My view on the Bible

I started thinking more about my mom's issue with me taking the Bible as a "rule book". Am I really taking it solely as a "rule book"? I don't think so because there are certainly topics that I do not follow as strictly as either maybe I should or as others do. She said she really wants me to recognize God's love as "my" God's love. Not "the" Lord's love.

I explained it to her like this, and thought the analogy was rather good if I am allowed to say so :)

"It's like with you and dad, I do not need to do anything to earn your love. You give me your love. However, there are rules you expect me to obey. It's the same with God and His love. He gives me His love unconditionally and without me doing anything to earn it, but there are still rules that He expects us all to follow."

My mom has a real issue with me taking anything but Jesus' word as His. So that is part of our differences on covering and modest dressing. Even though I do not agree with her opinion on this, I am trying to understand where she is coming from. The only thing she truly obeys are the 10 Commandments, but those are not "rules" for her to follow. Those are simply guidelines to her. They are rules or commands to me. This is a huge difference for us -- one that I do not think will change, thus I am trying to understand her point of view.

Blessings in Christ,