AOL Bible Banging
So much strife and argument occur over God’s word in aol rooms more than ever before. Take your time and just sit back and watch the conversations unfold. Look into the Bible Fellowship, Beliefs Christian, and Born Again Online rooms. Spend a week just observing. Watch for those who praise the Lord. Then you will see what I have seen. More Christian vs Christian than ever before. And what is the root of this strife? Their interpretations of the Bible. For years now there has always been the debates on scripture between denominations, but it has grown now to debate over scripture between evangelicals, fundamentalists, and apologists (just to name a small few).
The sad part is that for each person, the interpretation could be true for them. A new born in Christ will have a different interpretation than that of a studied scholar who knows all of the original Greek and Hebrew root language. The difference is not in error, it is differs from either two scholars from different institutions clash or for the most part it is because the point of view comes from one who is growing as opposed to one who is knowledgeable. I’ve noted that in a greater percent of the cases, the one who is knowledgeable is either unable or unwilling to open themselves up to a belief that perhaps their interpretation is flawed or that it can be partly in error – especially when it come to trying to discern the person they are speaking to. Therefore assuming that they no longer need to be molded by the Potter. How can this be? Is He done with them? I just don’t see that as being a viable conclusion. So now a debate turns into attacking the new born Christian telling them that “they need to grow” or even accusations about how they are not truly saved, etc. Very sad indeed.
In the days of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, no one needed a bible. Many were told to go and live in His grace simply from having faith. Who is to say that many today do not live in His grace by faith? While it may be true for some, it may not be for others. I do not contain the full knowledge of the Lord and am not qualified to make that determination for anyone other than myself. As for me, I will gain more and more understanding by being still and listening to His voice.
Unfortunately, too many people use the bible as a weapon and will quote verse after verse about how it is biblical to do just that! How easy is it to take one verse and interpret it in a way that justifies your own way of thinking? I’ll answer that one too: Very easy! And when doing that to someone who is new in Christ, it is a very dangerous action. How are they to be able to discern the truth from someone who claims to already know it? There is so much more involved into what I am trying to say here and all I know is that what I have said up to this point is based on what I have seen happen on here on a daily basis. And this makes me sad.
Just know that someone’s walk may differ slightly than your own and that it is always best to be open to their understanding. In that way, your own understanding has an opportunity to grow as well.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 by Blake and filed under In My Opinion, Judge This! | 1 Comment »