• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Scripture Interpretations

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bible verses can and do have multiple meanings. People have different levels of intelligence, education, spiritual maturity, and culture. God has assigned different tasks for members in the body of Christ, some are evangalists, having a special talent for reaching the lost. Others are prophets, with a talent for understanding prophesy. We are specialists and are specially equipped for our area of ministry, but may have a poor grasp of other aspects of God's plan. In addition, there are weeds among the wheat, whose purpose is to mislead and confuse.

This is the way it is, always has been and shall continue until the Lord comes back. Debate is good, it leads to study and hopefully further understanding and spiritual maturity. Don't make the mistake of confusing debate with dissension. One builds up, the other tears down.
 
Upvote 0

Debbie

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2001
504
0
Visit site
✟1,142.00
Amen to Willis' posting. Also, I don't find scripture negotiable in the sense that, no lies are in the Bible.
I think another problem exists when one has been raised in a particular denomination & taught something which isn't necessarily scripturally sound. It is difficult for someone to admit that they were taught wrong, no matter what scripture says. In this case the religion is their final authority, instead of the Bible.
The Bible is not the final authority for all Christians. This causes disagreements.
Also, there may be 2 verses on a certain matter which seem to contradict each other. So one person picks the verse which meets his needs, & ignores the other verse. Without realizing it, they are claiming that verse which they find unacceptable, is a lie, but they won't admit it.
When 2 verses conflict, we are to consider both as true & draw our conclusion from that standpoint. But on the other hand, there are some subjects which end in a circular fashion, & can never be proven by opposing verses of either side. So there are some things which we won't know till we get to heaven.
 
Upvote 0
I'm still trying to understand the term 'negotiable' in Day's question. Perhaps Debbie's post clarified my thinking or perhaps I've wandered off the topic completely but perhaps Day is wondering about Christians who seem to pick and choose which verses apply to their lives, which they will follow and which they will ignore.
 
Upvote 0
I need to clarify on this too.

I consider a prophet an inspired speaker or writer who reveals how a scripture or group of scriptures help us to understand any mystery that we might have about Jesus Christ.

for example read 2 Pe 1:20-21

Why are there so many disagreements if there is no private interpretation of scripture?
 
Upvote 0

Debbie

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2001
504
0
Visit site
✟1,142.00
Day, 2Peter is talking about false teachers. Preachers/teachers who ADDED to the work of the cross by Christ.
The gnostics said that in addition, in order to be saved, we must do something else also.
Peter told them that the OT was true prophecy, in that when the Messiah comes, our salvation would rest in His work alone.
This book is very applicable today with all the "signs & wonders" we see on Tv. 2Peter 1:16 describes these ideas as"cunningly devised fables". We need to beware today as well, for "even the elect" will be decieved.
I hear many of these fables on tv today, & nothing about Jesus in the half hour program, or maybe once at the end. The ministry of Jesus Christ is being diminished to give way to "spiritual awakening", "to get blessings", "to be free of the past", etc, when all we need is Christ, as the Bible says.
 
Upvote 0
Originally posted by Debbie
Day, 2Peter is talking about false teachers.
So can we say that we ourselves are the greatest false teachers/prophets. Because so many of us -- me above all -- teach other things besides Christ Jesus. Especially when we want to prove a point that is particular to our specific way of looking at God or to defend our Building or something.
 
Upvote 0

Debbie

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2001
504
0
Visit site
✟1,142.00
The Bible gives other ways to know a false teacher/prophet also. Jesus has to be their foundation of their ministry. "testing the spirits" includes what comes out of their mouth. 2 Cor. 10.
Fruits of their work, etc. I was pseaking of preachers who I have seen on tbn for 6 months every week & never mention Jesus once. And another who says "Jesus saves" at the end. If tou went to church & your preacher never mentioned Jesus in 6 months wouldnt you be concerned?
See 2Cor.11 about false apostles turning themselves into the Apostles of Christ.
 
Upvote 0

JohnR7

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2002
25,258
209
Ohio
✟29,532.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
>>And if not, why are there so many disagreements amongst Christians?

The problem is that things pass from person to person and even generation to generation. The problem is dogma. This is not how the Bible is to be learned. We need to work with the Holy Spirit of God to help people to discover the truth for themselves.

Every teaching should have a fresh new annointing. But there are to many dead churches serving left over crumbs. God bakes us up a fresh new loaf of bread everyday. We do not have to settle for someone's left over crumbs from their stale old loaf of bread.

But some people do just that. They live off of other peoples annointings. They live off of what God is showing and teaching others. These are the virgins that have no oil in their lamp. They have no real light of their own, they only hand around with those who have light and oil for their lamp.
 
Upvote 0
I see Jesus as the living word of God, the bible as the written word of God. When you are studyiing the bible you are studying Jesus, and He has many aspects. Jesus Christ and Him crucified and you must be born again are vital elements for reaching the lost. However, Christians need to examine other aspects of Jesus character in order to grow spiritually.
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.