September 22, 2007
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Following Every Rule of the Bible
Author A.J. Jacobs attempted to spend a year following every rule in the Bible.
He had to give up cursing and he let his beard grow out. He said he was not able to follow it completely. He had a difficult time not coveting. Here is the link: Link
Do you think you could spend a year following every rule of the Bible?
Comments (101)
Umm, no! I couldn’t even follow the 10 commandments for a year!
First!
NO. I don’t even want to think of all the laws I’m breaking right now. -.-
No.
Let me know if anyone says “yes.”
yes, but he’s doing stuff like stoning people and Jesus didn’t even do that… so, I could follow the 10 commandments and try to live like Jesus, but I couldn’t stone people.
impossible. i break commandments every day. good thing i have a Savior.
The Old Testament is an extreme contrast of the New Testament – it would be impossible to follow both simultaneously.
-David
no
No.
This makes me think how glad I am to live in 2007 America. Add that to my gratefulness list.
No
The bible has many rules
Many lame
Many not the same.
It’s a mass of laws over the years
Fears
Prejudice turning to laws to wipe out free thinking
IN the Name of God!
I call it sad all these rules.
We’re finally getting over strict following
and in that some of us are wallowing?
But depriving our needs is hollowing
As we cling to spiritual peer pressure
No…. it reminds me of the time I attempted to follow Benjamin Franklin’s (I think?) guidelines for attaining moral perfection. I couldn’t even make it through one day… it was so frustrating. I think there are a lot of things (such as the whole stoning adulterers thing) that aren’t meant to be taken literally, or aren’t applicable today, and also I think it really leads you into dissatisfaction when you try to make yourself “perfect.” It’s next to impossible and it’s only going to make you frustrated- better to follow the most important things *cough loving your neighbor* than concentrating on what exactly is clean and unclean to eat.
Also, Direshark makes a great point. Following the Bible in its entirety is one thing, following Jesus and his ideals is definitely another.
I believe the rules of the Bible are meant to be guidelines, not laws where if you break one you immediately “lose”. Like “not coveting”. Humans naturally covet, but it’s acting on it that is bad.
I couldn’t spend a week following the Bible. :/
I can’t say that I am perfect. Each of us has our own trials to overcome, and every day must be consecrated to God for as Paul tells us, we must maintain a constant attitude of prayer. Looking to God is ultimately the only answer.
no way. i spend my whole existence coveting. i’d be done right there. the bible is b.s. anyway.
Its a nice goal, but sadly, I’m still a human, born with a sinful nature at birth, will never be able to become perfect. That’s why I need a Savior to help me.
It is possible to do it, but who’d really want to be a pharisee?
That’s 613 laws, niggaz.
No…
I’m curious as to how well he handled the “loving your enemies” part. I haven’t met many who do that well. I.sure as heck wish I were better at it.
I can think of somthing he had done at birth, or he might not have thought this was such a good idea
No, not in this today’s world.. I don’t think so..
I don’t think I could go an hour.
That’s why forgiveness and redemption are so important–because the rule-following is impossible.
No, but that’s the whole point.
No, and I wouldn’t even try. It would be a waste of time IMO.
Wait, so he killed people who worked on the sabbath?
no… praise God for His grace.
Not very possible in a capitalistic society. Tenth commandment and all.
It’s not biblically Christian to stone people
for anything
HAHAHAHA no. Not even 10 seconds.
NO
It would be hard…I would try, and might succeed in some aspects but overall, I know I would fail…everyone would. We’re human. That’s why Christ died on the cross for our sins.
No.
You shouldn’t take them literally by word. They are guidelines to being a better person and doing good for those around you.
No, but he looks great in a beard.
nope, never
No.
But it’t not too important. Rules and rituals will not save you.
hahahahaha. i wonder how that would go, asking people if i could stone them.
God knew that man cannot follow all those rules, that’s why there are sacrifices. and then the ultimate sacrifice.
A year? How about an hour?
haha no
Been there, tried that, didn’t work.
The Law was impossible to keep all the time so a sacrificial system was put in place by God to turn His justice. When Jesus died on the cross he acted as the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling the Law in whole. Because of that, Christians are free to live as they please – but the Bible also warns that although everything is permissible not everything is profitable.
