How the Bible ACTUALLY Works | God is Grey
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Is it okay to doubt the Bible?
What about all the contradiction?
Interviewing author Pete Enns on a fresh way to read the Bible.
#Christian #GodisGrey #peteenns
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[Video Title] | God is Grey
[Video link]
“Jesus didn’t die to change God’s mind about us, He died to change our mind about God.” Wow. I am definitely reading his books.
Did he say "didn't"? Either way, it still implies the reality of the situation. God is the mind. The One Soul. Were this to be the case it proves a very clever trick, though sadly it did not work out as intended.
We are sinners in need of a savior. Jesus died in the cross for our sins. He rose again in 3 days. Once we realize how wretched we are we fall on our knees before God and repent. What a cheapening of what God did on the cross. This is not the gospel .
Cecilia Ramos I’m disappointed you’ve apparently completely missed the point of this interview and for that matter the full richness found in the complete Gospel message.
@@ceciliaramos2280 Which interpretation actually makes sense Madam?
@@ceciliaramos2280 keep spreading the truth! Don't back down!
So.. I actually was recommended this video by you after leaving a vary conservative Christian comment on one of your videos. I actually was not going to bother watching this video, but I’m glad I did. I cannot disagree with anything in this video and I need time and prayer, but ... I might even be adopting this new perspective and dumping the old. So, thank you for all that you do. Thank you for making your channel, and for having the courage and knowledge to back up what you preach, and thank you for replying to comments like mine in such a gentle manner. Your attitude towards people really displays the presence of Christ.
thank you, love. I'm so honored to hear this xoxoxo
Beware cause God is not grey author is not conservative nor will she point you to Gods Word the Bible ! All her beliefs based on feelings and opinions !!
@@danielrisk5731 Did you actually watch the video? She clearly stated to read the bible yourself. She also makes sure to always open up with stating that her views are based on a lifelong journey of experience and research and these are the conclusions she's come to. She isn't the enemy here. She points us to the word and the holy spirit rather than relying on flawed humans. At least that's what I've got from her channel, and I really don't see how you can take it any other way.
@@danielrisk5731 Well in most of her videos she states biblical and logical reasons for her opinions. "Feelings" is a copout.
@@danielrisk5731 Aren't you doing the same by leaving this comment?
I love the look on other Christians faces when I say, "Paul and I are gonna have words when I get to heaven!" Hopefully someday my words will make people laugh instead of horrifying them. Wonderful conversation.
love it...me too
Haha yesss. I love this thread xo
I was so mad at Paul for years, to the point I wouldn't even notice the value of most of his inspired words. Some of his verses were still too precious for me to dismiss but I would always have an instinctive adverse reaction to him. Poor guy! Indeed, he lived many many centuries ago and his views of women's roles were the cultural norm at the time. I still expected more from a man of God, but alas we are all fallible and that includes apostles as well. I came to LOVE Paul when I found common ground and realized what a wonderful spiritual and dedicated person he was. He was trying his best, certainly still much better than I have ever been able to.
@@bio.Luminescence love this!
Same!
G-d is Grey, you are an amazing person. I’m not a Christian, I’m a Reform Jew, but I still adore you and your role in the liberal religious movement. Thank you.
We love your channel too bro
Sceneable so I’m not the only Jew watching this channel lol.
Same to literally all of this. I am a reform Jews and I love her
This channel is blasphemy against the Bible. It’s disgraceful.
Michael Tarren Scott cool
That's my college professor....haha wasn't expecting to see him on a random CZcams video I clicked on
Mary Ann Mine too!
Jealous!!! I would love to be taught by Pete Enns!!! He's a beast!! His podcast is amazing!!
@@chaseellefson4726 I know!! Mine too, I recommend it to pretty much everyone I meet hahah
you are lucky to have him indeed....very thought provoking. Love his podcasts and books!
Lucky you!!!
I completely relate with this! When I was in church I often asked questions they didn't like. They tried many things to make me stop. They would; ignore anything I said, chose people by name and never call on me instead of going in a circle, go to one of the few places I couldn't because of disabilities, stop asking "does anyone have any questions?", pull me aside and ask me to stop, be quiet for a moment just looking at me and them move on, and say something like "God is perfect so questioning him is sinful" or "because that's the way God chose to do it"
I felt more out of place and unwanted at church than anywhere else.
me too, i mostly thought the bible was too abstract and confusing. this has clearly shed some light, helping me understand it better.
@@darkstrifequeen1458 yes! I love God is Gray. She is insightful and loving and she interviews insightful and loving people. This is the Christianity I want to be a part of. I don't ask questions because I don't have faith. I can ask questions because I do have faith. I feel like these people get that.
As a Christian you don’t have to justify the commandments or even like them. You are not his criminal defense lawyer. That’s what I tell myself anyway. As long as I have a good reason to believe in the resurrection of Jesus regardless of my personal feelings i will always be a Christian. Then we can ask God questions why certain laws where there but I am sure it wouldn’t matter when we have eternal lives in heaven
@shitpost account I need to read the old testament more when it comes to the topic slavery because from what little I remember about slavery in the Bible it is so different to how we apply or see slavery.
Wow. I’m sad you had to put up with all that. You’re valued by a God who made you curious and willing to think for yourself.
The lesson that we can take:
Divine Inspiration doesn't mean Divine Dictation. Divine Inspiration doesn't erase bias.
The Books (and layers) of the Bible where written by many different people in many different times and situations.
Scripture is the product of the time it was written in. One key to understand the Bible is to consider the contexts(!) it was written in.
We need to recognize, that those who wrote the Bible where still humans with their own flaws -- living in their own times and situations.
