Christians must stop saying the following things.

1. The Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God.

It isn't inerrant and not likely even in the "original manuscripts." But then, I cannot say that with absolute certainty, anymore than anyone else can either.

Why? Because no such "original" manuscripts even exists. That's like saying, "We believe there are aliens on other planets!"

Good for you. Now, prove it.

As we have it, no matter what translation you favor, the Bible is replete with errors. To pretend otherwise is your right. To say otherwise is a lie. You are entitled to your opinions, your assumptions, even your beliefs. What you are not entitled to is a misrepresentation of the facts.

A corollary to this that Christians should stop saying is this:

2. We just believe the Bible.

That, too, is false. What you really believe is your interpretation of the Bible. And the last I checked, the history of the Christian church is the history of disagreement over "interpretation." How else do you explain the scores of denominations within Christianity alone? It would be patently more honest of Christians to say, "The following represents our understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures, but we are also aware there are many equally sincere Christians who interpret the Scriptures differently from us."

A third thing Christians should stop saying:

3. Jesus is the only way to heaven.

What you are really saying is, "The way we interpret John 14:6 is that Jesus was clearly drawing a line in the sand and telling his hearers and the world: 'If you do not believe in Me, you won't go to the Father when you die.'"

For this, I refer back to No. 2 above: what you and your group of believers really mean to say is, "It is our interpretation of John 14:6 that Jesus is saying that He is the only way to heaven."

There are scores of Christians, however, and I am one of them, who do not interpret Jesus' words in John 14 the same way. Just because I do not makes me no less Christian than you are. So stop drawing lines in the sand, please, between equally sincere followers of Jesus.

When I read the 14th chapter of John, I see a context that yields an alternative reading of the text. Instead of Jesus starting some new religion here and saying, "OK, fellas, I'm going to go away soon" -- referring to his death -- "but, before I go, you should know that where I'm going you, and others who believe just like you, will one day be, too -- that is, of course, if they believe like you believe that I am the only way to heaven. That is to say, if the people around you and who come after you don't believe that I am the only way to heaven, then, of course, they'll have to go to hell. Is all that clear?"

I offer an alternative interpretation: When Jesus spoke to them about leaving them, they were understandably shaken.

How could they not be? After all, they had left everything to follow him. Now, just a year, or two, or three years later, Jesus is saying he's getting ready to leave them?

But, of course, they're upset. So Thomas, speaking on behalf of the others, asks, "But where are you going and why can't we go with you? Furthermore, how will we know the way?"

Jesus responds in tender, reassuring ways. Sensing the fragility of their faith, seeing the anxiety on their faces, he reassures them that, in God's house are many rooms, "mansions" or places. Yes, He's going away but where He's going they, too, will go. Just as He has led them this far, He will lead them further still (and what follows in the latter part of John 14 is the beautiful reassurance of the on-going presence of God in the Holy Spirit).

So, for me personally, and many other Christians, too, Jesus is no more pointing to himself as the "one-and-only-way" to God than Thomas is expressing in his question concern for Hindus, Muslims or Buddhists and whether they'll go to heaven? I can assure you that Thomas, and the others, were only concerned about themselves. And yet, even at that point, Jesus is tender in His care of them and seeks to reassure them that, just as He and the Father were one, and just as they had trusted the things He had been saying to them during his time with them, so they could trust him and what he was saying at this time, too. Yes, he was leaving them. But no, they would not be left alone. Where he was, they would be. He had shown them the way to the Father. But, even after He's gone from them, they will know the way then, too. The Comforter would guide them.

And so, the Church is here today. But not because Christians declare, "There is no way to go to heaven if you don't believe in Jesus." The Church is here today because when people do trust the things Jesus said about HImself, about HIs relationship to the Father...when people believe and so live the teachings of Jesus they, too, are changed -- they, too, become "new creations in Christ," as Saint Paul put it (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Now, I took longer with this one thing Christians need to stop saying because many Christians seem stuck here, thinking that there's only one way to interpret Jesus' words about being the way. It is my hope these Christians will know there are equally sincere Christians like myself and others who do not believe Jesus was drawing a line in the sand between him and some new religion he was creating and all the other religions of the world.

