Hi I am the Admin,
I am the guy who takes care of the maintenance and technical issues behind the scenes on this website. I rarely, if ever, write posts here, however, I would like to take the time to welcome any questions you might have. If, you have questions regarding God, Bible, Christianity, and/or the regular post please feel free to send in your questions.
\”Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.\” (Matthew 7:7)
I was brought up in a Christian family and continue to go to Church. However, the more I learn in High School the more the more I struggle with believing what is taught in the Church and the Bible.
Doesn’t the Bible contradict science?
For, example my Sunday School teachers taught me that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. My High School Science teacher taught me that the Bible should be understood as an allegory rather than taken literary on that issue. Most of my classmates, however, believe that the Bible was simply wrong and should be ignored.
I still haven’t made up my mind on the issue but I want to hold on to Jesus.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Anonymous Joe, for giving us a chance to answer these questions of yours.
I am the Admin/editor and I am not Rev. Mitchell so I will let him speak for himself. Now, since Easter was very recently I am guessing that you may have heard the Jonah Story in relation to the Resurrection story.
I praise the Lord that you continue to go to Church, continue to have faith in Jesus and that you wrestle with spiritual concepts. I think it is important to do exactly what you did which was to give the respect due to both your Sunday School teacher and well as your Science teacher but to keep in mind that people in all fields of study see only in part and are of course fallible. I think you understand that respecting someone and accepting everything they say or two completely different concepts. When doubt I think we should always be prayerful as well as returning to the Bible to check out what the word says. It is of course also good or helpful to seek advice from other Christians, too. If possible I think it is good to follow the example of the Berean’s who received the Paul’s with all eagerness (or gave him a hearing) but also ‘examed the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul preach was so’ (Acts 17:11).
Here, is my opinion on the matter please take it with a grain of salt:
Jonah 1:17 states that Lord provided a for a large/great aquatic creature to swallow Jonah, however, it does not specific what species fish/aquatic creature. If you are curious and you have accesses to Strongs’ Dictionary you might want to check out the terms indexed as #1419 and #1709, these are the two words that are found in the Hebrew Bible Jonah 1:17 which basically means ‘fish’ or ‘sea creature.
Many Christians and non-Christians probably get the concept of a whale swallowing Jonah either from illustrations, children’s Books, or for lack of a better term A Christian Oral tradition.
Some Christians believe that it could have been a sperm whale, for they can indeed swallow of human or at least there is enough space in their mouth for a full grown human to fit but he/she probably would not be able to breathe. However, it is important to note that God can do anything and that the story relates what is meant to be understood as a miracle, not a common occurrence.
And, Some Christians consider the book of Jonah to be an allegory in much the same way your science teacher suggested and others that think of it as a parable. To be, sure just as there are many different types of Christians there are many varying opinions. I personal believe that it is to be taken on faith.
Here, is an interesting post about this very issue:
https://biblemesh.com/blog/q-is-the-book-of-jonah-fact-or-fiction/
I hope this answers your questions
Hello Admin!
Thank you for you taking the time to answer my questions!
Indeed I recently heard my pastor mention the story of Jonah during a recent Easter Sermon. For, whatever reason I was lazy and I did go back to the Bible to check I simply took my Pastors’ and Sunday School’s teachers word for it.
I have just accepted Christ into my heart, and I believe I have been added to Christ body the Church universal. However, I have not yet joined a local congregation as the variety of denominations is a bit confusing to me.
What denomination would you recommend for a new Christian like me?
The above question is also of interest to me, too.
(1) Where is the true Church, or are all denominations equal (and thus part of the true Church)?
(2)And, What does the Bible say about speaking in tongues?
The answer to both how to find the true Church and What the Bible Says about speaking in tongues is the same! The Bible clearly states:
If, this isn’t happening in your Church you just might be in the wrong place!
The Apostle Paul predicted that the gift of tongues would cease (1 Corinthians 13:8).
The gift of tongues was a sign to unbelieving Israel that God’s salvation was now available to other nations. See 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 and Isaiah 28:11-12.
Tongues was an inferior gift to prophecy (preaching). Preaching the Word of God edifies believers, whereas tongues does not. Believers are told to seek prophesying over speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-3).
Tongues are not mentioned at all by the Post-Apostolic Fathers. Other writers such as Justin Martyr, Origen, Chrysostom, and Augustine considered tongues something that happened only in the earliest days of the Church.
Above one can see that it is important to keep one’s faith in check by seeking the Holy Tradition and what true believers who have kept the one true holy Catholic faith have continued to practice from the 1st cent till today. Not, only was the protestant faith not intended, but that the protestant faith or faiths after breaking with the true Church, continued to break into more and more denominations all arguing over the meaning of the text of Bible and all disagreeing with one another.
Let’s stop the madness! There is hope and there is a way out. Come home, come back to the true faith!