Expert: Tom Smith - 8/20/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi,
  My names barrett and i was raised a Christian and am finding out for myself what the truth is, studying everything i can, so i am not anymore but maybe someday i will be again. I was wondering what church do people belong to in which they interpret the bible literally, everything literally, and why if it is scientifically proven what is their basis for belief? (i.e evolution) I was also wondering if their was a group that interpreted nothing lierally, or almost none of it. Their is none that i am aware of. And right in the middile, who has the authority to say what is literal and what is not? 3 more, are the Amish christians and why cant you become amish unless born amish? What exactly are the quakers and what do they believe? And lastly why is it that Jesus states only through Him can one be saved, im distressed to think that God will punish someone for what they believe in truthfully if it is not Jesus regardless if they have heard the word and not believed or never heard it at all. Do chirtian REALLY believe that, if you truly dont believe christianity is the truth then i dont think that God expects you to lie to yourself. Obviously someone who doesnt believe Christianity is the truth wouldn't worry about this but being raised a Catholic, i can't figure out if im worried because i've been taught that this is the truth not because i really believe it is.
Thank you so much God bless, Barrett
Answer -
You have asked quite a lot of questions. I will try to address each of these individually.

1) I was wondering what church do people belong to in which they interpret the bible literally, everything literally.

This is widely accepted amongst Christians, and is not specific to any singular church, though there are Churches who reject the literal interpretation of the Bible.


2) Why if it is scientifically proven what is their basis for belief? (i.e evolution)

Evolution is far from scientifically proven, indeed even Darwin stated that the fossil record was the primary weakness of the theory of evolution and yet today the fossil record is pointed to as a strength. I have a degree in science and used to believe that evolution was a fact, and as a Christian decided to study both what scripture says about creation and what science said to show how they were compatible. The Fact is that when I did my research, I found that scripture and science were compatible, but not in the manner which I expected. I found that the evidence for evolution was, at best, weal, and indeed there is considerable evidence which is contrary to evolution.

The basis for the belief is from scripture itself. Let's look at the story of Adam himself. If this is not literal, then it would have to be a fictional story, and yet there is no end to this story as there is to the parables. Indeed, let's look at how the New Testament interprets the story of Adam.

Rom 5:14-15
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
NKJV

Adam is treated a real living human and thus the story in genesis would be historical fact, not fiction. Indeed, note that the references in the NT are showing how the record of Adam is the basis of the gospel, thus to deny the literal interpretation is a denial of the gospel.

Now, to treat this question thoroughly could take a book or two and indeed such books have been written, thus my comments here are not a complete explanation of the literal interpretation and the basis thereof, but it is what is possible in the space permitted here for an answer.

3) I was also wondering if their was a group that interpreted nothing lierally, or almost none of it.

Yes, such groups do exist. Many cults do so and occultic and other groups known as Gnostics tend to deny the literal interpretation.

4) Their is none that i am aware of. And right in the middile, who has the authority to say what is literal and what is not?

I would suggest that we need to study scripture to get that guidance. When Jesus spoke in parables, it was clear that he was telling a story. Other parts of scripture, such as the crucifixion are clearly historical record, and as I showed, the Bible treats the record of creation as historical record. The rules of Biblical interpretation is that where the literal understanding makes sense, then unless something else from the context makes it clear that the passage is not intended literally, it should be interpreted literally. The fact is that God gave us the Bible to reveal the truth that we might know Him and His plan of salvation – he did not give us the Bible to make it difficult to understand and to hide the truth in a code that we had to try to discover from stories.

5) Are the Amish christians and why cant you become amish unless born amish?

-   First, I cannot tell you whether individuals are Christians. That is a personal relationship with Christ. Amish covers a wide array of beliefs, contrary to what many people think and some of the beliefs groups are sound Christians teachings, and others are off-base. So I would suggest that many Amish are indeed Christians and no doubt many are not….just like we would find in many Churches.

-   Though it is unusual for someone to become Amish, it is not unacceptable. The reason why it tends to be those born into the community who become Amish is because it is the lifestyle that they know and it is very difficulty for those not born into that lifestyle to give up modern amenities and to life a very simple and restrictive lifestyle.

6) What exactly are the quakers and what do they believe?

Here are some links that I believe may answer your question better than I can in a short answer:

http://people.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/~ubcg09q/dmr/intro.htm

http://www.cdli.ca/~wking/blair/friends.htm

http://www.bible.ca/cr-quakers.htm


7) And lastly why is it that Jesus states only through Him can one be saved, im distressed to think that God will punish someone for what they believe in truthfully if it is not Jesus regardless if they have heard the word and not believed or never heard it at all.

The reason is this.

Rom 3:21-24
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
NKJV

Therefore without Jesus, we are all lost. What is the impact?

Rom 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death,
NKJV

The Saviour is to save us from the impact of our own sin and restore the right relationship with God. It is not God who has condemned us but we who have condemned ourselves through sin.

