Why are there so many different Christian denominations?

[bhsmte]

Everyone in the thread needs to yield to the Holy Spirit interpretation and application of scripture.

Which interpretation?

Which application?

 

[Winken]

Which interpretation?

Which application?

His.

 

[bhsmte]

His.

Where can this interpretation be found?

And don't say his word, because it is what some call his word that is indeed interpreted, in many different ways.

 

[Winken]

Where can this interpretation be found?

And don't say his word, because it is what some call his word that is indeed interpreted, in many different ways.

In Him. Forget what "some" do. The Holy Spirit witnesses to you. He won't tell you one thing, and then someone else something different. HE is the interpreter and applier.

 

[bhsmte]

In Him. Forget what "some" do. The Holy Spirit witnesses to you. He won't tell you one thing, and then someone else something different. HE is the interpreter and applier.

Sorry, humans are still left to interpret on their own, whether it be words in stories, or personal experiences they have.

No way around this reality.

 

[Job8]

This is something I have often wondered about. All Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, right? So, why all the various Churches?

Christians have an enemy (Satan) who is allowed to roam on this earth and create divisions.
Also, the "flesh" (sinful human nature) causes men to divide instead of unite.

And why is Christianity right and not Islam or Judaism or Buddhism etc.?

Christianity is CHRIST. He is the one and only Savior of all men, the only one who died for our sins and rose again for our justification.

 

[oi_antz]

Sorry, humans are still left to interpret on their own, whether it be words in stories, or personal experiences they have.

No way around this reality.

There is though. YOU can come toward the light and recognise the inconsistencies.

 

[bhsmte]

There is though. YOU can come toward the light and recognise the inconsistencies.

And how do you personally clarify these inconsistencies? Through your own interpretation.

 

[oi_antz]

And how do you personally clarify these inconsistencies? Through your own interpretation.

"Clarify"? I don't understand how this comes into it. It is instinctive to see where the problem is when two opposing interpretations of scripture are being used, because the light reveals it.

 

[bhsmte]

"Clarify"? I don't understand how this comes into it. It is instinctive to see where the problem is when two opposing interpretations of scripture are being used, because the light reveals it.

This light you discuss, gives people different interpretations, which is why believers that claim they rely on this light, disagree.

This is reality, i would learn to accept it.

 

[oi_antz]

This light you discuss, gives people different interpretations, which is why believers that claim they rely on this light, disagree.

That isn't true, actually.

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

This is reality, i would learn to accept it.

It is your observation of reality actually, but you are not seeing the full picture.

 

[bhsmte]

That isn't true, actually.

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

It is your observation of reality actually, but you are not seeing the full picture.

Deal with it, others claim to have this light and interpret things differently than you.

You claim they are wrong and they claim that you are wrong. All of this, is personal interpretation.

 

[oi_antz]

Deal with it, others claim to have this light and interpret things differently than you.

You claim they are wrong and they claim that you are wrong. All of this, is personal interpretation.

It doesn't bother me though. I am correcting the lies you are spreading, presented as truth when it is not. I am saying to you, you are observing darkness when you think you are observing light. This is how I usually deal with it.

 

[bhsmte]

It doesn't bother me though. I am correcting the lies you are spreading, presented as truth when it is not. I am saying to you, you are observing darkness when you think you are observing light. This is how I usually deal with it.

What you claim that I am observing, is your own interpretation, which is driven by your strong desire, to be right about your beliefs.

Hey, I don't blame you, I would expect you to make these types of comments about me and claim you know what I observe.

 

[oi_antz]

What you claim that I am observing, is your own interpretation, which is driven by your strong desire, to be right about your beliefs.

Hey, I don't blame you, I would expect you to make these types of comments about me and claim you know what I observe.

Thanks. I would expect nothing better than this response from you too.

 

[oi_antz]

What you claim that I am observing, is your own interpretation, which is driven by your strong desire, to be right about your beliefs.

Hey, I don't blame you, I would expect you to make these types of comments about me and claim you know what I observe.

Hey, I have been wondering what you had in mind when you said this:

they claim that you are wrong.

Perhaps you could let me know, thanks.

 

[bhsmte]

Hey, I have been wondering what you had in mind when you said this:

Perhaps you could let me know, thanks.

Self explanatory.

 

[oi_antz]

Self explanatory.

False assumption and unjustified accusation. Is it correct to say that you don't have any specific reason for this belief, and therefore by saying this you are only confident that you can find proof to support it, but actually haven't seen it happen?

 

[bhsmte]

False assumption and unjustified accusation. Is it correct to say that you don't have any specific reason for this belief, and therefore by saying this you are only confident that you can find proof to support it, but actually haven't seen it happen?

My claim is that each person's individual faith belief, is based on their own personal interpretations.

Since so many Christians have different interpretations (and many claim to have seen the light), I would think this fact is self explanatory.

When all Christians agree with your specific interpretations, let us know.

 

[oi_antz]

My claim is that each person's individual faith belief, is based on their own personal interpretations.

Since so many Christians have different interpretations (and many claim to have seen the light), I would think this fact is self explanatory.

When all Christians agree with your specific interpretations, let us know.

OK, thanks for that. What I see is that people do not all love the light, and because of this, they will not all go toward the light. If they find others who practise darkness as they do, that will give them comfort, and together they will grow more experience in the darkness. Now when they think their darkness is light, they will preach it as light. But the light will reveal the errors. At that point, the one who is preaching darkness as light must decide whether they will come toward the light so everyone can see they are doing what is right in God's view, or they can decide to refuse to go near that light lest their deeds be exposed. On this basis, there is clear distinction between someone who is easily corrected and refines their understanding of the truth compared to someone who is unrepentant and continues to let their attachment to evil prevent them from coming to the light. Those are the ones who stray far away from what the scriptures simply say. I expect even you, a person who has strayed so far away from what the scriptures simply say, can see that some people use scriptures in a straight forward way to express ideas that are obviously true, while observing that some people use scriptures in a way that can clearly be seen to be so far removed from what the author of the scripture actually meant. In this way I propose that even someone who refuses to go near the light is able to recognise the inconsistencies that the light reveals. This is why I was very eager to insist on evidence of your complaint, because if you did produce evidence, the light would reveal whether I had been in error. Obviously that is something I would want to know. Please do let me know therefore whether you can demonstrate that others have said my interpretation of scripture is wrong. Thanks!