When we understand that, we can take what the Bible can teach us from there...
That’s helpful. Thanks gif laying that down with clarity 👍
What a great coincidence! My church is currently doing a bible study on Galatians. In chapter 2 (I think) Paul explains that Abraham didn't have the Law or the Bible but instead it was his faith that was counted as righteousness. In the same way, we too are saved by faith.
If you mean people today, when you say we. It is not about just having faith. The question is faith in what?, faith in who?, because I can put my faith in many things for example: a football team, your mother, father, sister, brother, or many different god's. The important part is who we place are faith in
Been waiting for a new video! You’re ministry (or community if you prefer) is really feeding my soul. I still have my doubts but I can’t deny that I crave your point of view on God and the Bible to be true. Because maybe that means I can still have a relationship with Jesus.
Tasha Soto ❤️
I love that xo thank you for sharing ❤️
Youve been doing this consistently for a year and you are reaching out to me all the way in South carolina.
Its impressive.
im athiest, but you radiate the right "energy."
Cant wait for another video
Hey I'm from South Carolina
Hi Brenda, my name's Grazia I live in Wales and I'm 15, and I'm grappling with my faith. I don't think it's fair to just follow Christianity because my Nigerian parents are very traditional (i.e. homophobic, non-feminist etc.) Christians. I try debating different topics with them, but it's like they don't take me seriously because I'm a girl - I'm young and confused and they say that I "won't get it" until I'm older. I struggle to agree with many views in the Bible, which my parents believe; my best friend from primary school, Fatima, is Muslim. My other best friend, Amelia, is aethiest and my close friend Lauren is a lesbian. Obviously my parents don't see eye to eye with with any of them, but I can't imagine my life without them, we support each other and they add so much value to my life.I've also watched your videos with Jimmy, and in short, I just want to ask why do you continue to follow Christianity, when you could be an athiest and still read the Bible and determine your own belief system? (I also asked Mr Atheist why he wouldn't consider just following a liberal form of Christianity). I'm naturally very inquisitive and I love math and science because everything can be proved. But I won't deny that I feel that there is something greater than us, that life isn't just a happy coincidence and everything has a purpose, but I'm not sure... I would really appreciate your thoughts on this.
Princess Obuzor Hello Grazia! It was so sad to see your comment unanswered. I'm obviously not Brenda. I'm 48 years old and a lutheran pastor. I think your struggles are very similar to the struggles many of us face as christians. I think very few people can tell you why they believe in God. I certainly can't. I just believe. I don't believe for any other reason than that faith has always "been there". I believe and when my faith is challenged (and it is all the time, since I love to surround me with different people like you do), It just keeps being there. Maybe I will loose it one day, I don't know, if it happens, it happens, and I hope I will still be happy. I think Brendas videos are wonderful tools to help you with this. "Love thy neighbour" and "those who judge shall themselves be judged" are biblical confirmations of the importance of your friendships with different people. Take good care of them!
Try watching the Bible project videos on CZcams. I have loved Jesus all my life, but the Bible and the western church ‘s theology just confused me. These videos helped me understand this ancient book. I’m so happy you have found friends you can trust and love, they are your true family. I also think of you as a sister and look forward to seeing you in our next life.
Hey I am also a Nigerian Christian but I think my parents are more liberal on feminism. I did question my faith at some point but this year when I did proper research I think what made me confident in my faith was the evidence of the resurrection. If you are a Christian simply because your parents are or based on your feelings there will likely be a time that you will start to question it. But if you have a good reason to believe in the historical resurrection of Jesus based on the eyewitness testimony and you accept what he has done for you have then you are saved by grace. Read the book the case for Christ or watch the movie and you can also watch Gary Habermas video on the evidence for the resurrection and also William Lane Craig. If you have any questions feel free to ask
@@ellasmith6554 I’m actually very curious to ask you, given you’re mindful of the historical context (which to me seems crucial). I guess technically people would call me “an atheist” and I do not follow any organized religion or believe in any deity, I was raised secular Buddhist and I would say that this is the closest thing to a religion I have- though I am very inclined to science and my main conception is that at the time, none of our modern scientific knowledge existed and it made sense to attribute certain things to something sacred or bigger- for instance it seems silly to us now to imagine people used to suppose the world was flat, but it doesn’t make sense for somebody to just luckily guess “hmm I think we actually live on a massive sphere floating in the universe along with other large globes composed of various elements following complex laws of physics that shall be identified and mathematically quantified in the future”- so the philosophical concepts of Buddhism that are still very much relevant and I think the concept of enlightenment makes perfect sense and is not the same as typical religions and salvation and I do not necessarily believe in reincarnation but I think given the context it makes sense why people believed that and I do believe that we should live our lives as if we would live on this earth again and not suppose death is the end or that we are any better or more than other living creatures. And for karma, I believe that it is not some mystic force but rather simple logic- if I am kind, have pure and kind intentions and do not behave selfishly and feed into selfish and illogical feelings caused by the ego then this will make my life much easier, bring more positive to me, and I will become more aware and able to relate to others and the world around me. And having a degree in psychology detaching from the ego and understanding the concepts that the ancient Sanskrit texts describe actually make sense- modern psychology and social work theories used in some of the most successful, ethical, and evidence based therapeutic models such as DBT, CBT, and MI employ techniques remnant in these ideas- in fact DBT includes mindfulness.
