Three Non-negotiables of our Faith

I'm responding to my Pastors words on the 'non-negotiables of our faith'.

These are the only things necessary for shared doctrinal consensus.  These are:-
1) Jesus is the only way to a restored relationship with the Creator and life everlasting
2) The Bible is the inspired word of God - and an authority in matters of faith and doctrine.
3) A belief in the afterlife, where we choose to be with God or not (ie Heaven and Hell.)

Jesus
Different cultures refer to Jesus using different words. Jesu, Isa,
We have other names also such as Messiah, Messi, Lord, Christ, khudā 
The word 'God' is likely to have come to us from Germanic, or Norse religions.  Moses was taught in the Torah not  to give God a name.  God said "call me 'I am...."

For me Jesus is the nature of God that relates to us as humans.  Jesus was before the creation of time.  Jesus was there before anyone knew anything about the gospels.  Jesus is with the large sections of the world who have no real idea of who he is.  Jesus is for all the people who have inaccurate understandings and interpretations of him.  Jesus is the way to the Father, though some may not fully realise what he had to do to make 'a way out of no way'.

We are the fortunate few who have received the revelation.  Meeting with people who do not share a common language; listening to worship in other tongues; we know that we share something beyond words.  Conversely, sometimes we may enter a 'so called' church of God- and feel straightaway that we have no link with this place.  The language might seem right, but our faith is much deeper than language.  It's about loving Jesus.

The Bible.
I think of the bible as the collision of interstellar particles that create a planet.  The bits often do not seem to fit neatly together.  Some chunks we might might wish would conveniently fall off. Other bits are deeply embedded in our contemporary society, without many people realising.  Some verses make us frown and sigh, and worse...

I guess there are verses in every book in the bible that fill us with hope and inspiration.  Conversely, other verses produce bewilderment and out-right squeamish discomfort.  There are parts (yes, we remain loyal to the Torah) that we could now hold up as inciting crimes against humanity.  Some parts of the bible have been used for generations to justify terrible injustices such as slavery and other gross misuses of power.  How many people in history, caught in the act of 'sodomy' have been tried in court, and found guilty, and then thrown into the sea with a millstone round the neck? (As witnessed in 'The Miniaturist' by Jessie Burton).

There are many examples of biblical instruction that we have now conveniently reinterpreted to ensure that we do not end up breaking 'the law of the land'.  Much of the old testament law is very similar to Sharia law.  We hear Jesus saying that he is the fulfillment of the law, and what a relief that is. You have to read an awful lot of bible before you realise this.

Just a few objectional verses.  Gen 19:8 Lot offers his daughters to be raped to save his unknown guests.  Why not sons?  Deut 25:11-12 woman who fights to protect her husband and damages enemies genitals is to have her hand cut off. 2 Kings 2 Elisha is teased by children.  Bears comes along and kills them all, and this is OK? Genocides as commanded by God is recorded in Deut 20, Joshua, 1 Sam, Lev.  It's all very strange.  To our modern ears so much speaks of oppressive 'unchristian' and discriminatory approaches to life.  What about Lev 21 where only 'perfect male specimens can visit the 'Holy of Holys'.  Sounds fascist, (tempered by words in Lev. 19:14, which command protection to the vulnerable.)  I wonder what a modern synod of church leaders would make of the bible today if they, as in past synods, had the task of selecting what was in and what out?   https://www.biblica.com/resources/bible-faqs/how-were-the-books-of-the-bible-chosen/

My view is that we accept the bible as it is.  We start with the words of Jesus, and interpret everything else from this standpoint.  We are most interested in hear Gods voice for us today, and it probably best to just start with the Gospel of John (or Mark).

Heaven and Hell.
I like John Powell's point in his book 'A reason to live, a reason to die' when he say 'God never sends anyone to hell'.  God earnestly desires everyone one of His creation to be saved, like the one sheep from the ninety nine.  It is we ourselves who have gone astray.  All who desire their God, their creator, who seek after the meaning we are offered in life, will be saved by the grace of Jesus.  This goes for all people before the dawn of history, all people who have never heard the gospel,  all people.  The way I feel I might be able to understand this is to think about the nature of my longings for my own children. 

My role is to be open to God's spirit, though seeking to be and holy, thus avoiding the fog and din that obstructs, to hear what my part is, and to be able to see the working of the Creators will.