God loved me first 
Well, evidently if you extrapolate what is good for yourself, that it must be good for everybody, then there's a distinct problem; like saying there's only one good food. It would be necessary to burn all books if they were held up to a 100% "scripturally perfect" standard, and even the translations of the Bible have had differences, such as saying "Thou shall not Kill" instead of the appropriate "Thou shalt not Murder" - so that would mean we're lost in terms of true veracity of any literary work including original scripture depending on which version? The Bible is the Holy Word of God, and through the ages, through every translation, each new meaning rendered shaves off another, different facets of meaning, each time, which attests to its holiness, in my humble opinion, and proves it as "incorruptable" as a holy book; yet the NT is written by different authors. For myself, as
someone who first loved Jesus because I learned that He loved ME first, because I read a book that perhaps wasn't the very best, certainly not perfect, but pointed out that God wanted to love ME... when, in fact, I had never loved Him. At least, by this "faulty book", I was saved. Millions have been saved by it, that's a verifiable fact. So here's where I'm confused, guppy: To me, this sentence just doesn't make any sense:
"Also, just because people might get saved through this does not mean we should use it as a method to bring people to Christ."
Can you explain this sentence to me, I keep reading it, and it doesn't make sense but I don't know why? Why shouldn't we use any means necessary to get a man saved, as long as subsequently, he comes to know the Lord and good scripture? I've never met somebody who "worshipped a book" like "Left Behind" or "Late Great Planet Earth" or "Purpose-Driven Life" like a "bible". And an example with "eight out of ten..." isn't very realistic, and certainly it's got to be better than leaving them totally godless? MOST people not raised with any religion, get a launching point somewhere, and then get to the Bible. Fact: if "The Bible is all we need..." then the whole world would have been saved by it alone; and that simply isn't true -
in too many cases people need TO BE LED to the Bible. Does the Bible not say that the Word of God will be spread over the entire World? Well in some parts of the world they don't allow the Bible; I'm sure there's books that support the Bible that make their way into those countries, bringing the curiosity and inspiration to seek the Lord and the Word of God. I'm also sure those books are often not "perfect" - and are an interpretation with which not everybody agrees. Millions are saved by being enticed to read the Bible by others, as well as other mediums - such as music - none of which are "scripturally perfect" - and evidently, they don't need to be to save people from the Enemy - to being people to LOVING GOD. Isn't that what He wants? Instruction and details can come later, can't they? None of us arrives perfect, and we all fall short of His Glory. When one loves the Lord and knows the commandments, keeps the Law, has good fruit, and has faith - it seems to me all else is legalistic and trivial.
Another point here is about loving God back; that there is something wrong with pointing out first what God offers you, and that he wants you to live life to the fullest? I learned to love the Lord, through other literature; and that brought me naturally to the Word of God, the Bible; and yes,
it was through the promises of what HE had to offer ME: of course, I learned to have it all turned back to HIM later on. WE MUST START SOMEWHERE when we don't know Christ. And psychologically speaking, this is how most humans operate, we appeal to the selfish side of Man, first. (In pleading with the public advertising not to drink and drive, believe me threatening with fines and tickets works 1,000 times better than "You shouldn't have an accident and hurt somebody!" which doesn't work at all I'm sorry but that's how humans work. They're selfish. Christ is supposed to change that.) To get us weak, selfish humans into an understanding and love of God, Christ said, "Come, have Eternal Life!" :thumbs_up
"Believe in ME! I will save YOU!" says the Lord. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, He doesn't say, "Come and BOW DOWN to me!" "Serve me first and I will bless you!" No,
God blesses us first, and He always has from what I read in the Bible - this is why I glorify the Lord, because yes - HE did give to ME first and HE LOVED ME FIRST - which I *LOVE HIM* for...
I'm sorry, this is wrong somehow or do I misunderstand? I certainly GREW from that first "slightly off target" book, which I think 99% of adults would, since it encourages us to *then seek the Bible*. Just my humble opinion... In the name of Jesus, CaliFlower :rose:
