The Bible is a compost heap.....

[Grazer]

But you don't throw compost away.

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[Asyncritus]

But you don't throw compost away.

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That's not the point at issue, Grazer.

In my mind, it is bringing the Bible into disrepute to attach such a description to it.

If God says that He has magnified His Word above all His Name (Ps 138.2) then I cannot even begin to conceive of Him describing that Word as compost.

And if that is so, then I wonder what He thinks about us using such a description?

 

[Grazer]

That's not the point at issue, Grazer.

In my mind, it is bringing the Bible into disrepute to attach such a description to it.

If God says that He has magnified His Word above all His Name (Ps 138.2) then I cannot even begin to conceive of Him describing that Word as compost.

And if that is so, then I wonder what He thinks about us using such a description?

As I put earlier, I know I have no way of convincing you but this is where God has taken my thinking. He is with me all through this.

He has given me this mind, this is how it works and God hasn't given me anything to suggest he wants to change my way of thinking at the moment.

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[WIP]

He has given me this mind, this is how it works and God hasn't given me anything to suggest he wants to change my way of thinking at the moment.

Is it not possible God is using those such as Mike, Edward, Asyincritus and others to do precisely that?

 

[Grazer]

Is it not possible God is using those such as Mike, Edward, Asyincritus and others to do precisely that?

It's possible, but its also possible he's using the likes of Paul and others to show that he's ok with this kind of thinking

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[reba]

Psa_1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

[Grazer]

He has to me. I feel bad at having called your words a good analogy. I hope and pray that I have not angered the Lord. Lord forgive me.

Well that's between you and the Lord. I stand by the analogy.

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[Mike]

Well that's between you and the Lord. I stand by the analogy.

Now you're being obstinate and prideful. It wouldn't take much of a man to just admit that you misstepped. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Oh, and it's compost too? :gah

 

[Grazer]

Mike beat me to it. Being prideful and not humble popped into my head when I read your response, Grazer. Not trying to make you feel bad, just trying to help a brother out with a reminder to be reverent to the Lord. Could you boldly approach the Throne of God with your analogy?

In a word, yes.

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[Grazer]

Now you're being obstinate and prideful. It wouldn't take much of a man to just admit that you misstepped. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Oh, and it's compost too? :gah

2 different analogies there, highlighting different aspects of the bible. I don't believe I have misstepped though

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[Jethro Bodine]

I don't believe I have misstepped though

At best the compost analogy is inaccurate. At worst it profanes that which is holy.

God simply does not use his Word like compost in the life of the believer, nor does he ever profane his own Word and liken it to ceremonially unclean things like compost (exactly the opposite as has been shown).

The Word is what grows and increases in the soil it's planted in and is harvested (see the parable of the Seed-- Matthew 13). The Word is not the manure that fertilizes the growth--sufferings, persecutions, trials, etc. are what do that and are left behind at the harvest, just like compost.

The Word is simply not used like, or compared to, compost in the Christian faith. It's not a good analogy at all. The Word is what grows, being brought to fruition, and which is harvested to the pleasure and praise of the Master.

 

[Grazer]

At best the compost analogy is inaccurate. At worst it profanes that which is holy.

God simply does not use his Word like compost in the life of the believer, nor does he ever profane his own Word and liken it to ceremonially unclean things like compost (exactly the opposite as has been shown).

The Word is what grows and increases in the soil it's planted in and is harvested (see the parable of the Seed-- Matthew 13). The Word is not the manure that fertilizes the growth--sufferings, persecutions, trials, etc. are what do that and are left behind at the harvest, just like compost.

The Word is simply not used like, or compared to, compost in the Christian faith. It's not a good analogy at all. The Word is what grows, being brought to fruition, and which is harvested to the pleasure and praise of the Master.

Is God bothered about ceremony though? Didn't he do away with the need for that? Didn't he criticize the Pharisees for being obsessed with

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[abide]

That's probably true, but it's a very, very bad, non-Biblical analogy.

Even the Word of God in Jesus' analogy of the pigs rooting in the soil of the earth is still illustrated as being precious pearls, not garbage. If it were garbage the pigs would have ate it up. Pigs and dogs with their snouts dug into the things of the world, not the transformed people of God, eat garbage. Over and over again the Word of God is portrayed as something very, very valuable like gold and silver, not something rotting and putrid and unappreciated for that reason.

I have to agree with you. The analogy is flawed.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Is God bothered about ceremony though? Didn't he do away with the need for that? Didn't he criticize the Pharisees for being obsessed with

As far as things that weren't really holy in and of themselves, but were illustrations God used to teach abstract spiritual truths, I'd agree. But for the actual realities that really are holy in and of themselves God does expect reverence and respect.

As an example, look at what Jesus says about the Temple and the altar and how the Pharisees actually had little respect for them as the holy things of God:

"15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees...
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it." (Matthew 23:15-22 NIV1984)

In my opinion the Pharisees are guilty of far less profanity regarding the holy things of God in this example than likening his Word to compost..and Jesus calls them 'blind fools' for doing that. In fact, I'd go so far as to say a Pharisee would never suggest the Word of God is like compost in the life of God's people.

I don't know you, but I'm inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt that you aren't secretly harboring a desire to take a shot at the Word of God by innocently likening it to compost. But given what he thinks about the Temple I'd say he's not pleased with suggesting something so much greater than the Temple, his Word, is like compost in a believers life.

 

[reba]

Is God bothered about ceremony though? Didn't he do away with the need for that? Didn't he criticize the Pharisees for being obsessed with

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Communion comes to mind... He did not do away with all ceremony or He made a new one

 

[Grazer]

Communion comes to mind... He did not do away with all ceremony or He made a new one

Is it ceremony though? Or an act of thanks and remembrance? He didn't leave a list of instructions of specific details. When I'm given the cup, I raise it as a gesture of thanks. Others bow their heads. The details seem incidental, its about the heart.

It's always been about the heart.

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[reba]

totally agree it is a bout the heart.

Is it ceremony though? Or an act of thanks and remembrance?

To me it is all this and more.

Down the lines of a personal question...

Way back I stated my view on the 'composting bible' I don't like it yet I do understand the point.... let me ask you this ... You have written you fiancé a stack of love letter you have poured your life's blood into them he enjoyed them they helped him understand you .. they grew your relationship...Would you really down inside what him to proclaim to the world your letters are compost? fermenting kitchen garbage ?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Reba,

Your posts are like the rot of a pile of manure and old kitchen garbage to me because they inspire new life in me.

Thank you.

Jethro

(LOL!)

 

[reba]

Thank you! :toofunny

 

[Grazer]

Ok, this is going to possibly be my last post on the subject.

I was prepared for some backlash for the analogy and for the title but this has gone beyond what I was expecting. I'm not going to apologize for the offense caused because that's no apology at all but I understand people's issues with it to an extent.

I stand by the analogy and all the points I've made in support of it. Yes you can say I'm stubborn, belligerent, unrepentant or a combination but I really do believe God allows us and encourages us to be open with our thinking, to look at the bible in different ways and explore where it goes. We may not always end up on the right track as some have argued for this but God isn't going to smite me down for it, its all part of the learning, part of the journey we take with him. We aren't all on the same route.

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