Anyways, my question is, (out of curiosity not trying to debunk you or disprove you I truly am curious to hear your opinion), what do you make of all the other religious views over time? Ancient Greek polytheism and other polytheistic beliefs that existed before Christianity or any of the Abrahamic religions? The Sanskrit religious views such as Hinduism and Buddhism.... and even those that were not too far off from Christianity, like Islam? What is your idea of what the religious beliefs before Christianity stemmed from? And how do you feel confident your evidence that indeed supports the existence and resurrection of Jesus is the correct version despite evidence still being present for other religions as well? Again not trying to say you’re wrong or corner you- I respect your Beliefs regardless and I’m not entitled or the authority to say whether I’m right or wrong or what the true meaning of reality is. But sadly I cannot engage with many Christians as they do not even respect my perspective and do not typically have any knowledge of the vast context
It’s crazy, I have been struggling and meddling with almost every single thing you address in this video for the last few weeks. This came at the perfect time and made me feel so validated in my beliefs. Thank you
madzy la Me too! It’s so cool to know other people are right there with you!
This exact same thing is happening to me right now. ❤️
@@natashaw151 I hope you find clarity! Sending you love and comfort
Great interview! Thank you, Brenda! You're such a great light and influencer for liberal Christians and thinkers who aren't afraid to question their own faith to get a deeper understanding of God's truth...right on time in relation to where I'm living in my faith right now! XO
Lionhearted ! Yes, I love Brenda too! And I studied Peter Enns in my bible as literature class and that class made me fall back in love was God and gave opened the door for a rational belief in God. Brenda is one of the reasons I started a liberal Catholic commentary channel. ❤️ God bless
the HippieCatholic Brenda/GiG is one more reason I started a channel, too, focusing on LGBTQ+ Christians and women in the church! Awesome! I will check out your channel. I only have one post so far, but will have many more in the next few months. Rock on, sister!
This Progressive New Age Liberalism Christianity is hogwash and it's FAKE CHRISTIANITY!
Girl, I will gladly devote an hour to this video. But after I've had more coffee. Love you.
I‘ve just found you on CZcams. I really see the light of Christ in you. It’s obvious to me how much you love Jesus, because it’s not easy to live in between the camps. You give me hope that it’s possible to follow my heart and my intuitions, also affirm my body and by doing so not lose my faith but even growing deeper into it through ups and downs. To explore and to learn Wisdom. You‘re beautiful.
Heard the podcast and it warmed my little heart! This is the type of conversation I would have devoured as a Christian teenager! Like living in fear of doing something wrong in front of God really messed with my mind back then. This conversation was so freeing and should be had everywhere!
Thank you for this conversation. Wow. I’ve had so many Christians that I really look up to tell me that you can’t pick and choose why you believe from the Bible and I have struggled with it for so long
An hour well worth it! This discussion brought me so much peace!
I'm thankful for the church I go to. When my boyfriend and I first started attending our sermons discussed Paul in the positive light you mentioned at the end of this video. I wish people wouldn't be afraid to share the whole verse that starts "Wives submit to your husband". A true living relationship is a submission competition between both people taking each others needs into consideration.
As a matter of fact, in that same book there is a verse: Ephesians 5-21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
It's basically calling both spouses, the husband and the wife, to submit to each other in order to maintain the same equal playing field. Relationships are all about give and take. If both partners, not just one of them, put an equal amount of time, energy and effort into the relationship, then chances are it can last a really long time. Just a matter of dedication and care on behalf of both of the participants.
Kind of makes you think the bible may be more egalitarian in nature than people usually think it is.
"We're all figuring this out together." I love that.
We are at a point in history that the systems we have built as church leaders are no longer enough for the society we find ourselves in. God is bigger than all of this, but our systems are not.
OMG YOU TALKED TO PETER ENNS!?! WE STUDIED HIM IN ONE OF MY CLASSES AHHHH I’m not fangirling, I swear... maybe just a little bit 😂❤️
Also, I really love how Peter talked about Sola Scriptura and the theological problems that brings up for followers of Christ. I found the way the Catholics read the Bible as both refreshing and realistic... and it’s the first form of Christianity so there’s authenticity there.
Awesome video, it’s so cool that you got to talk to Peter Enns ❤️❤️❤️
the HippieCatholic I hope by omg you meant oh my gosh
Jack R I meant “oh my gummies” 😂😂
dragongirl7978 Aw thank you! “the HippieCatholic” is my new spirituality+commentary channel, if you checked it out that was be really appreciated. But yeah, I actually found that Catholicism is often misunderstood by both outside it and within it. Unfortunately, the conservative, extreme militants control most of the conversation online and in general, but if you look at statistics, Catholics support liberal causes and vote astonishingly liberal.
I hope you have an awesome day 💕
dragongirl7978 thank you and I’m definitely going to be reading the article you recommended ❤️❤️❤️
Umm, the first form of Christianity became two forms Catholicism and Orthodoxy, it wasn`t the first form
PRAISE! I have always thought these things and you're actually discussing them! I feel validated, encouraged, and hopeful! God is so good for providing discussion and understanding and grace.
mind blown! this answered so many questions I've had, for so long. Recently, I've been at my last stretch with the bible, understanding what it means to be a Christian anymore... and seeing it from this perspective makes it all the more beautiful. As a kindergarten teacher, I relate to it... in the sense... Just like my students, have their point of view of me
(Or my friends and family). Doesn’t mean they fully know me. They see my actions, buut there is much more to me than what meets the eye. They don't see my reasons for doing what I do, and there is purpose behind it. They might misinterpret my actions, or think situations are happening as a result of my doing, but not really knowing if it is... and just assuming. And I still love my students, family and friends regardless.
And God is ok with us not fully understanding him. He showed us more clearly through Jesus, but through our culture and circumstances... sometimes we get him wrong, and as we explore, we get to know a little more about his true character, or what is not.
helloitsme oh I love this comparison ❤️ it’s perfect
Wow. I am an atheist but it is really refreshing to hear Christians speak about faith and the Bible like this. Maybe I will be led to Christ once again
Worth a try! Read the Bible from cover to cover with an open mind- u never know
And read from biblical scholars. I recommend Tim Mackey and John Walton.
