Through the years I have been in a lot of forums and discussed the bible with many people and I have found the same things over and over. It is not that people do not know the teachings of Jesus and the NT, they do not understand the teachings of Jesus and much of the NT. When Jesus taught, He would often swing way to the right, and then way to the left, if you chose either of these sides and ignore the other you will probably be teaching false doctrine. We need to bear in mind that Paul and the other NT writers were presenting the mind of Christ so it was often that way in their teaching also. The answer is simple, we are to believe BOTH sides equally. When we do this we strike a balance and are in truth. For example Paul taught that there is neither male nor female in Christ, then he also taught that in a church service the males are to led. We are to believe BOTH things that Paul taught and we should recognize all are equal in Christ, but God wants the men to led in an assembly. This is just one example, the NT is full of them. Also, you have unscrupulous persons who will purposely take one side because they are striving to place their will above the will of God, such persons will have their reward.
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING
- Thread starter samuel23
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I think it's called 'rightly dividing the word of truth' 2Tim 2v15.
It does mean taking both sides into account rather than taking a stance for right or left only....
yet that is what most of us do and end up disagreeing and arguing. Finding the right BALANCE takes experience and patience - hence God's admonition to 'bear with each other....till we all come to the fullness of Christ !
It does mean taking both sides into account rather than taking a stance for right or left only....
yet that is what most of us do and end up disagreeing and arguing. Finding the right BALANCE takes experience and patience - hence God's admonition to 'bear with each other....till we all come to the fullness of Christ !
Let us keep in mind that truth is not subjective, though perception is. One can be sincerely wrong, for example. Often times you will hear individuals encourage others to find the middle road, but to take it, that road, you put yourself in danger of compromise. Truth cannot be compromised, though we should seek peace with all men.
What we need to practice is meekness, to be gentle and not harsh. To thread and not clobber, weaving the truth in such a way that the other person can piece it together. This way walls crumble, and hearts change.
What we need to practice is meekness, to be gentle and not harsh. To thread and not clobber, weaving the truth in such a way that the other person can piece it together. This way walls crumble, and hearts change.
The lack of understanding in many cases is due to failing to compare Scripture with Scripture,not knowing the OT sufficiently to understand the New and not being aware of the way first century Jews understood and discussed the Scriptures. They used a number of levels of understanding when they studied with the plain literal meaning being at the simplest level. Also the Bible includes different forms of literature to get the meaning across.
God, Jesus, Unconditional Love, Peace, Harmony, Truth, Life, 'Existence' are all Singularities in my opinion. As humans we live in a Dualistic reality where we think of opposing sides to things (which stops you experiencing singularity with God). I think God and Jesus are part of teaching singularity, however, when you take something you learn as an extension to duality you turn it into something quite dangerous. This is what extremism is.
Things divide, churches divide, groups divide, opinions divide, we divide, all based on duality. But to me God stands for the amalgamation of things, of people, of views, perspectives. Even modern Christianity as we know it, and the Bible we hold so dearly is an example of this, because it was an amalgamation of Paganism and Christianity, and as a whole has it not created more good? Or, does the bible need to be divided out again, to hardcore Christians who believe it partially, and new/scientific thinkers who believe it partially?
Who destroys The Word or The Breath of God, is it 'we' who amalgamate it and try to love enemies until there are none, or is it 'those' who teach division and isolation and fear? 'We' talks about us as a singular, 'Those' talks about them as the opposition, whether Muslims, or gays, bigger-sinners, less-devout, less-self-righteous.
What I observe is that it is love which is the bridge, and yet it is rarely the focus.
When one stops, and focuses on love and asks them self, am I judging or am I extending love for my neighbour, then you see that love is the singular. And using reading comments as an example, if judging them, you merely see division, more than you see a human being behind the words. What is there to learn, from giving proof of division? And 'online' which is of course not written about in the bible, has a habit of saying, we are all on own virtual islands, rather than one digital land mass. And what is there to gain from that dualistic reality? Nothing. The same as endless arguments.
And I am by no means innocent in my judgements of comments, for example, recently observing comments by dcontroversal about guns. I personally don't agree with thinking guns are great and everyone should have them. However all I did in opposition which lead to assumption, is create division. And BenFTW I know I felt in opposition to some of your comments at some point where you appeared (to me) a little homophobic in your comments, and maybe you are not - however I was more humble in those comments. You weren't exactly glorifying a thought against gays, like dcontroversal and friends were talking in glorification of guns. You seem like a learned guy to me.
And I say the last paragraph from the stand point of love.
Things divide, churches divide, groups divide, opinions divide, we divide, all based on duality. But to me God stands for the amalgamation of things, of people, of views, perspectives. Even modern Christianity as we know it, and the Bible we hold so dearly is an example of this, because it was an amalgamation of Paganism and Christianity, and as a whole has it not created more good? Or, does the bible need to be divided out again, to hardcore Christians who believe it partially, and new/scientific thinkers who believe it partially?
Who destroys The Word or The Breath of God, is it 'we' who amalgamate it and try to love enemies until there are none, or is it 'those' who teach division and isolation and fear? 'We' talks about us as a singular, 'Those' talks about them as the opposition, whether Muslims, or gays, bigger-sinners, less-devout, less-self-righteous.
What I observe is that it is love which is the bridge, and yet it is rarely the focus.
When one stops, and focuses on love and asks them self, am I judging or am I extending love for my neighbour, then you see that love is the singular. And using reading comments as an example, if judging them, you merely see division, more than you see a human being behind the words. What is there to learn, from giving proof of division? And 'online' which is of course not written about in the bible, has a habit of saying, we are all on own virtual islands, rather than one digital land mass. And what is there to gain from that dualistic reality? Nothing. The same as endless arguments.
And I am by no means innocent in my judgements of comments, for example, recently observing comments by dcontroversal about guns. I personally don't agree with thinking guns are great and everyone should have them. However all I did in opposition which lead to assumption, is create division. And BenFTW I know I felt in opposition to some of your comments at some point where you appeared (to me) a little homophobic in your comments, and maybe you are not - however I was more humble in those comments. You weren't exactly glorifying a thought against gays, like dcontroversal and friends were talking in glorification of guns. You seem like a learned guy to me.
And I say the last paragraph from the stand point of love.
How do we 'hold firm to faith and belief when it differs so much from someone else ? how do we know for sure that we are right and they are wrong....when they also quote scripture ? the 'self is always last to want to give way....and indeed should not when 'literally based on the Word of God and not man.
So I tend to lean more toward what God and Jesus personally say rather than men who are not yet themselves perfect. I hope this gives us a more firm foundation/platform to stand on and speak from.
So I tend to lean more toward what God and Jesus personally say rather than men who are not yet themselves perfect. I hope this gives us a more firm foundation/platform to stand on and speak from.
I think it depends on what you think about the bible, which in turn means what you think about God. If a person really believes that God exists and that the bible is His word, then they would be terrified to add to or subtract from any place in the bible. I see people who profess faith in God and who place meanings on scriptures that clearly have no such meaning and take away meanings from scripture when the meaning is so very clear. This is not about seeing the bible differently, this is about gleefully changing scripture in order to arrive at a desired meaning. My point is that you cannot fool God, so why try, unless God is not the real issue but how you look to yourself and others. Honest bible study is easy, gather all the information on a subject in context and go with the greater evidence. To do otherwise demonstrates a dishonest heart toward God.
One example of how Jesus taught from one extreme to the other is about fear, first he taught us to actually fear God, not healthy respect as some claim but actual fear, saying that God could cast us into hell. Then he taught on fear, by saying fear not, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. If we accept and believe both of these teachings then we realize that it is extremely dangerous to go against God, while at the same time, if by faith we follow the truth of God we are safe and do not have to fear. So I should have no fear in my walk of love and faith in the truths that God has given me to walk in. On the other hand I should be terrified to walk away from the truths that God has given me to walk in. We need BOTH of these teachings, I read professing Christians all the time speaking of the love of God but then they are not afraid to willfully change the word of God if it benefits them. That is believing one part of Jesus teaching and not the other.