Virgin Birth questioned: the implications

[aron]

Originally Posted by Timotheist

I agree with you up to a point. But when a great big nasty "iffy" like the virgin birth does so much damage to the gospel, in terms of making it even more a stumbling block to the Jews and a fallacy to the Greeks, that I think we need to make a stand.

Own the error. Admit it. You don't have to claim to know all the truth in order to do this.

Simplify the faith. Belief in the text is not a requirement. Belief in a specific definition of God (trinity, triune, whatever) is not a requirement. Belief in a virgin birth is definitely not a requirement.

I wouldn't say, "Own the error. Admit it." That's too strong; there doesn't seem to be conclusive 'proof' either way. Paul was wise when he said, "Let each man be persuaded in his own mind." I think there's enough room under the tent of faith for us all. We don't have to separate into dogmatic camps.

I like the work that you've done, and that you've made it public here on the forum, and endured the slings and arrows. We should be allowed to question everything. I don't particularly follow your argument that where there's difference or divergence, then one (or both) accounts are "error", but at least we should be open to question, and think, and decide.

For those readers who are unfamiliar, every summer there are two indoctrination festivals for LC children. The one for grade-schoolers is called "Summer Camp" and the one for high-schoolers is called "Summer School of the Truth". I was serving at Summer Camp, and the woman running it, an elder's wife, told the children that dinosaur bones had been hidden in the earth by Satan, to cause people to turn away from God. She scoffed, "Everyone knows that there were no dinosaurs."

When you're 8 or 10 years old, unfortunately you have to take it. But at some point you should be able to question, and think for yourself, and "be persuaded in your own mind."

Originally Posted by Timotheist

Only two statements of the faith are required in my opinion. The Christ showed us the way to salvation. It is strongly suggested that you devote your life to sanctification, maturing the new man, getting a head start on the life to come.

For me, there's certainty of a God who loved us and sent His only begotten Son. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. I simply refuse to yield on this point. It is my faith. Therefore I try to behave, and prepare myself by "getting a head start on the life to come", not because I'm a good person, but because the Son told us to. It was His command - "As I've obeyed the Father, so you should obey My commands." And if He told us to love one another, well so be it. Then love one another. Deal with it. It was His commandment.

But beyond that, going into the minutae of the record (which I admittedly love and even obsess over), we shouldn't be too dogmatic. The Pharisees loved to strain gnats, but missed the camel.