Wow, its been awile...
huh, Hacker just said the exact opposite of phantom (see, Phantom, there is more than one way to interpret it )
You can interpret it any number of ways. In fact you can interpret virtually anything any number of ways. (this is the reason for different types of churches, eg lutheran, baptist, etc because they don't agree on the interpretation)
First of all, yes, different interpretations of the bible spawn different sects of Christianity such as catholisism and protestantism.
I believe that the bible makes it
very clear in reference to literal interpretations. It clearly points out when an analogy is being used, and/or a parable. The ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek that the bible was written in used extremely specific termanology that could not be interpreted more than one way.
Defending my position against that site, the reason God made all these rules was to not protect us from the rule itself, but the implications it has.
(For example= common one is "do not lust". Implication = lust to porn, affairs, etc (which destroys marriages as we probably all know).)
Regarding faith, we all have to put faith in something EVERY DAY. for example, you put faith in a car's brakes. (You hope they will slow down and stop the car. of course some of our cars' brakes don't work very well )
The commandments in the Old Testament were given to the world as proof that they could not keep them on their own strength. The New Testament, mainly the gosples (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) told of how God fullfilled the commandments of the Old Testament by the Death and Resurrection of his Son Jesus, the Christ.
Most of the Old testament was also the telling of how God set apart the nation of Israel to be a light among nations, and to show the other nations what happens to those who trust in the Lord. The other people groups outright rejected God, even through seeing his power against them. Instead they constructed Idols, and attacked Israel, THAT is why they were utterly destroyed, because they thought they could conquer the Lord's chosen people.
Faith in God is different from faith in other things in these ways: Faith in worldly things is more the Assumption that they will work rather than the faith that they will work. For instance, I expect the microwave to work, I do not have faith that it will work.
Faith in God is not assuming there is a God, it is knowledge that there is a God, and Faith is believing in something that is not seen, felt, heard, etc.
Zues, just because something is known to be true doesn't mean you have to like it. If there were proof of a god, yeah I'd accept that he existed, but I still wouldn't worship him. The most useful tool given to humans is the power of choice.
Yes it is your choice, and I can guarentee that you will worship him one day whether you like it or not. Not my words but his.
Romans 13:11-13 - But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
I don't know from where you all come from, and I do not claim to be your judge, I only say what I know to be the truth. I know I will worship him all the days of my life, and will continue to do so before the throne of Christ.
The only promised reward given to Christians is of Eternal life in the worship of God. All will stand before him whether they are ready or not. But then again, its your choice.
Back to the issue of faith. Those who believe in Evolution have a greater challenge to have faith in. For if you can believe in something that has no proof to back it up, then in a sense it is no different then believing in God.
Oh man, it is good to be back.