This is how it is... Period!

[Willie T]

Have you ever noticed that so many of us seem to be unable (or, unwilling?) to say, "This is how I see it." or "This is what I believe may be the way to interpret that..." But, rather, we almost always seem to emphatically state, "THIS IS THE WAY IT IS !", according to the "infallible" US?

Why do you suppose that is?

 

[Kathi]

If someone can take a verse of Scripture and take it literally then that is how God wanted us to read His word.If a person takes a verse of Scripture and puts their own meaning into it what they want it to say I think that is trouble.There are parts of Scripture that you can not take literally and it is only common sense to know that.If it is raining outside and someone says "It is raining cats and dogs" cats and dogs are not really coming out of the sky.Man thinks they have all the answers in the world.They can make up their own words and meaning of God's word.It is pride.

 

[Knotical]

Interpreting scripture is the sticky wicket of Christianity. This is why it is best to pray before-hand for the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding. It also never hurts to consult someone who is more mature in the faith than you, such as a trusted pastor or elder.

And, as always, context, context, context. That is the best way to know whether you should interpret a passage literally or if it is symbolic.

 

[Kathi]

Interpreting scripture is the sticky wicket of Christianity. This is why it is best to pray before-hand for the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding. It also never hurts to consult someone who is more mature in the faith than you, such as a trusted pastor or elder.

And, as always, context, context, context. That is the best way to know whether you should interpret a passage literally or if it is symbolic.

It is always wise to pray before reading Scripture.I am very careful who explains a verse of Scripture to me.Some people can lead you astray.If you can take the verse literally it is ok but if you can not that is when I need help.

 

[Willie T]

I probably wasn't clear.

What I was trying to ask is why do you think we feel we have to deliver our interpretation as a, dyed-in-the-wool, fact, rather than just being able to say that what we are saying is nothing more than how we understand things?

 

[Deborah13]

Have you ever noticed that so many of us seem to be unable (or, unwilling?) to say, "This is how I see it." or "This is what I believe may be the way to interpret that..." But, rather, we almost always seem to emphatically state, "THIS IS THE WAY IT IS !", according to the "infallible" US?

Why do you suppose that is?

Yes, I've noticed that and been guilty of that attitude therefore, I try really hard to remember that some of the things I was sure of in the past have been proven to me that I was wrong and that there are still things that may be proven to me that I am wrong.

 

[Willie T]

Yes, I've noticed that and been guilty of that attitude therefore, I try really hard to remember that some of the things I was sure of in the past have been proven to me that I was wrong and that there are still things that may be proven to me that I am wrong.

Yes, THIS is more like what I was aiming at. But the question remains, WHY do you suppose we feel the necessity to present things in such a dogmatic way?

 

[Kathi]

I probably wasn't clear.

What I was trying to ask is why do you think we feel we have to deliver our interpretation as a, dyed-in-the-wool, fact, rather than just being able to say that what we are saying is nothing more than how we understand things?

What do you mean by "dyed-in-the-wool-fact"? You mean we should give any word or verse in the Bible our own meaning? You have me kind of lost. Is the Word of God and the Holy Bible not important?Don't you think we had better know how God wants us to interpret His word to us?I don't think we should take it lightly.

 

[Kathi]

Yes, I've noticed that and been guilty of that attitude therefore, I try really hard to remember that some of the things I was sure of in the past have been proven to me that I was wrong and that there are still things that may be proven to me that I am wrong.

How have these things been proven to you as wrong?

 

[Willie T]

What do you mean by "dyed-in-the-wool-fact"? You mean we should give any word or verse in the Bible our own meaning? You have me kind of lost.

Joe posts an opinion on something, and you (or, ME) posts right back, "No, this is how it really is........"

This is what I mean.

 

[Deborah13]

How have these things been proven to you as wrong?

By prayer for guidance about things that have presented to me. By Rereading things I thought I understood. By reading and Rereading commentaries written by men of God who lived exemplary fruit filled. Christian lives that are attested to by other men of God. By not thinking I was always right in previous beliefs (that I might just be Wrong).

 

[Kathi]

Joe posts an opinion on something, and you (or, ME) posts right back, "No, this is how it really is."

This is what I mean.

So you want me to agree with everything everyone says on this website about interpretation of the Bible?I will sometimes come back and say "this is how I see this verse or interpretation".Then they can take it or leave it.Their are many interpretations or beliefs on this messageboard that I would not adhere to.

 

[Willie T]

By prayer for guidance about things that have presented to me. By Rereading things I thought I understood. By reading and Rereading commentaries written by men of God who lived exemplary fruit filled. Christian lives that are attested to by other men of God. By not thinking I was always right in previous beliefs (that I might just be Wrong).

Wow! My hat is off to you. Wise attitude, indeed.

 

[Willie T]

So you want me to agree with everything everyone says on this website about interpretation of the Bible?I will sometimes come back and say "this is how I see this verse or interpretation".Then they can take it or leave it.Their are many interpretations or beliefs on this messageboard that I would not adhere to.

Well.................................... I tried.

 

[Kathi]

Well.................................... I tried.

What is the answer that you would like to see from your OP?

 

[Deborah13]

Yes, THIS is more like what I was aiming at. But the question remains, WHY do you suppose we feel the necessity to present things in such a dogmatic way?

Well different people may have different reasons. It may be pride in they don't want to admit they may be wrong, it could pride as in confident that what they believe is correct, or just be stubborn, and it may even be fear. To some people change of any kind is a scary thing. So when they become comfortable in a certain belief to reason anything else takes them out of their comfort zone and they become fearful.

 

[WIP]

I think this is partly why we have many Christians contributing in the A&T forum. They are digging and challenging each other for the primary purpose of getting to the truth. Although sometimes it may seem like the motive is to win argument but I think for the most part the truth is what is really sought.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Yes, I've noticed that and been guilty of that attitude therefore, I try really hard to remember that some of the things I was sure of in the past have been proven to me that I was wrong and that there are still things that may be proven to me that I am wrong.

Ain't that the truth!2

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I probably wasn't clear.

What I was trying to ask is why do you think we feel we have to deliver our interpretation as a, dyed-in-the-wool, fact, rather than just being able to say that what we are saying is nothing more than how we understand things?

Why?
I think maybe sometimes we say something we believe to be important and true and then we feel ignored, like no one is listening to us because they are too busy telling everyone what they think.
What they think is more important than what anyone else thinks.
So we start over emphasizing what we think so people will listen.
Then people start thinking you have a bad attitude and they start addressing your attitude then things accelerate from there.

 

[jasonc]

1) WHEN reading the grey areas, as I often do, remember that the jewish culture views thing a wee bit different, case in point. I KNOW pastors that teach eye for an eye is literal. its not a literal way of saying punishment but the way of saying the eye of the victim is what judges the punishment for the one whom injured him.

2)idioms are all throughout the bible
3) admit when its revealed the areas where we cant be sure and if no one else agrees and its not salvinical. walk away.
4) on sheol/hades/ gehenna. the founder of the protestant movement didn't believe in that as a literal punishement with eternal torment. yet here we are. neither did the translator of the first English bible.i don't believe in soul sleep, I believe in a type of eternal torment but having the spent some time in those studies. those are just metaphors that do attempt to show that there is something there in store for the lost but its not a full picture. ie gehenna and the lake of fire. real places, the lake of fire we call today is the dead sea and it does catch fire and emit sulfur . it hasn't in a long time.food for thought.