Again, it's your right to "believe" or, more accurately, interpret Scripture as you wish. You do not, however, have permission to arrogantly assume your way of interpreting the words of Jesus are the only way to understand His words. Last I checked, no one's interpretation of anything is infallible. Not yours. Not mine.

A fourth thing Christians need to stop saying:

4. The rapture of Jesus is imminent.

Again, if you want to believe in some secret rapture of Christians from the earth just before the Tribulation, if you want to believe in and carry around in your hip pocket detailed charts and graphs of how its all going to happen, then so be it. But do the rest of us a favor and stop saying so in public.

So far, your record of correctly predicting the future earns a flunking grade. And I and scores of other Christians are frankly tired of apologizing for your arrogant -- and so far, absolutely wrong -- predictions as to when it'll happen.

My recommendation? Burn up your charts and go live like Christ. Quit masking your real fears by calling them faith. It isn't faith that leads you to sell all you have, give the proceeds to some wacko, and go camp out on Mount Horeb as you await the rapture. It's stupidity instead. It's embarrassing, too. It makes thoughtful Christians have to apologize to the world and explain that we're not all off-our-rockers, at least, not yet, anyway. So, please, please. If you want to believe in the charts that Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye and other "get-rich-off-the-stupidity-of-Christians" have duped scores into believing, then have at it. Just stay out of the news please! Go quietly to your campsites and do your waiting.

I'll mention two more things Christians should stop saying. Many of these things I discuss at length in "The Enoch Factor: The Sacred Art of Knowing God":

5. Homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle and it is a sin against God.

This one issue, my friend, is on the outs. If you don't know that, you are more blind than the Republicans were in the last election. They misinterpreted the political environment and so completely blew it when it came to getting their candidate elected. And you, my friend, are misinterpreting the moral, spiritual and religious environment -- and the changes that are coming.

My son said it well the other day. We were discussing homosexuality and same-sex marriage and he observed, "Dad, it's your generation that's hung up on these issues. Once you guys get out of the way and the younger generation moves into the decision-making arena, these issues will disappear. The day will come when, just as slavery is unthinkable in our consciousness today, it will be equally unthinkable to deny anyone the right to be who they are or the right to same-sex marriage."

You can still revere the Bible, my friend, but move beyond the prejudice of Paul or anyone else. You don't need to make Saint Paul infallible to treat the Bible as important.

Finally, please, please Christians stop insisting that...

6. The earth is less than 10,000 years old.

If you want to believe that Genesis is a scientific description of the origins of the universe, then have at it. Just stop insisting that those myths be taught in our public schools. You do no service to the Bible nor to the morality of this country by demanding school administrators include textbooks that teach that nonsense or by demanding courts hang the Ten Commandments on chamber walls or classroom walls.

If this democracy is going to survive, get over your silly, misinformed notions that our forefathers were all Bible-believing, Bible thumping, Genesis-affirming Christians who came to this country to establish your kind of Christian nation and then expect everyone else to conform to your misguided assumptions.

Whew! I feel better. Thanks for letting me get a few things off my chest.

Now, there is one thing I think all Christians, including me, should remember -- no, should practice (and we should practice this between ourselves first, too) -- and that is the one simple thing Jesus once said would be the one-and-only thing the world would know us by...

Not our beliefs.
Not our doctrines.
Not our denomination's distinctions.
Not even our declarations.

Jesus said, "They will know you are my disciples by your love" (John 13:35).

When we love, what more needs to be said?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-mcswain/6-things-christians-should-just-stop-saying_b_2767507.html

InesQor: Summary of the post:
(a) When it comes to religion, especially Christianity, nobody's opinion is more correct than that of others. "Last I checked, no one's interpretation of anything is infallible. Not yours. Not mine.", he said.
(b) Scratch (a) above. Steve McSwain's opinion is more correct than that of most Christians, so they MUST stop saying some stuff they have been saying.