@@viridianacortes9642 I feel people that are Christians have had experiences that convinces them and I have not had such experiences. I think that would be much more effective than any argument because I have heard A LOT of arguments.
@@youtubeuser8393 I’m just recommending a few people you might be interested in reading from seeing you liked this video and if you’re interested in studying the Bible. Also, I have to admit that experiences are very essential proof and are the reason I still believe in God. I don’t think I have faith because of my character, but because I was lucky and saw cool and unusual shit in my life. I would recommend looking for those experiences, but to be honest it may be hard to find. Idk, maybe one day if you pay attention you will have one of those experiences. Either way, just have fun in this life, and look for knowledge and wisdom wherever it is.
@@viridianacortes9642 Thank you very much. I'll take your advice
The deceptions of the enemy are not always dark & scary.. and easy to spot. Many times people who are deceived are happy, loving, gentle & peace loving. If you don't take time to read the scriptures yourself..you WILL be deceived.😥
35:30 The literal reason I refuse to identify myself past Agnostic, because I flip between atheist and a very unsure Christian- it's conservative Christian's that scare me away from trying to connect with god. Also it doesn't say god started with Male and Female, it was Man and Woman, I'm a trans person and I can tell you, God didn't make a mistake, I needed to be the way I am, but I am a Man, not a woman. God made me that way.
Thanks for including Pete Enns in your conversation, here. He is one of the authors that has been very helpful in the development of my understanding of faith, God, and my relationship with my ‘neighbor’. As well as a better way to read and study the Bible. It’s actually a fantastic collection of writings IF you allow those writings to help you work out wisdom. Good interview!
Gary Ellis thank you! 🌹
Enns looks strikingly similar to John Cena.
Rampaging Chipmunk DUN DUN DUN DUUUUNNNN
OMG HE DOES
@@loveistheway.2882 thanks for that ;)
You have helped me grow so much with God and help me get the answers I was looking for. My soul is filled! Keep doing what you are doing!
Not all belivers in Christ think every word in the Bible was literally God's spoken word written down. A lot of believers in Christ believe the Bible is God-inspired.
Thank you so much for this beautiful conversation ❤️
This addressed exactly some problems that I just could not really wrap my head around for years... Now I will use those precious thoughts that you gave me, and will further explore on my own.
Greetings from Austria!
Fantastic video! Thank you for this! So healing, so healthy, so truthful.
“jesus didn’t die to change god’s mind about us, jesus died to change our minds about god”
Thanks Brenda for providing this interview to CZcams viewers. Pete encourages many of us in an age of the hard edge of fundamentalism. I also enjoy the subject matter of God is Grey. Thank you!
I love God is grey SO MUCH. Regarding Paul, it's also important to point out there are letters attributed to Paul that were most likely not written by him and also later additions to his text, which would explain the different perspectives towards women in church
I am so glad I found this channel. So many videos reflect the thoughts I’ve had for years. Could you make a video about finding a church that reflects many of these more accepting and non-archaic beliefs? Or provide your thoughts on how to make a church your community even if all of their beliefs don’t align with yours?
I ask this because I find that I will go to a new church. I will love it for a few months. Then, the more embedded I get, the more I find out about some of the beliefs of the leadership. Most notably beliefs towards women that really bother me, like women less spiritually capable and women cannot lead or preach to men. Long winded question, but I hope that makes sense.
Yes please! I struggle with this as well. If some of us in the GodisGrey community, live near each other... can we all just hangout and grapple with the bible, life, and have fun? XD
Have you tried attending an Episcopalian church? It's definitely not for everyone and it can take a little time to get used to, but questions are encouraged and differences in beliefs are more than welcome. They're also accepting of women in leadership roles as well as accepting of the lgbtq community. I've only been Episcopalian for a year but I love it. They meet you where you are on your spiritual journey without trying to convert you to a certain way of thinking, and they don't settle for easy answers to tough questions. I didn't think I'd ever meet a group of Christians who I felt truly embodied Christ until I gave the Episcopalians a shot. Anyway, that's just a suggestion haha :) I hope you're able to find a church that feels like home!
I cama to you via Mr Atheist (the irony ) listening to your conversation today was so interesting , I've beeb brought up as loosely Church of Englan, we never reallty went to church but as an adult I've been exploring my spiritual side. What you and the professor said made so much sense. Iwill be going to his facebook page I want to know which of his books to read first and do I need a thorough knowledge of the Bible. Thank you so much and happy Easter
you should do a video on keeping your faith strong when you get into the christian ‘funk’. i personally felt like a hit a wall in my faith that i could not climb over and since then i have distanced myself from church and God. i want to go back but i’m unsure where to start. i would love to see where you, as a beautiful woman of God, do/have done during these kinds of seasons! thanks!
Madison Martinez come back please, pray
Jack R i actually had an ‘urge’ if you will, 30 minutes before service began, to go to church today. i cried during worship and i cried again at the message because it was so what i needed! i’m still finding my way back but holy moly God is wonderful!
Madison Martinez I’m in a funk :/
@@drpigglesnuudelworte5209 God is in the funk with you and it's ok :)
Saskia Scott I don’t worship god anymore 😔
For me this was 80% gold and 20 % the stuff that twenty five years ago drove my life to disaster.
great videos!! I love this channel it helps me to know that I'm not the only one who questions things 😁
So many light bulb moments in here! And so many concepts I have resonated with over the years were articulated brilliantly. Thank you Pete Enns for your dedication and commitment to study the Bible and reveal to us, normal people about the complexities of the Bible. And Brenda, you are an absolute doll. I can't tell you how much it meant to me when I came across your channel. To finally know that I'm not alone in all of this. And to a certain extent, my intuition and intellect is correct. Thank you guys!
