Contextual interpretation of the Bible cost me my faith

How did you overcome this?

So...
I was always interested in learning more about the Bible and in doing so, I hoped to get closer to God. When I got the chance, I followed a Bible study which thaught me the contectual interpretation. Ever since that study, I have lost my faith in steps. I just can't read the Bible without seeing all its flaws. I just can't talk to anybody about this in fear that I would take their faith away as well. However, I can't live in this insecure and godless way. Are there any of you who experienced the same? How did you overcome this?

Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Find someone who has the Spirit and ask him to lay hands on you so that you might receive Him.

You had a “cognitive faith” by reason, so logic and reason were able to defeat it. Sadly, this is a by-product of Calvin et al who were heavily influenced by the age in which they were instructed: the Ago of Reason. This type of “faith” is the dominant faith in the pews on Sundays. Once baptized, you could easier believe your grandmother isn’t real than the Spirit who is within you.

If you seek Him you will find Him.

Peace,
Aaron56

So...
I was always interested in learning more about the Bible and in doing so, I hoped to get closer to God. When I got the chance, I followed a Bible study which thaught me the contectual interpretation. Ever since that study, I have lost my faith in steps. I just can't read the Bible without seeing all its flaws. I just can't talk to anybody about this in fear that I would take their faith away as well. However, I can't live in this insecure and godless way. Are there any of you who experienced the same? How did you overcome this?

Maybe you could explain what this "contextual interpretation" is. What about the scriptures don't seem solid to you anymore.

Realize there are a lot of whack teachers and teachings out there. Some lies are constructed to be very convincing. Don't you have any experiences with the lord outside of bible study? Nothing should be able to shake you from those things.

I nearly never heard of Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I had been hanging out with a small group of Christians that had no home church. We held Bible studies in the park around dusk on most nights. We heard some Missionaries from Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa (30 miles away) had just returned from Africa and had a message for us.

We took up a collection between us and rented a High School auditorium to hear them share with us. On the eve of Pentecost 1977 We all got together with them and listened to some amazing story's about their travels and adventures. I wasn't convinced but I was intrigued. We were not Charismatics. Suddenly people started speaking in tongues, prophesying and praising the Lord. I was surprised, confused, frightened and a little covetous.

One of the missionaries pointed me out and thanked the Lord for allowing me to witness what was happening. I meditated about what I had thought I had seen till 0 dark 30. I finally started praying like never before in a not so cognitive way and challenged the Lord. If what I had seen was real, please prove it to me.

He did. I had been working day labor and going through a divorce at the time. I had no electricity (lights). The room lit up and blinds started rattling like a strange wind was blowing. That's when my life and heart changed completely. I don't know how long it lasted initially but as the sun rose I felt more loved than ever before in my life. I was truly grateful thanking and praising the Lord, without stopping for the greatest part of several days. I was and still am experiencing the greatest love of my life. Hell or high water will never make me doubt that what happened was and still is real!!!
That's what happened to me. I had never heard of such a thing in modern times. Being a former Catholic and thinking such things were most likely fairy tales like Santa Clause. I had never read Acts either. Believe is too weak. Now I know that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are alive, well and working in many lives today.

I pray that something similar happens to you.

P.S. we took a collection to help the missionaries to continue their ministry. They turned it down. I never heard of such a thing. Preachers turning down money. Who'd of thought?

Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Find someone who has the Spirit and ask him to lay hands on you so that you might receive Him.

You had a “cognitive faith” by reason, so logic and reason were able to defeat it. Sadly, this is a by-product of Calvin et al who were heavily influenced by the age in which they were instructed: the Ago of Reason. This type of “faith” is the dominant faith in the pews on Sundays. Once baptized, you could easier believe your grandmother isn’t real than the Spirit who is within you.

If you seek Him you will find Him.

Peace,
Aaron56

I have a very similar history: grew up going to a “Bible-believing“ church. They liked the Holy Spirit but they liked Him to stay over there until they needed Him to intervene. When I was baptized with the Holy Spirit He became a living being to me, not just a doctrine to believe.

Blessings my friend.

So...
I was always interested in learning more about the Bible and in doing so, I hoped to get closer to God. When I got the chance, I followed a Bible study which thaught me the contectual interpretation. Ever since that study, I have lost my faith in steps. I just can't read the Bible without seeing all its flaws. I just can't talk to anybody about this in fear that I would take their faith away as well. However, I can't live in this insecure and godless way. Are there any of you who experienced the same? How did you overcome this?

So...
I was always interested in learning more about the Bible and in doing so, I hoped to get closer to God. When I got the chance, I followed a Bible study which thaught me the contectual interpretation. Ever since that study, I have lost my faith in steps. I just can't read the Bible without seeing all its flaws. I just can't talk to anybody about this in fear that I would take their faith away as well. However, I can't live in this insecure and godless way. Are there any of you who experienced the same? How did you overcome this?

are you thinking he is not saved?

I followed a Bible study which taught me the contextual interpretation. Ever since that study, I have lost my faith in steps.

Don’t know.

I didn't see him ever state he had been saved, and baptized, or any such profession of faith. This stuff he is talking of is just plain weird IMO.

Maybe he just fell in with the wrong people and is confused, and needs to find some true believers, a good church group who can take him in and instruct him in the Truth of the Word of God?

I hope, if he is sincere, that he finds his way to the narrow path. If he is sincere, I believe God/Holy Spirit will find him and guide him.

That is a rather strange and unusual result of studying the Bible contextually. If anything it should have strengthened your faith. The bigger problem is taking verses and passages out of context and misunderstanding them. Perhaps a specific example would help.

At the same time, it should be clearly understood that (1) the entire Bible is for our edification, (2) what is in the Old Testament is written "for our learning", (3) the New Testament is the unfolding of the OT, (4) the words and teachings of Christ are applicable to all Christians (other than the very few times He gave instructions regarding the Law), (5) the Holy Spirit is the divine Teacher of Christians, and unless He indwells a person, that person will not really understand spiritual truths.

Well if he has not yet been baptized by God he is not. He is still unclean and dead in his sin.

Thats why I was asking.

I counseled him to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Baptism by the Holy Spirit is different.