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How can I talk to a "literalist"???

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Kent:
 ???

I have been having an online discussion with a person that identifies himself (or herself) as a "literalist".

By that, he takes the Bible literally. Literal fire, literal hell, literal eternity, etc.

But I think I may have taken the conversation too far when, out of frustration, I asked if he expected a 7 headed sea monster, with crowns, to LITERALLY come up out of the ocean. Then I said something about Godzilla vs King Hydra The Talking Sea Monster.

I get this way, sometimes, when I get frustrated. Instead of being all sweetness and light, I go for the sledgehammer.

Is there a way to do this right? Without the smarty pants comments? Is it an exercise in futility?
I didnt start this conversation, BTW. He responded to one of my posts and we have been going back and forth for some time now. I think he is trying to "witness" to me...

lilitalienboi16:

--- Quote from: Kent on October 27, 2007, 03:13:01 PM --- ???

I have been having an online discussion with a person that identifies himself (or herself) as a "literalist".

By that, he takes the Bible literally. Literal fire, literal hell, literal eternity, etc.

But I think I may have taken the conversation too far when, out of frustration, I asked if he expected a 7 headed sea monster, with crowns, to LITERALLY come up out of the ocean. Then I said something about Godzilla vs King Hydra The Talking Sea Monster.

I get this way, sometimes, when I get frustrated. Instead of being all sweetness and light, I go for the sledgehammer.

Is there a way to do this right? Without the smarty pants comments? Is it an exercise in futility?
I didnt start this conversation, BTW. He responded to one of my posts and we have been going back and forth for some time now. I think he is trying to "witness" to me...



--- End quote ---

Well ask him how a lake can be made of literal fire, a lake is made of water, not fire :P

But yea... theres plenty of stuff you could say to them.

If the bible is literal then why did Jesus say that we have BEAMS in our eyes, i certainly don't see any literal beam in my eye when i look in the mirror. Or perhaps when Jesus told the christian to cut there arms or legs off and enter heaven maimed then have there whole bodies thrown into the fire, why isn't your friend walking around with missing eyes, legs, and arms? Certainly these things have caused him to sin? I speak as a fool.

Good luck and God bless,

Alex

Kent:
Thanks.

I am thinking back to when I was younger, and even then, as a kid, I knew that the Bible cannot be literal, because of all of the symbolism and parables.

For some reason, and I cannot figure out why, most christians call themselves literalists, and just cannot bring themselves to realize that not all scripture is literal. Maybe I just need to mature more.
But I am close to just going my own way and not talk about it anymore.

That will last until someone else brings up "eternal hell". Then it starts all over again...

DuluthGA:
Here's another idea, Kent, from Ray's Gehenna Fire Judgment paper:  http://bible-truths.com/lake16-D4.htm


In Jesus' Sermon recorded in Matt. 5:21-26, Jesus was not teaching His disciples on the mount that they would be brought before the Judgment of the nation of Israel if they hated a brother; or that they would be brought before the High Council of the Jewish Sanhedrin if they called a brother Raca; or that they would be burned at the Jerusalem garbage dumped in the valley of Gehenna if they called a brother a fool; or that they would be thrown into a prison of the Roman Empire if they did not quickly rectify a grievance with a brother. It is nonsense to think such a thing. These are Jesus' Judgments for His disciples and followers through all ages.

And so to take any of these teachings literal is to make a liar out of Christ. No, these are Christ's words and they are Christ's judgments. Jesus will not turn over judgment of His chosen Elect to the nations and counsels and judgment seats of this world. What do they know about spiritual judgment? Jesus gives four examples of sin and four examples of how those sins will be judged, and all of those Judgments are CHRIST'S JUDGMENTS:

"For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).



Janice

jER:
But I think I may have taken the conversation too far when, out of frustration, I asked if he expected a 7 headed sea monster, with crowns, to LITERALLY come up out of the ocean. Then I said something about Godzilla vs King Hydra the Talking Sea Monster.

I get this way, sometimes, when I get frustrated. Instead of being all sweetness and light, I go for the sledgehammer.

Try using a mallet, one with a shorter-handle that is used to strike a surface without damaging it and chisel away the wood, literally!  ;)

Often times, making statements in the form of questions (giving another the opportunity to answer for themselves) may lead them to an understanding that "all is not as it seems", nor a Disneyland fantasy. Jesus did not always correct (i.e. Reincarnation) - rather, He taught the truth to the multitudes in parables.

Although, there may be those occasions where confrontation is inevitable, and you must pick your weapon: the hammer, silence or forgiveness - keep in mind, "they have not been given an understanding", as of yet! A Literalist sees the explicit, not the implied (spirit). They view the words precisely as written, even if figuratively speaking – otherwise it is not real.

Keep asking in His Name (character).

-jER

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