I think the things in the Bible should be a guideline, not a literal description of what to do. Christians themselves don’t follow every single rule in Leviticus, yet they condemn homosexuality. It’s so awesome.
..And, no, I couldn’t follow every rule in that book. Nor would I want to.
There are so many contradictory rules in the bible, as a result of if being written by over a thousand people. It’s completely pointless fooling yourself into trying to follow them all. I’m pretty sure this guy was trying to make that point.
No.
NO
Daniel (doubledb)
NO WAY!!!!!
Nope.
I could try.
So, since I think it’s a work of fiction. I’m not going to follow a fiction book.
It’s literally impossible.
yeah
No.
Nope. I have authority issues.
i cant even follow half of the ten commandments. damn.
No, and since Jesus came to fulfill the Law, I don’t have to.
You can jettison the rules in the OT. We’re not under the old covenant (those of us who aren’t Jewish anyway). There is some overlap, though, so don’t think murdering people is fair game now.
“It is possible to do it, but who’d really want to be a pharisee?”
The Pharisees were not wrong for following the tiniest of the laws (they missed the big ones anyway). They were wrong for thinking that that could save them.
One year exceeds nine months. Has he gone forth and multiplied, and if so how does the lady feel about it?
i think it’s funny how his face gets more and more sad as he pictures go on.
AHHH, HE’S A TALIBAN!!
Hmm… I see him wearing a t-shirt, meaning that he was wearing mixed threads. That’s a rule in the Bible!
I couldn’t even follow the rules for ONE DAY. None of us can- I think that was part of the point (or so the theologians say, anyway).
Absolutely not! That’s the whole point of Jesus coming to the earth. No one does good, not even one.
Oooh… a really good point he made:
“We all talk about freedom of choice, but there’s something very attractive about freedom from choice. Religion provides structure, mooring, anchoring. Should you covet? No. Should you give 10 percent to the needy? Yes. It really structures your life. After my year I felt unmoored, overwhelmed by choice. I have adjusted, but I’m still overwhelmed by choice, as we all are in America. “
Yes, and the existentialist in me is cheering that he’s realized this on such a basic level.
its imppossable yes with great dtrength and detication
we MAYBE could go without a physical but most of our sins are mental
Never. Wouldn’t want to.
Wait.. he wasn’t allowed to shave?
i used to think so until i actually read the bible and came across an interesting part about when women menstruate they have to kill a certain bird and put it on the doorstep of the church each day of their period since they are dirty during menstruation and need to sacrifice or something like that…
i no longer believe any word of that book… its all crazy talk…
No, that’s impossible.
I think that it would be impossible.
There are two different and distinct reasons for the rules in the OT and for the rules in the NT.
Basically the law allowed you to be cleansed of your sins which is what it does. It is challenging to follow ask any Jew.
The NT changed the entire makeup of the “rules” because it essentially provided away to get rid of the need to wash away sins by breaking the curse of Adam the curse of death through sin. People who follow the rules in the new NT still sin and are forgiven of their daily sins but they are not judged on sin but rather faith.
That’s like the short version – lol. There is a lot more to both but it would be impossible to follow both sets of rules. It would probably be pointless too – especially in todays age.
No, of course not. But the rules in the old testament are not important, anyways. We are not saved by rule abiding; we are saved by grace.
Power to him, though, for trying.
NO! I can’t even imagine trying. That is why I am thankful for God’s grace. He knows we are human and that we fail. This isn’t heaven yet!
*sigh* no…
Jesus came to fulfill the law, and be our sacrifice. Through grace we are saved, not by works, lest anyone should boast.
OT – Shows our sin NT – Shows our Saviour
Could I do it? Are you talking about all the OT laws, or just the 10 commandments?
I’m sure not any of us could. Some are easy – do not kill. Do not steal. Keep the Sabbath. Honor your parents. Others are not so easy. None of us are perfect – that’s why I’m glad I’m freed from being captive to laws and restrictions, and instead try to live out a life knowing I’m going to make mistakes, and knowing I will be forgiven.
And that’s why I’m going to burn in hell…. according to the Old Testament. New T.- still gonna burn in hell…
no. i don’t even know all the rules in the bible.
4So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. –Romans 7:4-6
(The written code would be the Old Testament Law.)
