people of any book, or books....we are people of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, having a written record is important in some ways. If I didn't feel that way, this website wouldn't exist. However, during the early centuries of the faith, when most people didn't even have the Gospels and struggled to define what is and what isn't scripture, disagreeing even among themselves, they were just as saved as you and I are.
Faith and Salvation are gifts from God, not the result of reading a book.
Certainly, the robber on the cross saw paradise that very day without the need of the Epistle to Philemon....or Revelation.
Nothing. I've never believed there's anything magical or critical to our faith contained within the ink of a written word. That Christ dwells within me, is enough. I don't need to read on a piece of paper, "Thou shall not kill". I feel that law in my heart already.
Again, it's you that said:
Quote:....will lack the benefit of belief in, and the Divine wisdom of that God written book.
Our experience with the faith is different from other religions that are dependent on a written book for their every move...to the extent that they direct their prayer in a certain direction, and he who strays is smitten in the neck.
The funny thing is that Muslims always called us "The people of the Book", which couldn't be further from the truth. We aren't the people of any book, or books....we are people of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, having a written record is important in some ways. If I didn't feel that way, this website wouldn't exist. However, during the early centuries of the faith, when most people didn't even have the Gospels and struggled to define what is and what isn't scripture, disagreeing even among themselves, they were just as saved as you and I are.
Faith and Salvation are gifts from God, not the result of reading a book.
Certainly, the robber on the cross saw paradise that very day without the need of the Epistle to Philemon....or Revelation.