[net.religion] Inspired reading of the Bible

dyl (03/24/83)

I am still not exactly clear about how to discuss the subject of Bible
inspiration.  But I like to contrast two kinds of inspirations as a result
of reading the fall of man in Genesis.

One reader is inspired to think that there are contradictions because Eve's
words does not match God's; and God's words are false because man and woman
did not die instantly but lived a long time.

On the other hand, the same words inspire Christians differently and I like
to share some of the things I have learned.  First let us run down the
sequence of events that happened in Genesis:
	 1) God gave Adam and Eve a responsibility.
	 2) God told them their reward, restriction, and consequence for
	    disobeying.
	 3) Eve added to God's words.
	 4) Satan accusing God while offering Eve a false reward.
	 5) Eve lusted to be like God.
	 6) Eve sinned.
	 7) Adam submitted to Eve instead of God.
	 8) Adam sinned.
	 9) God offered them a chance to repent for the first time.
	10) Both ran away from God.
	11) God offered them a chance to repent for the second time.
	12) Adam blamed God.
	13) God offered them a chance to repent for the third time.
	14) Eve blamed Satan.
	15) Both died because of sin in the world.

A Christian may be inspired to realize that:
	 1) Right from the beginning, man has responsibility towards God.
	 2) God always make what he wants from man very clear to man.
	 3) Man tends to forget the abundant rewards from God.
	 4) Man is selfish and rebellious towards rules and authorities.
	    For example, Eve might have thought that "If I am not going to
	    benefit from that tree, I am not not going to take care of it.
	    As a matter of fact, I am not even going to touch it.  God just
	    have to find somebody else or do the dirty work himself."  Adam
	    might have thought "I don't see God but I am with my wife all the
	    time, so I better not get her upset."
	 4) Once man is rebellious towards God, it is very easy to twist
	    his words around giving Satan a stronghold to make accusations.
	 5) Satan is a false accuser of all things.
	 6) Satan offers things not his to offer.
	 7) Desire to be equal to God is the number one no no.
	 8) God is merciful, gives man multiple chances to correct his
	    wrong, and is slow in judgement.  Even when man rejects God,
	    God does not reject man.
	 9) Man's tendencies are to expect the worse, run away from God,
	    blame somebody else, refuse to admit guilt and refuse to repent.
	10) Christians experience no condemnation if they run towards
	    God for solutions, be submissive to God's will and repent
	    when a sin in life is revealed.
	11) All sins originate from entertaining of lustful desires.

floyd!dyl