So, if we need to be saved, by implication none who require a Saviour can be the Saviour. Thus we need to find someone who does not need a Saviour, one who is sinless, yet scripture says:

Rom 3:9-12
10 As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
NKJV

So how does one find a Saviour? Let's see who is qualified.

Isa 43:3
3 For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
NKJV

God is our Saviour. He is sinless. Are there others?

Hos 13:4
4 "Yet I am the LORD your God
Ever since the land of Egypt,
And you shall know no God but Me;
For there is no Savior besides Me.
NKJV

No, there is no one else qualified. There is but one way to the father.

John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
NKJV

Therefore if Jesus is the Saviour, he must be God in the flesh:

1 Tim 3:16
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
NKJV

But is there not another way?

John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
NKJV

No, you must be born again.

Because Jesus was born in the flesh to enter the world as a man, Jesus is called the Son of God. Why would God come to earth to die for rebellious mankind?

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
NKJV

We also need to remember that as a man, He suffered all that we do and more, and it thus He knows our trials and tribulations. Further, He, as God, is merciful towards us because of His love and desired that none should perish.

Heb 2:17-18
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
NKJV

And what is the impact of receving Jesus Christ as Saviour?

John 3:36
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
NKJV

Rom 5:10-12
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

And this opportunity is open to all.

Rom 10:10-13
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
NKJV

And there is absolutely nothing that we as men can do to save ourselves:

Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
NKJV

If you have not yet made the decision to receive Jesus as Saviour, please consider His invitation:

Rev 3:20-22
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
NKJV

Remember what I said earlier that if one Saviour had finished the job, the rest would not be necessary?

John 19:30
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
NKJV

Thus, Jesus finished the job. But the story did not end.

1 Cor 15:3-8
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
NKJV

So Jesus was resurrected on the third day and is alive today and ready to receive those who call upon His name in truth and are ready to accept Him as Lord and Saviour.

John 3:16-19
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
NKJV

8) Do chirtian REALLY believe that, if you truly dont believe christianity is the truth then i dont think that God expects you to lie to yourself.

It is an essential of Christianity. If one does not believe this, then they are not truly a Christian according to the Bible.

I hope that these answers help.

Hi tom,
  Yes those answers helped alot, but i still have three more. SO what about a muslim whos never heard of christianity or an aboriginy who will never know about it? I mean, thats not only not forgiving but unjust as well. ALso, i probaly should not have said evolution, i meant the belief that the earth is 6000 years old. And one more, o wait never mind, Thanks to the max, Barrett

Answer
I'm glad that they helped. Let me try to address the remaining questions:

1) SO what about a muslim whos never heard of christianity or an aboriginy who will never know about it? I mean, thats not only not forgiving but unjust as well.

The Bible addresses this directly:

Rom 1:18-22
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
NKJV

God says that what they need to know has been revealed in nature. Nature shows us that God is real, and yet men choose to reject Him. Also, keep in mind that man has condemned himself, God did not condemn man:

John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
NKJV

Jesus came not to condemn but to save. Through sin, men had already condemned themselves. Jesus came to provide a chnace for restoration.

Also consider heaven. Those who are saved end up in heaven. Would it be heaven if murders, drug pushers, adulterers, rapists and other who may never have heard of Jesus entered heaven? Would you consider it heaven if it were full of such folk? Now, the Muslim and the aboriginal person may never have committed such sins, but scripture does not differentiate. Scripture says that all sin carries with it the penalty of death, i.e. eternal separation from God. There is no remedy other than salvation through Christ since no one can be born again and have their sins removed with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Is this unfair? No, in fact since all have suinned and fallen short of the glory of God, it would be just if we all went to hell. That would be fair. But God, in His love, chose to come to earth manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16) and allowed Himsefl to be placed in the hands of those who were yet in rebellion against Him, and allowed Himself to be put on the cross that He might die and take the penalty of sin even for those men who were responsible for their death, and all that they needed to do was to recognize who He is and to accept that free gift.

Now there is another side to this. Those of us who are saved have a responsibility to take this message of the gospel into all the world so that they hear the good news of salvation. if we fail to take advantage of opportunities to take the gospel to these people, then we bear patrt of the blame for their eternity in hell. That is one reason why I am on internet and carry out the ministry that I do.

Now usually the next question is how much do they need to know to be saved. That I cannot answer. I believe that there is a factor called "love of truth". I believe that God honours love of truth. We see in scripture that there is a judgement against those who fail to receive love of truth (2 Thess 2), and I believe that God will honour love of truth. God knows the heart of each person - I do not and only he knows whether each individual is saved. What I and those who are saved are called to do is to enjsure that they hear the gospel.

2) ALso, i probaly should not have said evolution, i meant the belief that the earth is 6000 years old.

Again, there is considerable evidence that the earth is younger than many claim. Have a look at this website for some additional information in this area:

http://www.geocities.com/smithtj.geo/creation.html

Again, I hope that this helps! Have a good evening.