How do you feel...

[TSIBHOD]

How do you feel if someone preaches an interpretation contrary to your beliefs on a certain scripture? Please check all that apply.

 

[bjh]

Thanks for giving us multiple options.

I find that there are some things that fit into different areas.

When it comes to the deity of Christ, I am right and there are some groups that are flat-out wrong.

When it comes to the deeper doctrines surrounding Election (not the Biblical fact, but the often hotly debated "how" of election) I could be wrong som I am willing to examine and am curious as to whether I can learn something.

 

[tesnusxenos]

If I am not 100% positive it usually gives me a great hunger to dig into the scriptures to see if I am right.

 

[muffler dragon]

For me, it depends on whether I know the person already or not.

To make it easy, I will describe the feeling(s) that occur when encountered with someone new.

At first, I am intrigued yet anxious (opposite of eager - looking forward to something with the thought of dread). I, then, evaluate very deeply what they have to say. I will read and re-read until I understand where they're coming from. I, then, decide if I can appreciate their understanding, and whether I can agree to disagree or if I need to counter their argument. And, yes, at times, I do accept what they have to say. But that will take a great deal of interaction and sharing. I don't jump from limb to limb of doctrine without a stern approach.

m.d.

 

[Ainesis]

How do you feel if someone preaches an interpretation contrary to your beliefs on a certain scripture? Please check all that apply.

Hi Tsibhod,

I believe that all rightly dividing or interpretation comes from God. Also, no one person has all of the answers. So, when I hear an interpretation that is new to me or contrary to what I believe, I consider it in light of Scripture. Then, if I am still not sure, I go to God in prayer asking for clarification. If God responds right away, then of course I go with that. If not, then I put the interpretation on the back burner until I get further direction from Him. I will not believe or discount it.

However, if someone makes a statement that is false, I will say so. I will not argue, but I will present the truth as I know it for their consideration and that of others.

As a living Word, there are often levels or depths of understanding that we can obtain from Scripture. It is not always one or the other.

Thanks for asking our opinions!

 

[daveleau]

Well, I check it out. I listen intently on his argument and take notes. I go home, check the books (dictionaries history concordance) and Scripture. If they check, then I open my mind to it. If they don't and my ideas are substantiated, then I tell him what I think in a private setting. The church is not always right. While it is guided by Jesus, the ministers are still sinners who are weak in the flesh and can be tempted.

 

[kitkat60]

Excellent question and excellent responses!!! We all have so much to learn, yet must be wary of being deceived. I believe that is why its important to enter study time with prayer.

 

[ps139]

Other attitude:
I wonder if my priest is a liberal....

 

[DarleneMM]

I think we should always listen to our brothers and sisters and their specific views on a subject. We either learn something new about what we know already, are stregthened in what we know already or are corrected from a false belief. We should always be open to be loving corrected or to lovingly correct someone.

 

[e-bwm]

It challenges my own knowledge and faith and causes me to seek the truth even more.
Even if there are valid disagreements it will cause me to dig deeper build a stronger basis for my beliefs.

 

[herev]

I'm always open to new instruction--always.

 

[jbarcher]

How do I feel? I feel like eating brocoli. No, rather, my feelings have no place here in these questions of truth.

Sorry, I am intensely irritated when people ask about one's feelings where one's feelings are wholly irrelevant. If one is going to ask about the intellectual reaction, use the word think. If one is going to ask about the emotional state, use the word feel. One should not think with their feelings; that is madness.

ANYWAY. I'll quote dave here

Well, I check it out. I listen intently on his argument and take notes. I go home, check the books (dictionaries history concordance) and Scripture. If they check, then I open my mind to it. If they don't and my ideas are substantiated, then I tell him what I think in a private setting. The church is not always right. While it is guided by Jesus, the ministers are still sinners who are weak in the flesh and can be tempted.

Except that I may not be able to have a discussion with the speaker.

I may be open to instruction, but the question that should be asked is, is it true?

 

[TSIBHOD]

I meant to ask how you "feel." I am asking if you feel angry, or arrogant, or confident, or provoked to thought. And so on. You might feel angry because your beliefs are important to you, and you sense that you might be wrong. Or you might feel arrogant because you are sure you are right no matter what. Or you might feel confident that you are right, because you think that you have studied the subject more than the speaker has. Or you might feel intrigued and want to think about it some more.

 

[Ryan Spence]

If their view jives with Bible scripture, I am happy to have learned a new perspective. If it does not jive with Bible scripture, I ignore it.

 

[thereselittleflower]

I am always open to what they would have to say . . whether or not I would immediately think they were wrong or not would have a lot to do with how well versed I was already on that issue, and how it fit with Church teaching if there is any specific Church teaching on it.

For instance, if someone tried to use a passage of scripture to tell us that Jesus was never really a man, I think we would all immediately be able to say they were wrong . . but listening to WHY so we could understand where they wre coming from would be very important if we want to have a dialogue with them.

But when it comes to issues that are not clearly defined by the Church, I am very open to the possibility of being wrong, because then I am only relying on my interpretation, which is very fallible

In any case, I will learn something, and I hope that I can grow in that.


Peace in Him!

 

[Apostle390]

If I am not 100% positive it usually gives me a great hunger to dig into the scriptures to see if I am right.

AMEN!....me too

 

[Ave Maria]

Well, I usually have one of two attitudes:

A. I could be wrong, so I am willing to examine and see.
B. I am curious as to whether I can learn something here.

The reason is because I believe that different verses can have multiple interpretations that could both be correct. However, I will not accept a teaching that is contrary to what I believe without first examining the scriptures myself. To me, there is multiple interpretations to some scripture and I realize that I do not know them all so I am willing to learn another interpretation to see if the other interpretation is correct as well as my current interpretation.

 

[Nater_Tater]

Well, it all depends. If it is somebody who is older and wiser, and has been a christin longer than me, I would welcome their interpritation and see if there is anything that I can learn from them. But if it's somebody who has never opened a bible and just picked up a piece of scripture online, and was trying to tell me that it means something different than what I believe...I wouldn't give them a second thought.

 

[Standyman51]

I believe that any interpretation should answer more questions than it raises. You have to walk in the best light you have. If someone provides a better explanation that answers questions you may have still open, then adopt it. Never just doubt. Look for light and don't fight with anger. The servant of the Lord must be patient with all, gently instructing those in opposition . . .

Stan

 

[nephilimiyr]

I voted for other because I don't think I can answer this question in such a simplistic way as have to chose one of those options. it all depends on how well I understand a certain verse and how well I have studied it, prayed upon it etc., etc.

It also depends on what kind of verse it is also. I know several of hand that are significant in explaning certain theologies. If I have studied that theology well and someone comes forward with an arguement against it that I have also studied well, then there's no need for me to pretend they're right and I'm wrong.

Now if I haven't studied all the arguements towards the different interpretations then my own then I will try and understand what their interpretation is and see if it works. It just isn't that simple though because I mean you have to study it and pray upon it also.