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Parables - email to Ray
bhodge10:
Hi everybody,
I just wanted to point something out and to see if anybody else has the following in their bibles (regardless of version). In the Emails to Ray section, the latest one talked about Parables. Specifically the rich man and Lazarus. Here is the funny thing about the belief that it is not a parable. In my bible, at the back of it lists various resources for reference, such as definitions, places, and it just so happens to list Jesus' parables. Well, in short, the rich man and Lazarus is listed as a parable. Actually 2 of my bibles show this. Anybody else have bibles that show this?
okjohnson:
Don't have my bible with me.
But a search of google.com of lazarus and the rich man, turns up a lot of hits that claim it is a parable.
Even Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_and_Dives calls it a parable.
I am not so sure that all Orthodox Christainanity claims it is not a parable so much as they do not interpret it as a whole, as a parable. They interpret it as partially parable and partially literal. There are various approaches to the interpretation of parables, depending on what doctrine(s) someone needs to support. For someone who believes in a physical literal burning hell, then hell in this parable means that burning hell to them.
Of course none of Jesus parables can be understood by Orthodox Christainanity anyway, because of the doctrine's they keep , and their method of literal interpretation, and context.
I think that Ray's reply to this was about the only approach he could take with this person, without taking on all the false doctrines the person had in his heart.
Pax Vobiscum:
Hasn't Ray referred to the entire Bible as a parable?
Does counting this story as a parable change its meaning or its teaching points?
Does it matter whether Jesus' teaching methods were "Based On Actual Events" or not? What if we were to discover that the Lazarus story was fictionalized to make its point or that the Prodigal Son characters were real? Would this change anything?
Peace
ciy:
Pax
Don't know exactly what you are getting at, but one thing to remember it is not Ray that says the bible is a parable the bible says it is a parable. Ray just agrees with the bible.
CIY
Kat:
Hi Pax,
I think the parables that Jesus used have tremendous spiritual meaning, totally hidden from the whole world, ecept for those who are having their eyes opened.
Here is what Ray says about parables.
http://bible-truths.com/lazarus.html -------------
WHY PARABLES?
When one looks at all the parables, as they are "literally" written they really are of little spiritual value, and often are physiological impossibilities, or don’t tell us things we didn’t already know.
Look at the parable of the tares: A man sews good seed. An enemy sews tares. A servant suggests they pull out the tares. The owner suggests that would pull out the good wheat as well.. So he says to wait till harvest and then separate the wheat from the tares, (Mat. 13:24-30). None of the parables are to be understood in their literal language. Some, like Lazarus and the Rich man, are physiological impossibilities if taken literally.
Interestingly, this parable of the tares can be taken literally. That is it makes sense even in its literal language, and does not contradict other Scriptures.
However, it was not meant to be taken literally, and if we take this parable "literally," what do we learn? Quite frankly, not much. Are you suggesting that Christ wasted His time giving little household hints and horticultural tips? Like, how to weed your garden? Come on.
When Christ explains this parable to His disciples, it takes on enormous meaning never even suggested in the "literal" story. Parables are in some ways like fine poetry. Marvelous word pictures having giant spiritual applications and ramifications can be presented with very few words, AND, it is God’s purpose to conceal many of the truths of His Kingdom except to those to whom it is given to understand.
See the spiritual application of Matt. 14:37-43:
The "sower" is none less than the Son of man.
The "field" is the world.
The "good seed" are the children of the Kingdom of God.
The "tares" are the children of the wicked one (Satan).
The "harvest" is the end of the age.
Now that’s some pretty heavy stuff! This is no horticultural tip for would be farmers. I have already shown how utterly ludicrous it is to try and take Lararus and the Rich man literally, not to mention totally unscriptural..
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mercy, peace, and love
Katt
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