If There Was No Bible...

Diamond Cross · 10-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Thios question is for Christians.

Do you think that if there was no Bible, could you find out about God and still be a Christian? Or is it impossible to be a Christian without having the Bible?

ballz2wallz · 10-09-2006, 06:18 PM

That's an interesting question...I'll have to think on that a bit.

lew · 10-09-2006, 08:49 PM

Yes. For the first 100 years, Christians didn't have any Bible.

And even now, I believe there are people all over the planet that are Christians but have never heard of Christ or the Bible.

IminWonderland · 10-09-2006, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by lew

Yes. For the first 100 years, Christians didn't have any Bible.

And even now, I believe there are people all over the planet that are Christians but have never heard of Christ or the Bible.

How can they be Christians, if they have never heard of Christ?

motivez · 10-09-2006, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

How can they be Christians, if they have never heard of Christ?

I'd imagine they heard of Christ through some other way, parables or stories handed down.. I would think everyone proclaiming to be a Christian adheres to the bible.. or something that resembles it, ie; the gnostic bible

lew · 10-09-2006, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

How can they be Christians, if they have never heard of Christ?

The Bible speaks of those that have never heard of Christ. These people are then not required to adhere either to Jewish law or Christian principles. However, they are accountable to their own conscience and to Nature's Law and God. God said He would write His Law upon people's hearts - no Bible is required.

I don't believe in Ultimate Reconciliation (the belief that all are saved) but I also don't agree with mainstream Christianity that says that God will damn billions of souls to hell that have never had the chance to hear of him.

IminWonderland · 10-09-2006, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by lew

The Bible speaks of those that have never heard of Christ. These people are then not required to adhere either to Jewish law or Christian principles. However, they are accountable to their own conscience and to Nature's Law and God. God said He would write His Law upon people's hearts - no Bible is required.

I don't believe in Ultimate Reconciliation (the belief that all are saved) but I also don't agree with mainstream Christianity that says that God will damn billions of souls to hell that have never had the chance to hear of him.

So, if someone somewhere remote has never heard of GOD or Jesus, and doesn't know the Bible, you believe that they will go to Heaven if they follow their innate sense of Right in Wrong, and you believe that was written by God?

(Just trying to make sure I understand...)

lew · 10-09-2006, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

So, if someone somewhere remote has never heard of GOD or Jesus, and doesn't know the Bible, you believe that they will go to Heaven if they follow their innate sense of Right in Wrong, and you believe that was written by God?

(Just trying to make sure I understand...)

Basically, yeah.

IminWonderland · 10-09-2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by lew

Basically, yeah.

So if you believe that, do you believe that Missionaries are futile in the efforts? Do they have a real purpose?

lew · 10-09-2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

So if you believe that, do you believe that Missionaries are futile in the efforts? Do they have a real purpose?

They have a purpose, because most people are still lost, even giving the conditions above.

IminWonderland · 10-09-2006, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by lew

They have a purpose, because most people are still lost, even giving the conditions above.

But, if God has written on those people's hearts his word, and they know innate right from wrong, people who deviate from that, how are they Lost?

Diesel66 · 10-10-2006, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

But, if God has written on those people's hearts his word, and they know innate right from wrong, people who deviate from that, how are they Lost?

How many people follow their own morals/golden rule for life ?

ballz2wallz · 10-10-2006, 09:04 PM

You don't have to read about God to know God.

IminWonderland · 10-10-2006, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

How many people follow their own morals/golden rule for life ?

That's not the question if the people follow the rules throughout life, because according to what you are saying, they know the rules. An if they deviate from the rules, they can go back. And they know those rules because God has written it on their hearts.

So, if they don't follow them, how do they know the consequence if they don't have the Bible?

IminWonderland · 10-10-2006, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

You don't have to read about God to know God.

So by that following, if a Tibetan Bhuddist never heard of this GOD, and never heard the Bible, or about Christ in their lives, then would they still go to heaven and know God, even if their beliefs about higher power didn't include the Christian notions?

Scrum · 10-11-2006, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by lew

And even now, I believe there are people all over the planet that are Christians but have never heard of Christ or the Bible.

How can they be Christians without ever hearing of Christ?

It's like being a Yankees fan without ever hearing of baseball.

lew · 10-11-2006, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

How can they be Christians without ever hearing of Christ?

It's like being a Yankees fan without ever hearing of baseball.

They are not technically "Christians", but they are children of the Father. There are three ways, I believe, to be "saved." The first is to be perfect. The second is to hear the Truth preached to you, realize you're a sinner, and receive Christ. The third is to be in a place that's never heard of Christ, seek the Truth, and follow that Truth. Although they may never know the name of Christianity or Christ, they are indeed actually Christians because they follow the Laws and Truth that God has written on their hearts.

Scrum · 10-11-2006, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by lew

They are not technically "Christians", but they are children of the Father. There are three ways, I believe, to be "saved." The first is to be perfect. The second is to hear the Truth preached to you, realize you're a sinner, and receive Christ. The third is to be in a place that's never heard of Christ, seek the Truth, and follow that Truth. Although they may never know the name of Christianity or Christ, they are indeed actually Christians because they follow the Laws and Truth that God has written on their hearts.

lew · 10-11-2006, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

What?

ballz2wallz · 10-11-2006, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

So by that following, if a Tibetan Bhuddist never heard of this GOD, and never heard the Bible, or about Christ in their lives, then would they still go to heaven and know God, even if their beliefs about higher power didn't include the Christian notions?

Perhaps, in the same sense that American Indians also believed in a higher being, also known as 'God' to us. These are things you'll have to ask God when you get the chance