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Mr_Fish@lemmy.world 4 days agothe whole point is to follow the laws of a book
No. The whole point is a relationship with God. The reason we read the Bible is to learn more about God. The Bible isn’t an instruction manual, it’s a biography of God and his people.
rockerface@lemm.ee 3 days ago
If that’s the case, God and his people has done some pretty heinous shit.
skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
Disclaimer: not Christian, but I like to read about religions and their interpretations, I’m a huge slut for occult literature
I think that’s a part of the message, actually. It’s repeated a lot in the Bible that Man is fallible and can be expected to sin in ways great and small. Even “God’s chosen people” are frequently tempted to sin and, indeed, fall to it. But there’s still a path to heaven for them afterward if they can put their heart into it.
This prevents people from thinking “well I’m already a sinner so I best keep at it while I’m able to, since I’ll never be given an eternal reward” and gives some hope of actual proper rehabilitation even to the worst people. Even rapists and murderers can have the opportunity to truly repent and live good lives if they want to. It won’t wash away what you’ve done in the mortal world, but when you reach Heaven if your heart truly repents what you’ve done then you can be allowed inside. You can’t fake that though. God and the angels can see right to the heart of your emotions. If you aren’t serious about it you can and will be cast down instead.