Awesome!!! Thank you guys:) I was once looking for so long to come to the knowledge of that same thing which you discuss, only from the other side of the world in Ukraine... That was a painful experience and thorny way without Internet and good libraries around! You are bold and doing great job! It was a freeing experience for me back then in the end of 90-ties... Now people have much more media and many still do not listen:( My short testimony supports all you say, especially after my shifting from strong atheist, through fundamentalistic views to the place of today's freedom in the Lord! I highly recomand our classic Nicolas Berdyaev, he is a brilliant thinker who wrote on these and many more subjects beginning already in 1900!!! "On the destiny of Man" is the famous one!
I know what you mean about people jumping to the "you're not a Christian" defense. Even if I'm just asking exploratory questions, I immediately hear some version of that, some of which go as far as "Repent! And believe on the name of the Lord Jesus". Drives me crazy.
@Jaime Lannister It seems like you didn't even bother trying to understand her statements before judging them and judging her. Your comment is "exhibit a" for what I was talking about it my comment originally.
This is so grown up and nuanced. I love the mystery of God being embraced rather trying to control God. This attitude is likely to enable me to keep my faith, enjoy it again and still grow psychologically and spiritually. Thank you. 🙂😌
“It’s so freeing when you embrace wonder instead of knowing.”
New subscriber here! I've been binging your videos. You are such a beacon of hope for Christians. God bless.
I'm half way into this interview and I would just like to say that some of this scares the poop out of me 😂 I feel like...not seeing the bible as infallible is soooo dangerous and idk how that works... I just know that for a while after I converted I was like...do I really need to read the bible...God? And a year later I started to read Matthew from the beginning and I got to the part where Jesus is in the wilderness and even though I had read and heard about that passage a million times it just HIT me... Jesus...is...using...the word...against the enemy... 💥🤯 THE WORD IS IMPORTANT. I MUST READ IT. LOL. And since then I'm so happy to be reading the bible pretty much every day now... It's SO insightful and wonderful in so may ways. And God speaks to me so much through the bible. Not all the time of course but so often that I can't deny the importance and usefulness of it. When I was doubting reading the bible and...well...I was just not reading the bible lol...God rarely answered any prayers. I never had any revelations... So...for ME at least...that says a lot. :))
Btw I got a good friend who doesn't read the bible but is a christian and... Please can you pray for God to speak to him? Whoever is reading this. ☺ GOD BLESS YOU
Quite interesting. A thought I had during the discussion on wisdom and trusting your own experience: to not do so is rather antithetical to wisdom itself.
yes I LOVE Pete Enns! The Bible for normal people is brilliant & I also love his book 'the Bible tells me so' xo
a friend told me about the bible that it's not finished, but we just stopped writing stuff in it to protect it. lol she's a precious little nugget.
I gotta share this because I gotta give God the glory and hope that this will help someone out there.
For a long time...I've been very confused and dying to know the truth. Dying to know how to live my life in a way that's pleasing to God. Dying to UNDERSTAND. Dying to know what SIN is and what RIGHTEOUSNESS is. To be the person God called me to be...
I watch a lot of youtube -- bible studies, testimonies, sermons, etc. Do a lot of research. THINK a lot. About what is right and wrong. Ask a lot of questions... Questions people usually can't adequately answer... Questions that frustrate, confuse, and downright SCARE me sometimes...
Today I was watching some videos and I wanted to write a reply to someone. So I did some bible research and after reading a whole chapter, I was, for the millionth time, confused. And I just suddenly blew up because I felt UTTERLY TIRED OF IT. I started crying and got on my knees and was honest with God. "HOW DO I LIVE BY THE TRUTH IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS?! HOW DO I LIVE MY LIFE IF I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT ME TO LIVE MY LIFE?! I read the bible and I'm CONFUSED. WHY AM I CONFUSED READING YOUR WORD???!!! Is that REALLY supposed to happen?! I can't STAND this anymore, GOD, I NEED ANSWERS. I NEED YOU." And I cried more because it's so painful to just want to do our Father's will but not know what it is and not have a direct and immediate way to just find out and DO IT...
Anyway I randomly clicked on this video for no reason other than I thought I recognized the dude in the thumbnail... The title barely even registered to me. Turns out I didn't know who this dude was at all lol. But...the intro to the interview was...on point with what I was going through. And then this dude was talking about letting go of needing all the answers because God is GOD and he's GREAT and then he was saying how God is not a helicopter- er, lawnmower parent lol and isn't hovering over us making sure we have all the right answers... He lets us -- His children -- think about stuff and make mistakes to learn from them and that allows us to grow in maturity and thus in confidence... (faith)... that is actually biblical too.
(1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls. + www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=romans+5:3-5;+james+1:2-4;+1-peter+4:12-13 )
And then he said how it's okay not to be right all the time, it's okay to be wrong... and I just broke down...again.