Okay Steve McSwain.

jayriginal:

Where does he impose his opinion per (b) ?

striktlymi:

Good morning jay,

This is quite serious! Are you saying that Christians you know force their opinion on others?

jayriginal:

Hey bro,

In general (note the general) christians try to force their opinions on others.

jayriginal:
Its actually one of the most irritating things about the religion.

jayriginal:
When I read this article, I remembered the question I asked you on conflicting interpretation of scriptures on the other thread. That was also mentioned in this article.

jayriginal:
In anycase, I should point out that I did not write the article (I'm sure you know that, but I just want to emphasize the fact).

striktlymi:
Well at first glance sacred scriptures seems to conflict on a number of issues but a well grounded reading and understanding would show that this is not the case. Anyways, this is another matter entirely but really I don't expect those who are not Christians to understand and I do not blame them for this.

jayriginal: ^^^

strictlymi,

if you are asking whether I have been tortured physically to accept christian opinions, the answer is no.

jayriginal:
Let me give you an example. In general christians believe they are right and everyone else is wrong.

jayriginal:
Within christianity itself, people have their own divisions.

jayriginal:
I gave you two examples which you can find on nairaland. The issue of tithes and the issue of the trinity. There are several others but these two will do.
These warring factions usually draw from the exact same bible yet they come up with different interpretations and positions.

jayriginal:
Well then I could ask you your position on tithes and then whatever answer you give, you might as well be saying that whoever does not agree with your position is not a christian.

jayriginal:
Leads one to even ask, "who is a christian" .

jayriginal:
I think Olaadegbu was asked several times but I dont recall him answering.

striktlymi:
Well the above has to do with personal opinion and I believe everyone has a right to their opinion.

However, divisions are not peculiar to just Christianity. Even Atheists disagree on some issues and are prone to doing things differently but the common denominator is that they are Atheists.

Similarly, irrespective of the divisions in 'Christiandom', the common denominator is that we are all Christians under Christ.

There will always be divisions and various opinions and interpretations of a specific matter as long as the individual Christian continues to interpret sacred scriptures by him or herself. Sacred scriptures is really not meant to be interpreted by every Tom, D*ck and Mariah...though this is another matter entirely, I will give an illustration.

The Nigerian government is made up of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. The constitution is supposed to be the bible of Nigeria though it is subject to amendment unlike sacred scriptures. There will be conflicts and division in the country (as it relates to the constitution) if there is no mechanism in place for interpreting the provisions of the constitution. Interpreting the constitution is not left in the hands of everyone. There are those who are given that mandate. This is so because everyone might give a different meaning to a specific provision of the constitution if given the opportunity and this basically is the reason why some Christians get it so wrong.

Well Jay, that is not entirely correct. I do not subscribe to the emphasis people or some preachers place on tithe offerings. I am not against the given of tithe if it is done out of someones free will though I believe firmly that any preacher who threatens his or her members to give tithe is doing wrong. However, I do not believe that tithe given or no is what qualifies one as a Christian. Giving or not giving tithe has little or nothing to do with Christianity. I do encourage support for preachers but tithe is a little off for me. Someone can give tithe and also be a Christian and vise versa.

striktlymi:
Well at first glance sacred scriptures seems to conflict on a number of issues but a well grounded reading and understanding would show that this is not the case. Anyways, this is another matter entirely but really I don't expect those who are not Christians to understand and I do not blame them for this.

Simply put: a Christian is one who does what Christ wants in total sincerity of purpose. The tag Christians I am sure you know was not given by Christ himself. It actually came from the gentiles (those who were not even believers). They gave the name cause the believers at the time behaved like Christ. So a Christian is one who behaves like Christ.

Ola is his own mouth piece!

There will always be divisions and various opinions and interpretations of a specific matter as long as the individual Christian continues to interpret sacred scriptures by him or herself. Sacred scriptures is really not meant to be interpreted by every Tom, D*ck and Mariah

jayriginal:

Good.


Except that the topic really is things christians should stop saying.

jayriginal:
Yes you are correct in saying atheists disagree on some issues, but its not time for that just yet.

jayriginal:
Im sure a lot of christians will take issue with this.