7What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”[b] 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. –Romans 7:7-13
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. –Romans 8:1-4
14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. –Romans 8:14
There isn’t any reason to obey all of the laws in the Bible anymore. We are not under law, but under grace! Jesus has already paid the penalty for our sins when he died on the cross, so we don’t have to follow the laws about sacrifice anymore. The Old Testament Law doesn’t apply to us anymore because the Lamb (Jesus) has come.
Oh, and 1 question about that guy who tried to follow all of the laws for one year…Is he proud of himself for doing that? Well, he broke a law right there if he is!
There was once a lady who said she hadn’t sinned in 20 years. When she told her pastor that, he asked, “Are you proud of that?” She answered, “I sure am!”
ah, sad.
I myself try to obey God’s laws, but like any other human, I fail all the time! Thanks be to Jesus my Savior for taking away my sins! Without him, my life would be nowhere.
-Allison
I’d think I’d give up after a hour. My mind is too filthy not to convet something, and as truth is a matter of perception, I could think I’m telling the truth but will always ask ‘that could be a lie’.
’nuff said…
I’d like to get that book, actually. It sounds interesting.
Could I follow all those rules? No way…I’m not perfect.
I do think he missed the whole point of what he was reading, though.
I hope it was fruitful for him. I don’t think I could understand every law….correct interpretation…..thanks to God for Jesus! and for God’s forgiveness….and the law of love….that was my Yom Kippur lesson. I learned I can never be enough…..clearly…..but I can become a person with enough love….working on it.
Yeah after I stone my children to the death after they back talk to me.
I don’t think it’s possible for anyone. Certainly Mr. Jacobs didn’t make it through without a sin. It sounds like he had an iteresting and profitable experience. And if he cam through it with a little more reverence, as he said he did, then so much the better.
Absolutely not, hah.
Aw, he looks so cute in the last picture.
Does he plan to cut off his hand or gouge out his eyes? Kill those who are “God’s enemies?”
Definitely not. I’d probably just shoot myself.
seeing as i cannot grow a beard it would be very difficult for me too do that, *wink*
i am trying to be a better christain, more and more everyday, however.
oh no way! as i sit here my heads uncovered, i’m wearing pants, and i’m thinking of eating the forbidden fruit of shrimp! there’s no way for me to avoid men and sit in solitude during menstration and i have to work on sunday. let alone the ten commandments…since my parents would probably order me to stop my nonesense i would be breaking a commandment by trying to follow all those rules!
I try every day, and fail every minute.
I doubt it. Not even Jesus followed every “rule”:)
if he meets an adultress will he stone her in the name of religion?
No, even if I am a Christian. Dan, what’s with all these religious entries?
You mean including not wearing fabrics with two different fibers woven together and all those other little ones that most people don’t even realize are there? I don’t think I could do that.
Exactly which interpretations of what laws was he following? Old Testament laws? And where exactly does it say you can’t “curse” (and did he give up actually cursing people or just swear words?). What he claims to have done is both impossible and completely pointless under the New Testament covenant.
Did he ask every woman he touched if she was menstruating? B/c I do believe it’s a rule in the Bible that you can’;t touch women when they’re “unclean.”
I would think most good people would have a problem of actually killing their children when they disobey them. It sort of precludes the ability to be a good person and follow the bible.
The Old Testament and it’s Levitical laws was given by God to demonstrate to the Jews that we can’t MAKE ourselves holy by virtue of following tons and tons of rules. Our righteousness is filthy rags to the Lord. IN the NT it is revealed that the heart of the rules God gives come down to two simple (but not easy) points: Love God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Also it is revealed that our redemption comes by grace through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. If we could save ourselves by our own following of tedious rules and regulations- Christ never would’ve come to die in our place.
I think it is important to point out Abraham’s righteousness. He wasn’t a Jew at the time God chose him- he was in all ways a barbaric man- an idol worshipper. He wasn’t even circumcised. But God chose him and made him righteous because Abraham believed God- for no other reason. All that ritual stuff came later as a sign of the covenant between them. Both the OT and NT are littered with men and women who are now in heaven who weren’t strict adherents of Levitical law but were genuine lovers of God.
No.
no. but no person can truly live without sin.
It sure would be tough!