Imagine a world in which Christians debated what it meant that Jesus rose from the dead. It seems absurd, doesn't it? It is literally the central message of the Christian faith. Jesus suffered a real, physical death, from which He was really, physically resurrected. Believing that is literally a requirement for salvation. But you may be surprised to know that the disciples once debated this!
"And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant." - Mark 9:7-10
This, of course, is before the crucifixion even took place. At that time, the Jews had certain views about who their Messiah would be. He wasn't going to be some untaught son of a carpenter who died on a cross. He was going to be a conquering warlord who would throw off the Roman oppression and return Israel to its former glory. A brutal warrior was what they wanted, a suffering servant was what they got.
"Till the Son of man had risen from the dead" doesn't leave much room for debate. Nevertheless, because of the disciples' preconceptions about Jesus, this was confusing to them. A straightforward interpretation challenged their cultural sensibilities, and so they debated it. They debated not because it wasn't clear, but because they didn't like it.
Far too often, our culture does the same. Not so much with the resurrection (although there are some pseudo-Christian religions that do question it), but far too often, we cave to the culture, and reinterpret the most simple and obvious of scriptures. Did God really create in 6 days? Does God really expect us to wait until marriage for sex? Does God really forbid homosexuality? Is the husband really the head of the wife?
Did God really say?
Sounds familiar. Ironically, in one of the clear yet debated scriptures, the devil twists the word of God, and out of desire alone, man responds with disobedience. When we question scripture, it doesn't matter the reason, we are in as much trouble as Eve when she ate the forbidden fruit. Or worse, Adam, whom scripture says was not deceived... yet he ate.
Are you deceived into believing your culture over God's word? Read it again. It gives understanding to the simple! (Psalm 119:130). Are you aware of what it says, yet you debate it for sake of your culture? Then what excuse do you have for sin? Would a human court show you mercy for such insolence?
As a fellow human being, I understand the allure of twisting scripture to support desire. But as a Christian, I must urge critical thought, and Godly conduct. Yes, God really said what is written in scripture. It doesn't need to be re-written. It doesn't need to be reinterpreted. All it needs is to be soaked up and believed. Anything else is about as wise as arguing with Jesus.