I try SO DANG HARD to be right all the time aka to understand what God wants me to do and DO what God wants me to do. I want to do right by God all the time -- SO FRICKING BAD... So that again brought me to my knees to repent and ask for forgiveness and revel in God's infinite mercy and kindness and gentleness toward me because he knows I'm fragile... Like... I'm just... He's perfect and every glimpse of him I witness... I'm in such inexplicable awe. God is just... He just continuously blows my mind every time he answers me. Like I'm speechless. I'm still in pain because LIFE IS SO HARD and this is NOT an easy journey...but I just want to praise him because though things get tough and we feel lost...he's still there. FAITH IS SO HARD. God help us all. Hallelujah.
question - how would you go about balancing the idea that we are humans and its ok to mess up and that God is ok with us being human but also acknowledging that God hates sin and that sin does lead to bad things in our lives which is ultimately why God hates sin. i like the idea that God is ok with my humanity, but i realize in my own life that my humanity is what ultimately leads me into hurtful, bad and unfruitful situations. in some ways i dont want the God of the universe to be ok with my Humanity, I want Him to point me to whats best, and in my experience that isn't my own humanity. for example you and i both wouldnt want a mother to be chill with her toddler running in the street all the time or eating cake 24/7 just because that was the nature/humanity of the child. we would want the mom to lead her kid in a loving way to what is best, which would be away from her human nature and to something better. Would love to hear your thoughts. Anyways just some food for thought. I do enjoy your channel!
your videos have helped me so much Brenda as someone who recently met Jesus, BLESS YOU, thank you
I love your channel and content. Keep up the good work. God is good. Always.
I have been told I'm blasphemous because I say God learns with us and I say the Bible was atempt at understanding. Because God is forever changing glowing and all powerful
The definition of the word blasphemy is saying something that is in complete contradiction to scripture. Meaning that if I were to call you blasphemous, I would have to quote what your saying, and then find a scripture that says the complete opposite of what you said. And unfortunately for you, you are blasphemous. To say “God is forever changing” and “still learning” first off. That’s not true. God said “I am the lord thy God, I change NOT. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” Malachi 3:6 and Psalm 119:89 “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” so yes, you are blasphemous, I would change that.
This is a divine thought!
He seems like my kind of person I love it when people are curious about the Bible
Hi Brenda, love your channel! I'd be so interested to see how you spend your "quiet time" or how you connect with God and read the bible...A bible study video with you would be so awesome!! xo
Hello! I’m Curious to know, can you talk a little bit on what your view is on salvation ? Like in your understanding so far in your walk with God❤️❤️❤️
Sarah Dallass sure love! Hopefully I’ll get to it soon xoxox
I have a recollection of Luther describing the Bible as the cradle of the word of God. I am not sure if it was actually Luther but this metaphor resonated with me.
I enjoyed this so much I sent it to my dad so we can discuss it at youth group 😊 I also wanna read that book
I think the difficulty people face with many scripture passages is that they are not rightly dividing scripture. All scripture is inspired (God-breathed) by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness - 2 Timothy 3:16. We have to be careful to make sure we are not attributing the bad things in the Bible to ones that God endorses. But to the point about women being silent, you have to make sure you are distinguishing what dispensation we are talking about. God's plan has had many dispensations, all with different ways to administer that dispensation. Paul most likely was referring to women in the apostolic Jewish assemblies. This was a transitional time as the church was mostly Jewish converts and their laws and customs did not allow for this. Make sure you don't blame God for things like this! His Word is true. Man is infallible, but His Word is not! As stated in Luke 21:33, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." Or, Matthew 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished." We do not want to make light of this. Make sure you are reading a direct-translation Bible and not a paraphrased Bible. A good place to start is the NASB or NKJV. Then seek out those who teach about the dispensations. You also want to make note that before Jesus' death, everything was based under the Mosaic Law (10 commandments, etc.). We do not live under the law anymore! We live under grace! How amazing! There is no "grey area" with God. He laid out His plan perfectly and brilliantly and without error. People on the other hand are fallible and we must keep the two separate. That is why Jesus Christ died for us. God knew there was no other way. As sinners, we have no other hope but through Him. Blessings!
He is TRIED and True he Can USE anyone or anything Even the Rocks cry out unto HIM....it is to my belief that some of us then and now get caught of the FOUR wall roles , and therefore BOX God in with has gone on throughout the ecclesia to say one thing without illuminating the viewers on the actual gripe within the text is to play the middle ground for discussing what has already been Established and will be Established when Heaven and Earth pass away and the revalancy of God's character but most of all His WORD that is both Lamb and LION he will use HIS WORD as the INSTRUMENT of defeat against those who come against HIM.
Amen Ernesto Villalpando! Jerimiah 6: 28..28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.
:D
Oh man. I am so grateful to you, Brenda..you are like a spokesperson for my heart.
Especially about the subject of Paul.
Thank you so much for this. I have been listening to Pete on The Bible for Normal People for a month or so now, and have lapped up all of the discussions. CZcams recommended this interview for me, and I am really glad to have found your channel! I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. It's so freeing and nourishing to have these discussions. Sending love from the UK!
thank you so much for creating this video! so helpful
This is so affirming....so inspiring ....thank you....thank you
Wow this video is so good and helpful. I’ll be getting his book for sure!
I’m really curious just to know that if there is no actual law for us to follow, what can be considered sinful? Is there really sin by that point if we just have to follow our hearts and our truth? Is there any reason Jesus even died for?
I don’t mean to sound rhetorical with these questions, I am curious for the sake of an answer. It just seems like the God is grey community bounces around these answers and I’m curious to know what the beliefs are on them.
You didn't ask me but I'll give you my opinion in case it helps fill in any puzzle pieces for you. I believe that since Jesus is the perfect revelation not only of God but of what it means to be truly human, then we need to judge it by his character.
He also said the greatest commandment was to love God and love our neighbour. Likewise John said that love is the greatest commandment. And Paul says that whatever does not come from faith (trust) is sin.
Another key verse is that perfect love casts out fear.
