I know Christians all have different believes beliefs and I wanna know why? Like why doesn't everyone believe in the exact same thing and have the same interpretation. Also why did god make the bible so hard to understand instead of making it set and stone?
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How do you interpret the bible "correctly"?
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LoveJesusAndLive
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it covers almost the entire range of experiences a person might encounter in their life. it's purpose is to help you understand life and stay alive. you'll sympathize most with things you've experienced in your own life. in context of God's view, from the perspective of historical writers like king david and moses, who claimed to know God.. it helps those who seek God to know what others have experienced in their relationships with Him.
The main concepts to comprehend is that God never changes and the closer you get to Him, the stronger His love yes, but stronger also His chastisements because He is holy.
The main concepts to comprehend is that God never changes and the closer you get to Him, the stronger His love yes, but stronger also His chastisements because He is holy.
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oi_antz
Opposed to Untruth.
He has made some parts hard to understand so that only those allowed to know the meaning can have it (eg prophecy). Other parts are very clear and easy to understand, yet people get all sorts of ideas about them. The basic reason for that is we are not all comfortable with the truth, so we look for a way to deceive ourselves by making the scriptures mean something that they don't. Sometimes this happens because we have been taught something contrary to the truth and we have built our faith on that teaching. Then the truth will challenge it, yet we fear it will challenge our faith. So it is not always someone's desire to sin that makes them distort the truth of scripture. Sometimes it is love too. I have seen people do this because they were afraid the person they were proselytizing to wpuld not like the truth and would not believe the gospel!
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football5680
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God did make it simple by establishing his Church and promising to protect it. The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. When you take the Bible out of its proper setting, anybody can interpret it however they like.
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graceandpeace
Episcopalian
Christians believe different things for the same reason members of other religions believe different things. We are human beings, trying to interpret & follow ancient texts & traditions, & sometimes we don't agree on what things mean or how they might apply for living today.
Broadly, most Christians roughly fall into Catholic (including Orthodox), Mainline Protestant, & Conservative Protestant (evangelical/charismatic/fundamentalist.) There may be some overlap in categories, but generally speaking these distinctions help showcase the different ways Christians approach & practice the faith.
Christians do typically agree on core beliefs & share some exercise of certain religious practices.
Picking up a good book or two on Christian history might be helpful.
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LovelyGiselle
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You need to be aware of the fact that there are false teachings/false doctrine out there. The bible HAS actually warned people about this already. For example there are false teachers and fake believers out there preaching things like Jesus Christ is NOT the only way.
Different denominations only become an issue if that particular church starts teaching things that are downright sinful and against the nature of God's word.
So to answer your question, the reason why there are so many different beliefs is because people sought to hear what they want to hear and change things so that the bible can fit their lifestyle, and not the lifestyle matching up to the bible.
It goes back to the narcissism of human rebellion against God.
Different denominations only become an issue if that particular church starts teaching things that are downright sinful and against the nature of God's word.
So to answer your question, the reason why there are so many different beliefs is because people sought to hear what they want to hear and change things so that the bible can fit their lifestyle, and not the lifestyle matching up to the bible.
It goes back to the narcissism of human rebellion against God.
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LovelyGiselle
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Keep in mind that there are churches that preach false things that are downright sinful and against the nature of God's absolute truth. People need to be reminded of this. It is not and should not be just a mater of relativism. Denominations are not much of a problem unless the church starts teaching things that go against the nature of God and sin
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oi_antz
Opposed to Untruth.
I actually perceive this statement a bit lax, even though I know it is truth. So I hope you are OK I would like to expand it with some explanation. I was drawn into a church yesterday that I was not expecting to go to. The sermon was discussing Galatians 6:1-10. The verse that stands out to me with regards to this, is verse 1 whereby St. Paul is stating clearly that the ones who are 'spiritual' are qualified to restore. Whereas he is implying (without doubt) ones who are not spiritual should keep their nose out of it. He goes on to describe the temptations and traps of the flesh, such as pride, judgmentalism that the ego of the flesh will tempt us to sin by thinking we are holier than thou. The same lures of the flesh can cause people who teach, to fall into sin. You gave an example that some teach there is alternative ways to the father than The Word of God, Jesus Christ. I gave an example too where some Christians, eager to produce a convert, do not represent the truth honestly. Probably these are the same underlying problem. I think that probably any teaching that is done by someone for their own interests instead of God's, is harmful. For example, the word used in that sermon yesterday was "confront them", whereas I object to that conclusion. That is not always necessary and rarely is it gentle. But rather, being aware of someone's sin, we should not rub their face in it. Let The Truth judge them, do not condone it, and let God give the increase if they will allow Him to. There is an adjacent thread discussing the parable of the sower. It's interesting. We are the owners of our hearts, only we can cultivate them. Paul, a poster on the thread, described those with stony ground need to do a lot of work to produce fertile soil. Here, St. Paul is describing we should share each other's burden. I did not confront the preacher about my objection to that though
I spoke to him about another thing, and as I thought about it later, I can see an opportunity for The Spirit to show him. He did seem like a person who is inclined to The Spirit, but I see there is much temptation for him too. It was an educational sermon, I would enjoy another visit some day.By the way, almost every protestant church teaches sinfully and against the nature of God's Word, when they proclaim as certain truth, doctrines that are controversial. Very few protestant churches are careful to not necessitate unreliable doctrines. This church was very impressive that way.
