Blasi's Beliefs

By Tarah Blasi

In the beginning...

I was asked a lot of questions all at once so I decided to write a book.

Just kidding, but the questions asked are definitely deep and worthy of discussion.  I will try my best to explain in full.  As I began thinking about all of this my mind went ALL over the place so if I get on a rabbit trail just be patient with me.  

The books in the Bible…to just start simply, I believe the books that are compiled now are there because it was a divine process…God chose through men the spoken word of God.  Historically, all the other gospels don’t line up with Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.  Trying to remember what I DO know about these books being chosen, a counsel came out and canonized the Bible saying what was written first hand and by individuals and then put them in scripture.  There was very little if almost no disagreement to what should go in.  It wasn’t till later that the Church of Rome wanted to put the Apocrypha on the same level as scripture. 

It was all pretty unanimous about which books were believed to be actual accounts from authors who are trusted.  Plus, when Christ talks, he pulls from what's in the OT and talks about the law and the prophets (major and minor) from the books that ARE there.  A lot of what’s in the Apocrypha isn’t on par with scripture. 

Like I said, Jesus quotes OT all the time…so He must consider it pretty awesome!  He’s constantly giving lists, quoting and validated everything from OT. 

I want to share something with you from a book I haven’t pulled out in a long time until now. 

“It is helpful for us to learn that the Bible is historically accurate, that it is internally consistent, that is contains prophecies that have been fulfilled hundreds of years later, that it has influenced the course of human history more than any other book, that is has continued changing the lives of millions of individuals throughout its history, that through it people come to find salvation, that is has a majestic beauty and a profound depth of teaching unmatched by any other book, and that it claims hundreds of times over to be God’s very word.”

For all of this to be true, the books in the Bible are pretty amazing, and I believe them to be there for specific reason…not just randomly.

There is a children’s Bible that just came out and it’s called Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name.  “Every story whispers His name.”  I find that so beautiful.  The Bible is about His kingdom coming to earth.  It’s one huge story and we’re a part of it.  The WHOLE Bible is about Him.  Not just stories about Abraham or Esther, or Jesus here and there…no, it’s all about Jesus

(ok, there’s a rabbit trail!)

Now, Heaven…Hell…Purgatory.   A lot is so abstract…especially in Revelation about the coming of Christ.  So much of it is mentioned only in dreams and can’t be taken literally but has to be taken in context.  It’s a picture.  I have to admit that this is a topic I haven’t touched on a lot.  Revelation is a scary book! 

I do believe Heaven is a place where we will no longer feel pain or grow old or feel ill.  God originally made His creation and described it as ‘very good,’ so I believe that when we do go to Heaven we will be rid of that sin that keeps us from that.  We will be what God intended for us from the beginning. 

I also believe Hell is a place…and to end up there would be horrible.  An eternal fire (as scripture describes it) and eternal punishment…

For people who have never heard of God, or believe in different gods, I think God is big enough and amazing enough to do many great works.  I believe that someone in the deepest parts of Africa can see the brilliance of the moon and realize that there is someone bigger than him out there who created such a beautiful image.  I believe God works in mysterious ways and uses other beliefs to glorify Himself.  There has been much I have learned (especially living in Japan) from different cultures and religions that have helped my faith grow in ways unimaginable. 

Now, through all of this…all of my explanations and reasons, I’m sure it all speaks for itself why I believe in only one God.  And going back to evolution, I believe this one God created everything.  I believe He spoke into existence the waters, the sky, the separation between the two.  I take Gen 1 very literally.  God spoke everything.  Creation was such a big deal!