So for me, sin is anything we do/don't do that hurts someone else (truly hurts them, not something that is challenging but makes them grow), anything that we do or not which ruins the image of God in us, hurts us or ruins our fullest vocation in the world. Anything we do out of a sense of fear rather than trust in God. That's sin. And you can't just get a list of sins from a rule book which is why the bible can't be used that way effectively. You need to listen to God's holy spirit along with listening to your own experiences, understanding the character of God in the bible and hearing Christian tradition.
Saskia Scott Saskia Scott I love your response! Especially with how you said it’s about knowing the character of God. That’s what I’ve been shown a lot lately, but it’s not just the character of Jesus we are to follow but to understand the character of the father. And when it comes to the law, that is the very thing that leads us to Jesus! To see that we cannot uphold the perfect standard that God has and see that we are sinful will have us find the cleansing and redemption in Christ! So everything you said is true but just loving is not the whole thing! I believe that is our role but we also must let the truth be known as well but give love so that the truth can be revealed to people overtime rather than shoving it expecting others to get it.
@@regnthegovernor yes, truth is something I left out of that response but you are so right. Truth and love though as I see it are not opposed but two sides of the same coin, just like justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. It's a guage I use often for myself - is this thing I think is true loving and constructive for others and myself? If not, I need to rethink it. Not necessarily chuck it out completely, but I must have got something wrong if it isn't loving. Likewise, if I'm doing something I think of as loving, but I catch myself not being honest (with myself or others) about my motivations for doing so, or telling little white lies or something, that's a huge red flag for me that what I'm doing is not really loving.
The other thing I would like to respond to in your comment is about knowing Jesus not being enough, we have to know the Father too. However i believe that their essence is the same because this is the Trinitarian doctrine. Same essence, different persons. Also the bible says Jesus is 'the very image of the invisible God' and 'no one has ever seen God but Jesus has made him known' and Jesus himself said 'if you have seen me you have seen the Father'. So taken from that view (which you might not share of course) it's a warning sign that something is wrong with our understanding if we see that God the Father's character is different from God the Son's character. Since Christ is the perfect revelation of God and not the scriptures (which are God breathed but not said to be the revelation of God's image the way Jesus is), that's the reason I put a lot of emphasis on filtering my view of God through Christ.
Saskia Scott oh I fully agree with what you’re saying!! I just used the idea of understanding the father and the son in the aspect that you used by basically saying you can’t have one without the other, because understanding the trinity in it’s parts helps understand God as a whole
i strive to be as nice and understanding as you are. love you and your chanel
When you starting talking about joe I was SHOOK, my mom and I were literally having that exact same conversation earlier today
Love this - going to get his book! Such thoughtful explanations. I began to question things I was being taught about 30 years ago ... my mother was NOT happy. In my heart & soul I just new there was more correct info and I was tired of regurgitating the doctrine I was being taught. Thank you!
Lots of lgbt people want to come to God. We’re behaving like Pharisees. Like the fig tree that bears no fruit. Fear informs most Christian’s life and belief. Belief informs behaviour, if it’s not loving and kind behaviour it’s a problem, it doesn’t line up with love.
This was such a great way to spend an hour, I'll definitely be on the lookout for Pere Enns' books. You have been such a help for me as I explore my spirituality and Christianity. Could you do a video on how to read the Bible? I've been having some trouble with how to read it. ❤️
How do you see prophecy fit into this perspective? I would love to have heard him speak on this and end times.
Wow. 12 minutes in and I am IN IT this is SO good ❤️❤️
Is it more likely that God let his children tell the story, or that man made up the story about God? Do all the “debates” (or contradictions) in the Bible point towards God’s inspiration, or man’s inspiration? These are the tough questions that keep me up at night.
Read half the book...really liked a LOT of it, but had to put it down, it didn't resonate with me. It raises all the right questions, but then the conclusions don't seem spot on. He seems to be looking at it from our human viewpoint here, which I totally get, and exalting Humankind's wisdom--and gives the impression that the truth adjusts' and changes, which I don't believe is accurate not scriptural. If anyway, we're growing in our understanding of Him and His ways, and have been looking through mists from the very beginning, and are getting more right every day. He makes it seem like the truth morphs and evolutes, which IMHO is fairly arrogant--I think He's had it right all along, and got it in His book, but we're growing in understanding. There's a bit of 'chronological snobbery' here, as C. S. Lewis put it in his day: We're the latest, the most modern, and everyone before us got it wrong.--FINALLY, someone is getting it right! He exalts his take on things, but presents the Bible & Christianity as so manipulated throughout history for survival, and I think fails to see God's hand and work in everything. All in all it reminds me of the Genesis 3 conversation: "Did God REALLY say such?" This book for me tends to discredit or diminish the Bible, 'putting it in it's place' in his mind, but really explaining it away as anything but supernatural. His lack of belief in the Spirit world and all it's beings is very 21st century, but step outside of America and Europe, and see how Christians in other lands view things, and you'll see they recognize a world very much alive with beings, that Americans and Europeans will never see just because they've decided beforehand 'there aint no such thing.' I don't think this book strengthens faith in the Bible, only encourages human logic and reason (wisdom - and man's wisdom at that, not God's), not encouraging people to read, believe, find powers, answers, strength, etc. I identified a lot with the problems and failures of Christianity/Churchianity over the centuries, and got jazzed with the questions he put out - spoke my feelings at many times - but not the overall was the Bible was presented...the book I have been reading for 50 years now continues to work miracles on a daily basis all around me.
I gotta get this book.
I love this, thank you! Now I have some verses to look up and a new book to buy😁 ❤️
Very interesting ideas about hire the Bible works. Only one problem - why would all the same not apply to sacred texts of other religions? Such as the Baghvad Gita? Or the Koran? Or the Ilias and Odyssey?
