"We believe the Bible is God’s roadmap for life. Therefore, we value communicating the timeless truth of Scripture in cutting-edge, culturally relevant ways."[0]
[0]: https://www.liquidchurch.com/about-liquid/values-beliefs/
- God is the creator and ruler of the universe
- Jesus died and rose from the dead
- The authors of the Bible were supernaturally guided
- The only path to salvation is Jesus Christ
These are the same core messages taught by the fundamental baptist church of my youth, and I wonder what they mean by communicating in “culturally relevant, cutting-edge ways”.
It seems this claim is more about the format/technology they use, and not about a more enlightened framing of the Bible and Jesus. They continue to preach a sectarian/ethno-centric worldview (i.e. if you were born in the wrong country, you’re kinda screwed) that reifies the anthropomorphic “father god” understanding.
While I consider myself an atheist, a position solidified by my own time in the baptist church, Judaism has always impressed me for its ability to interpret its traditions not through a literal lens and continued clinging to scientifically and philosophically untenable viewpoints, but as a framework that needs to continually update its understanding of the world to remain relevant.
As a Christian I find this to be particularly unnecessary. Do I have to believe the earth is 6000 years old, or the sun stopped moving, or there was a talking donkey. This kind of statement is only needed if you trying to justify your own doctrine by picking verses. I wish it would stop. Early Christians didn't even have a bible.
> Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And not to mention that the New Testament doesn’t say anything about homosexuality.
There is a big difference between heterosexuality within a loving, monogamous relationship and without such, just as homosexuality within a loving, monogamous relationship and without.
As long as homosexuality is monogamous and within a loving relationship, it is no different, meaning no more or less sinful, than a monogamous heterosexual relationship within a loving relationship.
> Letting your hair become unkempt
> Tearing your clothes
> Drinking alcohol in holy places
That kind of goes against the holy communion
> Eating an animal which doesn’t both chew cud and has a divided hoof
> Going to church within 33 days after giving birth to a boy
> Picking up grapes that have fallen in your vineyard
How many churches pay their employees daily?
> Holding back the wages of an employee overnight
> Trimming your beard
I won’t even get started on this one…
> Mistreating foreigners
Where, for example, does it say Christians cannot drink in Holy places?
> Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die.
-- Leviticus 10:9
Applies to Priests in the church/tabernacle, not other Christian participants of communion.
Also, the spicy tone of that blog isn't very charitable:
> 14. Drinking alcohol in holy places (bit of a problem for Catholics, this ‘un) (10:9) [“You will die.” May only apply to the priesthood.]
It almost certainly applies only to priesthood, given the audience of priests it was told to; and "lest you die" isn't the same as "you will die" which makes it seem like gods punishment for drinking.
Some priest believe the wine is transformed into the literal blood of Christ, some don't.
For those that don't, I'm sure the "lest you die" is taken as meaning not to drink in excess.
The point is, the rule isn't "If you drink in a holy place, your punishment will be death".
> That kind of goes against the holy communion
Not every church drinks wine for communion, many drink grape juice.