What then entitles one to have more authority in interpretation than another ?

jayriginal:
Also, while I appreciate your analogy, the constitution is not a religious document and like you said, it can be amended.

jayriginal:
Also people dont hold on to the constitution by means of faith.

jayriginal:
Disputes about the law are settled by logical arguments and proof. I could go on but Im sure you get the point.

jayriginal:
Well, I was giving an example. Your reply is relative. However, it is clear that you do not hold that tithe giving is a prerequisite. That pits you against those that do eg Olaadegbu and would essentially mean that you are saying that Olaadegbu is not a christian.

jayriginal:
Let me refernce your post under for convenience.

jayriginal:
Yes at Antioch. We all know this.

jayriginal:
Thanks for volunteering a definition. I quite like it.

jayriginal:
As you are yours. I am sure some of what you said will be disputed by christians. Particularly this

striktlymi:
That was meant to show that disagreements can be found anywhere humans are and not just amongst Christians.

My illustration was meant to point out what is lacking and not who has more authority to interpret. There was a central authority for interpreting sacred scriptures at the time of the Apostles but this has been undermined in recent times. Now almost everyone is interpreting which should not be so.

I believe the above is not relevant given that I pointed it out in my post.

On the contrary, the constitution is accepted by faith. Faith implies belief...if we do not believe in the spirit in which the constitution is written, it wouldn't have been accepted. In a democracy, the power to make laws is given by the people and it requires faith for a people to subject themselves to laws made by a few.

The above is different from interpreting the law. Disputes and settlements as a result of the law are different from interpreting the law. The point is about a central authority having the mandate to interpret the law in order for there not to be disputes in its understanding.

The bold are your words not mine. For the avoidance of doubt: tithe or no tithe is not what makes one a Christian or not.

The ref talks about understanding non-christians inability to see that sacred scriptures does not conflict. I do not see how relevant it is to determining one who is a Christian or not.

striktlymi:
Well at first glance sacred scriptures seems to conflict on a number of issues but a well grounded reading and understanding would show that this is not the case. Anyways, this is another matter entirely but really I don't expect those who are not Christians to understand and I do not blame them for this.

jayriginal:
Well, I was giving an example. Your reply is relative. However, it is clear that you do not hold that tithe giving is a prerequisite. That pits you against those that do eg Olaadegbu and would essentially mean that you are saying that Olaadegbu is not a christian.

strictlymi:
For the avoidance of doubt: tithe or no tithe is not what makes one a Christian or not.

PS: (My Edit)
I take it to mean that you are saying it is not mandatory for a christian to pay tithes.

jayriginal:
Except that the case has not been made that it is only amongst christians that you find disagreements.


You are still going round and round on this issue. Tell us then who should interpret and why their interpretation should be more correct than another conflicting interpretation.


The constitution is not accepted by faith. Please dont go there.



Interpretation of the law is a matter for disputes. Dont go here either.



To make you understand, I am going to quote us sequentially





Now all I have done is to show you the logical follow up of your statement.
You claim that a well grounded reading will show that there are no conflicts in sacred scriptures but that you wouldnt expect a non christian to understand.
Then I told you that even on nairaland there are serious disputes over doctrine. I used the issue of tithes as an example and you have taken the position that tithes are not mandatory. Olaadegbu (for instance) takes the opposite position. The inference then is that he is a non christian because he doesnt seem to have the "grounded reading" you have which would have shown him the error of his ways.
I could use the trinity too as an example, but the tithe one is ok.

What you are basically saying is that you arrive by your position by a "grounded reading" (or others whose interpretation you accept) while contrary positions are arrived at by none christians with no "grounded reading".

See points 2 & 3 of the article.

jayriginal:

Where does he impose his opinion per (b) ?

jayriginal: ^^^

Christ!!!

The whole idea runs like this. There are certain things that christians say as if they are absolute. Stop saying them because there are other christians with different views and that doesnt make anyone a better or worse christian.

Thats the idea.