Hiya Dave, glad to meet you. Thank you for your feedback on my thoughts, it is much appreciated. I am not well read with respect to scripture. I talk from the heart, so to speak. Therefore I am always glad to get feedback from someone better acquainted with scripture than I.
[FONT="]The poll here suggests that what scripture says is perhaps a matter of interpretation. What are your thoughts on this?[/FONT]
Hey Arch,
I can see where you might get that impression about scripture being a matter of interpretation. Certainly scripture is used often to defend both ends of opposite views.
You must remember though, that God's Holy Scriptures is the actual Word of God Himself. As such, it has the authority of God Himself. When you read the bible, and see a commandment of God, or Jesus, it is as if they were speaking directly to you. We must therefore make every effort to understand the bible as it was meant to be understood. This requires effort on our part. Effort to spend the time necessary to become literate in the bible. Effort to learn proper hermeneutical principals and proper exegetical application. Effort spent in praying and applying those things that we learn in our lives. Effort spent in developing a relationship with Jesus Christ, and other Christians. Effort in overcoming the effects of sin in our lives. Effort in overcoming the influence of a godless society that creates a bias in our lives towards the things of this world.
It is not the Holy Scriptures themselves that are imperfect. It is sin in our lives that causes us to misinterpret them. It is a hardness of heart, that makes man think that he is more intelligent than God, that causes us to be led astray. I truly believe that, if we approach the scriptures prayerfully, asking God for Truth, living our lives in accordance with our abilities to obey God's commandments, with humbleness of heart, and a true desire to live and apply those truths to our lives, that God will reveal all Truth that we need to know, through His Holy Spirit, to spread the Gospel, bring glory to Him, and result in our salvation.