It’s also important to mention that the book of Job, is literally a story that says that God will NOT give you all the answers. The book literally ends with God telling Job to trust him and never tells him that the reason for his suffering was because of a situation happening in the Devine council in heaven. Even the Bible says it will not give you all the answers.
A clip of him was showed in "the secrets of hillsong" docuseries!
"It's not actually God telling us not to do x. It's other people..." Meanwhile, Exodus 20, "I am the Lord your God. None is higher than me. Do these 5 good things, and do not do these 5 bad things".
I totally get that denominations have added extra ruies. It's not fair to say that God Himself didn't have any though. He said it clearly, and Jesus repeated those same 10 as a aummary statement, even saying he was summarizing the law.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! XDDD You talked with Pete Enns!!! YAS!
This video changed my life years ago.
Thank you Brenda 💗
Yeah. It’s odd evangelicals being scandalised by the observation that the Bible is a diverse patchwork of ancient texts. I mean, to me, that sounds way more intriguing than seeing it as this flat, black and white rule book that can be literally interpreted. Despite the obvious ignorance required to see it in these simplistic terms, and the clearly dangerous implications of taking texts literally without any hermeneutics or exegesis, let alone historical criticism, it’s just infinitely more respectful of the Bible to recognise what it really is, and not make it this totem for religious cultic hegemony.
God is grey❤️❤️❤️
YOU INTERVIEWED DR. ENNS?? HOW DID I MISS THIS?!
This is my favorite episode, Brenda 💞💜
I seriously doubt the whole virgin birth story. She got pregnant by a "spirit"? really? who had access to Mary and could have exploited her? I've heard the scandal explained as rape by a Roman soldier, but that's not in the text. What *is* in the text is that she went to visit her cousin, and when she got back to Nazareth she was obviously pregnant. Knowing what I know from stories of exchange students sometimes attacked and raped by their host families, I strongly suspect Zecheriah (Luke 1:39-45) could have molested Mary while she was living in his household. Luke glosses it over with the holy spirit explanation and how her cousin Elizabeth reinforced it with her own story about the baby leaping for joy in her womb, yada yada. Elizabeth enabled her husband's bad behavior with this silly spirit pregnancy nonsense, and then they sent Mary back to Nazareth to face the consequences.
I just got this book on my kindle and it’s brilliant
Refreshing to find a YT ethics & religion channel that ACTUALLY INTERVIEWS SCHOLARS. Thanks.
I found this an interesting conversation; although it did little for me. Where do I go when I did not grow up think god push the quill on the parchment, that Bible is thoughful ideas which you you ought to discuss and ethics are a human issue and nothing to do with any god. I felt bored after ten minutes - waiting for something facinating to be brought up. It was like a straw man debate
pete enns understands me
This is very eye opening. Thank you
This made me order the book. Luckily they ship it to Hungary. Thank you!
Hour well spent
Please don't misunderstand me as being mean/attacking.
Exegesis. Coupled with things like a reverence for God and biblical humility, that's "how the Bible works." "My opinion" isn't how the Bible works. With verses like "do not love the world..." (1 Jn. 2.15), it is definitely a bad idea to use current opinions of the world system/societal opinions to arrive at scriptural conclusions. Therefore, it's a great idea to preface Bible study w/ a prayer for communion with God and an effort to examine one's self...and address what we're bringing from the world to Bible study. If we don't address our own faulty thoughts, it's going to lead to bad interpretation/errors.
And what is the Bible, really? God speaking through Moses and the prophets, God working in the lives of sinful people and interacting with them, God (as YHWH) speaking directly, God (as the Holy Spirit) speaking, God (as Christ) speaking, the people who walked with Christ and were full of the Holy Spirit speaking, the story of the early church (Acts, apostolic letters) etc, etc etc.
Studying is a quest to find truth. It's not a quest to justify/prove opinion (then we have the issue of preconceived notions). Thus, the more sensible quest is to keep the emphasis on studying to understand what is being said.
"Traditional" isn't really the right word. "Biblical" is a better word. If you have an issue with "biblical," then that's another conversation. The Greek/Hebrew dates back to the first century. I'm going to trust that over anyone's or any denomination's opinion. So it makes a lot more sense to focus on exegesis. If "the fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge..." (prov. 1.7a) and "the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Prov. 9.10), then we need to continue to study and exercise humility before God to continue to work toward an understanding of what we're reading....and accept that we're only going to "...know in part..." (1 cor. 13.9).
The same goes for me. I may be a scholar but that doesn't mean that I'm anywhere near understanding everything. There's points of debate but God Himself is not grey. ;) There's plenty of clear, black/white language in scripture that goes against what you're teaching.
Teach people how to study, and how to think for themselves. A professor shouldn't be forcing his/her opinions on students. I strive to focus on teaching them the core material...if I ever share my opinion, I make sure they understand that it's just my unreliable/subjective opinion. And that they can examine the data honestly and draw their own conclusions. But my main objective is that they understand how to study. I want them to have an objective foundation. I don't want them studying my opinions. I want them studying the data. If your students are just regurgitating your opinions, you have failed as a teacher.
answersingenesis.org/jesus/jesus-is-god/was-jesus-wrong-peter-enns-says-yes/
I love the humility in your perspectives. I wonder though what makes you stick with the Christian God at all, given the massive issues you rightfully sense in the religion.
I've listened to much of your work, but haven't heard you explain that. I would love to hear it, if anyone knows where she has addressed this question :)
@Jaime Lannister if you compare the OT and NT tactics of this "same" god, that explanation doesn't check out at all... Carry on, though
I’m saying wow so many times i love this so much