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The problem stems from the fact that the only sure interpretation of a writing is the interpretation of the one who wrote it... many people tried to shove an allegory of WWII into the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but Tolkien denied that flatly.
With regard to the Bible, the human authors are long dead and did not leave us guidance as to what they meant by certain difficult to understand passages... we can be sure that the original readers understood because the passage was directed at specific conditions of those that received them. The good news is that the human authors were only conduits of what the Holy Spirit intended them to write, and Christians have access to the Holy Spirit. The problem arises when we either do not consult the Holy Spirit, and instead try to understand it by our own reasoning, or we do not consistently seek the Holy Spirit for the interpretation, or, in some cases, the expositor isn't even saved. The end result is a patchwork within each theological tradition of inspired and not inspired interpretations, developed over time by various expositors that tended to agree with each other about some things. I don't think any denomination has it all right (although I think some have more truth than others).
You want to know what the Bible teaches? Place your faith in Jesus Christ (every denomination can agree with THAT) and ask Him to teach you through His Spirit... listen to Him!!! Don't depend on me, them, or any other expositor (1 John 2:27). Instead, seek the Holy Spirit for your interpretation, and use some other expositors (you'll learn which ones are better as you grow) to confirm that you aren't way off. Not willing to believe? Have fun sifting through all the differing interpretations, and good luck choosing the right ones without the input of the One who "breathed out" the Scriptures.
Hope this helps.
With regard to the Bible, the human authors are long dead and did not leave us guidance as to what they meant by certain difficult to understand passages... we can be sure that the original readers understood because the passage was directed at specific conditions of those that received them. The good news is that the human authors were only conduits of what the Holy Spirit intended them to write, and Christians have access to the Holy Spirit. The problem arises when we either do not consult the Holy Spirit, and instead try to understand it by our own reasoning, or we do not consistently seek the Holy Spirit for the interpretation, or, in some cases, the expositor isn't even saved. The end result is a patchwork within each theological tradition of inspired and not inspired interpretations, developed over time by various expositors that tended to agree with each other about some things. I don't think any denomination has it all right (although I think some have more truth than others).
You want to know what the Bible teaches? Place your faith in Jesus Christ (every denomination can agree with THAT) and ask Him to teach you through His Spirit... listen to Him!!! Don't depend on me, them, or any other expositor (1 John 2:27). Instead, seek the Holy Spirit for your interpretation, and use some other expositors (you'll learn which ones are better as you grow) to confirm that you aren't way off. Not willing to believe? Have fun sifting through all the differing interpretations, and good luck choosing the right ones without the input of the One who "breathed out" the Scriptures.
Hope this helps.
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LovelyGiselle
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Thanks for mentioning this example. The bible makes it clear that you do not get to heaven for simply doing good deeds. For example if someone does not believe in Jesus Christ but occasionally donates to certain charities, doing that will not grant him salvation. It is through accepting Jesus Christ and obeying his word that makes us saved.
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If you examine the amount of commonly held beliefs across Christianity - historically, geographically, and culturally - and the relative importance of those beliefs, I think it becomes clear there are relatively few disagreements and most disagreements are on matters not deemed essential. Like all - including scientific - searches for truth, the areas of controversy get the most attention and this tends to give the impression there is largely nothing but disagreement. Such is life.
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How do you interpret the bible "correctly"?
The Holy Spirit does.
Thank you kindly.
The Holy Spirit does.
Thank you kindly.
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How does it not make sense I'm stating that no two Christians have the same exact beliefs although they both read the bible. However it could have been worded better.
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orangeness365
Well-Known Member
Jesus talked in parables, and explains why here.
Matthew 13:10-17
The Purpose of the Parables
10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matthew 13:10-17
The Purpose of the Parables
10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
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You are using wonderful reasoning in seeing the problem Christ warned against and placed the highest priority on: John 17: 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“You” along with most of the world are not seeing Jesus, because we are not united (one with each other and one with God).
This is not God’s fault, since He is doing all He can by providing every “true” Christian with the same indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is much more our guide than the Bible which is just a wonderful supporting tool for the Christian.
Maybe we are all using the term “Christian” to loosely.
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