"Full of lies" - is a bit of an overly, condescending - and completely disrespectful way of describing the Bible. Example.
If I were to give someone a character judgement, "Mike Meador is full of lies." I pretty much discount any good he may or may not have in him, and belittle him to someone who is basically no good, and of no use to anyone.
I've studied the Bible my entire life - current versions, and have studied alot of translations (time-consuming) from the Hebrew and the Greek. Being raised in Protestant/Pentecostal churches - and visiting different congregations since ( Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, etc. and everything in between ) - I've seen alot of different philosophies, and seen the good and bad of the faith/faiths in general. It doesn't take too much effort to see the same thing going on in other faiths. ( Not as a result of the faith itself - as a result of foolish men perverting those faiths )
Also growing up, I took note of the inconsistencies in the Bible. The things that didn't add up to me. The questions that I thought should be answered, that I couldn't answer.
I'll admit I was in the minority. People all too often choose to blindly follow a faith, without diligently studying and questioning that faith. By question I do not mean question God, I mean question "What has man's role has been in that faith?" And, "Because of that role, what has changed, or possibly changed over thousands of years?" "What has gotten lost in the translations? the misinterpretations?"
Man is a very IMPERFECT creation - what he touches, what he has his hand in - given enough time, will eventually be a lesser version of the original. We just tend, as a majority, to do stupid stuff. Money corrupts - power corrupts - pride corrupts.
From a young age I knew something was wrong with the current state of the Bible. But at the same time, I DID NOT DISCOUNT the GOOD of the Bible, and the TRUTH found therein - the message, life, and example of Christ - the vital principles of love, compassion, sacrifice, forgiveness, etc. Morality in general - personal responsibility - discipline, blessings, and curses. Its all played out in ALL of our lives, some get a grip of it all, as best they can, some think they are getting a grip, and some could care less. People think those things are NATURALLY things we may or may not just KNOW or PRACTICE in life, but people are also ignorant to the fact that we as a country, have been so immersed with GOOD RELIGIOUS values, even non-religious people practice many of the same principles and virtues - and take for granted where they came from. I've been lucky enough to go to many countries and chill with many types of people around the world - I'm VERY thankful for the US, after traveling most of the US, I'm VERY thankful for Texas. Different debate all together.
There IS a spiritual side to this life, to us, that most people either reject all together - or are just completely ignorant too - or both. I personally believe that the ability to discern between the truths and the "lies" - as it pertains to God, religion, and similar topics - is found within our spiritual beings - as our SCIENTIFIC/HUMAN minds are too weak, and too limited, and honestly CONFINED to the things that we can see, prove, and find in a text or philosophy book.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - the Bible is a roadmap. But imagine a roadmap, handed down, re-written over thousands of years. Map dots, locations, new roads, dead ends, wrong information, "lies," - the initial roadmap becomes a treasure map - symbolism, and mistranslation has taken the place of DIRECT LINES and CLEAR INSTRUCTION.
So for most people who are only willing to give the Bible a quick onceover looking for 2+2, its not that simple. Then it all boils down to do you care in the first place? I answered that question YES when I was a kid. And I eventually found the answers I was looking for. To look at a book as complex as the Bible - to go off of what others have written - other MEN - the same types of MEN who corrupted the book in the first place, is foolish.
The journey to the knowledge of the Bible, of its origins, of its purpose - is, in my opinion, a very personal journey, and one that would require one's entire life to comprehend.
But the message itself is simple. People are evil bastards without rules/laws/codes of ethics/ and without respect for God, and the spiritual side of life. Evil men have distorted the Bible, and other religious texts - throughout history, to make room for their own evil, selfish, and destructive plans. Jesus is not a fairy tale - his life was well documented in historical texts outside of the Bible. In all accounts, he lived a blameless, sinless life - as an example to us, of how to live, and how to treat people - and died as that perfect example on the cross, at the request of a mob, IN PLACE of a known thief and rapist. Evil men crucified Jesus, and Jesus died for those same people.
So amidst all the obvious flaws and inconsistencies of the Bible, its only OUR OWN inconsistencies and flaws that would cloud our vision to a point where we cannot see the PERFECT MESSAGE found within that same Bible, and the perfect life of Jesus, and the principles upon which to live our lives that WOULD ONLY SERVE TO BENEFIT ourselves, and those around us - thats not speaking on faith, thats fact. "Do unto others as you would have them do until you." Do that for a few years and see where it takes you in life.
I've never been, or at least tried not to be, one of the "judgemental" Christians you see and hear so much about. I personally believe Judgement is to be left to God. I however am not afraid to call out a friend or family member when I am concerned about a choice or action made that I believe will cause hurt, pain, or destruction to themselves or others, and do so only because I love them, and care enough to say something. I only ask they do the same in return - I got their back, and hope that they have mine.
SEE SOME PEOPLE - mistake EVEN THAT, for judgement - and those are the same people who want to do whatever they want in life, nevermind the consequences, nevermind the hurt they cause themselves or others, never mind the blatant disrespect in which they live their lives. And its those people that can't be helped without first helping themselves.
There are good people who don't believe in God - but I would always, after walking in my shoes, question DISbelief, before I would question belief. Its so much easier to NOT believe, than to believe - all you have to do is be born and die. Walking in and living your life by faith - faith in the truth found in the Bible, with spiritual guidance attained only through faith in a higher power, is a much more difficult route. I say that - but SO MANY TIMES in life, I've seen people going through situations similar to mine - going through the ups and downs we all go through - we all go on that downward slope towards rock bottom, but its how fast you stand back up, and how fast you stop that decline, that determines outcomes/results - and character in our lives.
I've only made it to this point because I have a built-in rock that I can lean on, in ANY situation, that I'm sorry to say alot of others do not. And I have a family who has the same rock, who is always there to lean on as well. Life is hard at different points for all of us - but our actions when faced with those difficult times, the summation of all of our motives, and the intentions of our hearts all the while that will be judged when its all said in done, but not by me, thank God.
