Why is this?

[tigersnare]

Ok guys I have another big question.


We all can probalby agree that the Holy Spirit is here to guide us amoung other things. We can probably agree that he helps us understand scripture and reveals things to us as we read.


Why then do we not all agree on scripture? I mean between Protestants and Catholics, or even Protestants and Protestants, or even some Catholics and Catholics?

I think it would be hard to say that not one single Protestants had the guiding of the Holy Spirit while he learned scripture. On the other side i think it would be hard to say that someone like the Pope did not have the guiding of the holy spirit while studying his scriptures either.

Why?

I want to hear your take on this as well as the Catholics (reason for the double post).

 

[Fiskare]

Ok guys I have another big question.


We all can probalby agree that the Holy Spirit is here to guide us amoung other things. We can probably agree that he helps us understand scripture and reveals things to us as we read.


Why then do we not all agree on scripture? I mean between Protestants and Catholics, or even Protestants and Protestants, or even some Catholics and Catholics?

I think it would be hard to say that not one single Protestants had the guiding of the Holy Spirit while he learned scripture. On the other side i think it would be hard to say that someone like the Pope did not have the guiding of the holy spirit while studying his scriptures either.

Why?

I want to hear your take on this as well as the Catholics (reason for the double post).

I gave my answer on the Catholic forum.

I could add one thing. One person over there said Protestants led by the Holy Spirit were the ones who converted to Roman Catholicism. I know they were joking, but I can also joke and say that it works vice-versa too!

There are people who swim the Tiber to get away from Rome, others who swim it to get to Rome.

 

[eldermike]

The answer is sin. We all may have the Holy Spirit but can only catch a glimsp of clarity here and there. Because we are not yet perfect we see in part and we preach in part. It will all be corrected one day, but not here.

I think we draw each other into sin by bickering, grumbling and arguing. Peter thought this and wrote about it, so did Paul and James.

Jesus said that we would not know the time of the end yet we argue over end time prophesy as if we know it better than Jesus. The bible contains mysteries, Paul said so, yet we claim some understanding of them.

A bigger problem to me would be to accept some "one and only" explanation of scripture, that to me seems wrong. But then again, to others it seems right. IMHO.

I can begin a fellowship with anyone that claims a personal relationship with Jesus. I can fellowship long term with anyone that lives a personal relationship with Jesus.

Last thing: The concept that is within this scripture is important. It's needs no explaining.

1CO 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eatmeat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.



Eldermike

 

[Metanoia02]

There are people who swim the Tiber to get away from Rome, others who swim it to get to Rome.

Does that mean that the Anglicans just like to go swimming?

 

[nyj]

Does that mean that the Anglicans just like to go swimming?

/me chokes on his iced tea.

 

[Pink Angel]

I am also confused on that topic tigersnare. my bf, swoosh, is catholic and i am a baptist, and what I dont understand is if the MAIN religion is Chrsitianity why are there so many branches, and I have been asking asking him to prove to me that Catholic is in the Bible and says that that was the main church I am very lost and confused on this topic as well.

-Pink Angel

 

[Fiskare]

Does that mean that the Anglicans just like to go swimming?

In my parish, we should not even bother swimming, but just build a bridge instead. We have oodles of RCs that have swum to our side, and we've seen a few of our own swim the other way too. In all seriousness, the reasons are rarely theological for the changes, but always something else, like scandals in the churches.

Hopefully, there will come a day when there will be no need for swimming.

btw metanoia- where ya been the last few days? It's boring without your input!

 

[Metanoia02]

In my parish, we should not even bother swimming, but just build a bridge instead. We have oodles of RCs that have swum to our side, and we've seen a few of our own swim the other way too. In all seriousness, the reasons are rarely theological for the changes, but always something else, like scandals in the churches.

Hopefully, there will come a day when there will be no need for swimming.

btw metanoia- where ya been the last few days? It's boring without your input!

It is interesting. I was listening to a tape this morning of Harry Crocker who wrote recent history of the Church. It really made me realize how close we are theologically. Henry the VIII was given the Title of Defender of the Faith by the Pope for his vigorous defense of the Church against the Lutherans. Also the CoE didn't no contribute to the proliferation of new doctrine during the Reformation.

I will pray for your community, please pray for mine.

 

[Metanoia02]

I am also confused on that topic tigersnare. my bf, swoosh, is catholic and i am a baptist, and what I dont understand is if the MAIN religion is Chrsitianity why are there so many branches, and I have been asking asking him to prove to me that Catholic is in the Bible and says that that was the main church I am very lost and confused on this topic as well.

-Pink Angel

Pink,

If you want an answer to your question, please ask it at the OBOB forum. We would be glad to discuss it with you. Due to the limitations of this forum we can not fully explain it here.

 

[Reformationist]

We all can probalby agree that the Holy Spirit is here to guide us amoung other things. We can probably agree that he helps us understand scripture and reveals things to us as we read.


Why then do we not all agree on scripture? I mean between Protestants and Catholics, or even Protestants and Protestants, or even some Catholics and Catholics?

The biggest reason for the difference of interpretation is that we are all fallen, finite, created beings who often read the Word as if we are the object of It's writings. All Christians have a fallen tendency to be self-centered in the way we read the revelation of God. If we start from a self-centered perspective when studying the Word we will glean a self-centered understanding of the Word.

In my opinion, the most important thing we can remember when considering the Gospel is that it not only reveals much, NOT ALL, of God's Will for us, it reveals much, NOT ALL, of God Himself. When seeking to understand God's own revelation of Himself and our proper place in His plan we must filter EVERYTHING that we read through our understanding of the attributes of God. The minute we stop doing that we do what comes naturally. We put ourselves at the center of our theology. We begin to filter our reading of His Word through the self-centeredness of our fallen thinking. When we read His Word we MUST ALWAYS view our understanding in light of God's immutable attributes, His holiness, His omnipotence, His sovereignty, His faithfulness. Whenever our understanding of the Word clashes with the revealed attributes of God it is our understanding that must yield, not God.

In answer to your question as to why we have different interpretations of the Gospel we must consider the possibility that God's foremost Plan in our study may not always be for us to perfectly understand what we read. Think about it. How sanctifying is it when you profess something to be the indisputable proof and then are proven wrong? It should definitely teach us to be humble and open to the teachings of those more learned. It should teach us to love each other as Christ loves His church regardless of our understanding of His Word.

It should teach us that we are not, and never have been, the center of our universe.

God bless

 

[Servant777]

if the MAIN religion is Chrsitianity why are there so many branches

IMHO it's satan's work. Judging by what Jesus said, it's not the will of God that christians are divided to maybe thousands of different groups. Satan has planted seeds of argument and hatred between us christians and the result has been that the church has divided into more and more parts. I'm not saying any church is worse or better than any other. No matter which church you go to you need that personal relationship with Jesus. And I've seen it multiple times that there's always a special sort of connection between true followers of Christ even if they are of different denominations.

PS. Please excuse my English.