The Bible contains some of the loftiest and most beautiful verses in literature. Millions look to it for inspiration and guidance. At the same time, some parts are confusing and others are deeply disturbing. If you’ve ever had questions about the Bible, we’d like to invite you to join us for a series of honest and frank messages entitled “The Bible Tells Me So.”
In week 1 we’ll talk about what the Bible is, how it came to be, a common doctrine among evangelicals called “inerrancy,” and we’ll consider what it means to have a “high view of scripture.” In the process of talking about these things we’ll answer the question, “Is the Bible ever wrong?”
In week 2 we will look at one of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Bible: How do we make sense of the violence found in the Old Testament, particularly the times where God commands the killing of entire cities? These stand in stark contrast to Jesus’ teaching that we are to love our enemies.
Many people perceive a tension between science and faith, particularly as we consider the origins of the cosmos, the earth, and humans. Some insist science must conform to the Bible, or insist the Bible must fit with their scientific understanding. Others believe science and faith cannot be reconciled and this leads some to believe they must walk away from science, and some decide they must walk away from faith. To understand science and faith are not enemies, we need to explore our core assumptions about the Bible, what it is, what it is for, and how it communicates, which can deepen our appreciation of both approaches to our understanding of the world.
The issue of whether the United Methodist Church should marry and ordain Gay and Lesbian individuals has been extremely divisive for decades. Unfortunately, it looks like the church is headed for a split which will result in two separate denominations. Why is this happening? The issue is not one of scriptural authority as some would say, the issue is over scriptural interpretation.