Cherry Pickers Anonymous

Anyone who is here to gain followers - instead of encouraging/leading others to follow God/Christ - they have "gone wrong" already...

When will everyone wake up and have my exact upbringing, every single one of my life experiences, and world view? *heavy on the sarcasm*

those tuis!

I find it rather ironic that this has become an argument over the meaning of the phrase, "cherry picking".

The point was about one of the reasons some folk claim so and so is cherry picking. Often the poster will post a verse guessing one verse will be read . IF the opposing side , so to speak, disagrees with the ideal they often claim cherry picking.

How many people - after reading through post #13 - understood this specific meaning from her posts?

(be honest - don't lie)

And, the point is - sometimes it is "just too easy" for someone to post based on what is very clear in their own mind - yet convey insufficient information in their post(s) to help others see it as clearly as they do.

Beckie, it would have been very helpful if you had added something like what is in the above quoted post in post #13.

I agree with what you said.

Spending a period of time on a Christian website and especially on a Bible discussion forum, is a real eye opener. { Yes, it most certainly is... }

So many different interpretations of the scripture.

So many denominations in Christianity and, at times, extremely different Church organizations.

Given the New Testament is composed of say 26 letters. Half of these letters are small letters, give or take a few pages. The content of these letters is a simple text, addressed to mostly uneducated audiences. These are first century letters.

How is it even possible to end up with conflicting interpretations?

as someone who has been here for a long time, there have been a lot here to recruit, not so much to discuss....

If any of these things affect a person such that they cherry-pick the scriptures - something needs to be re-evaluated...

Nothing in life should alter a genuine real-and-true attitude and intent for understanding the truth of the scriptures.

Having such an attitude will not allow for the "sifting" of scripture according to personal whims - because, if you really want to know and understand the truth - "even if it hurts" - you will not allow yourself to "discount" or "overlook" anything in the scriptures that may be pertinent.

If a person does not have that attitude - something is severely wrong - and needs correction - before any further study and interpretation is made.

I don’t think you understand. Big part of scriptural misunderstanding is that we don’t fully understand the cultural worldview of the writers in the Bible.

We can’t fully sympathize with their life experiences and may be only able to relate on a subjective level when they say “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” When the only opposition some people have experienced for being a Christian was an argument on some random message board. Many people can’t sympathize with an enraged mob martyring someone in the street in broad daylight like what happened to Stephen.

My point is that what people have experienced greatly effects the way they understand anything because we don’t know everything.

What you’re inadvertently asking for is for everyone to be omniscient before making any sort of biblical commentary. That’ll never happen.

Even if you knew the entire Bible word-for-word from Genesis to Revelation, could recall any passage with perfect instancy, and were raised in a bubble from birth, would your experience effect your view of God compared to someone who was literally born getting beat by drunks, in poverty, and often went without food or clothes that fit?

Methodology - how you go about it makes all the difference in the world...

???

the tuis eat the cherries before anyone can pick them

A new name for this website?

The largest assembly of its kind in one place?

A group that does not realize that they have a problem?

I have never in my life seen so many people in one place who seemed absolutely "bent" on interpreting the scriptures to say anything but what they actually say.

It is sad.

It truly is.

SMH

Honestly, are you surprised?

If any of these things affect a person such that they cherry-pick the scriptures - something needs to be re-evaluated...

Nothing in life should alter a genuine real-and-true attitude and intent for understanding the truth of the scriptures.

Having such an attitude will not allow for the "sifting" of scripture according to personal whims - because, if you really want to know and understand the truth - "even if it hurts" - you will not allow yourself to "discount" or "overlook" anything in the scriptures that may be pertinent.

If a person does not have that attitude - something is severely wrong - and needs correction - before any further study and interpretation is made.

I don’t think you understand. { I do understand. } Big part of scriptural misunderstanding is that we don’t fully understand the cultural worldview of the writers in the Bible. { Do you seek to understand it? Do you ask God to help you understand it? }

We can’t fully sympathize with their life experiences and may be only able to relate on a subjective level when they say “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” When the only opposition some people have experienced for being a Christian was an argument on some random message board. Many people can’t sympathize with an enraged mob martyring someone in the street in broad daylight like what happened to Stephen.

My point is that what people have experienced greatly effects the way they understand anything because we don’t know everything. { I agree 100 percent. }

What you’re inadvertently asking for is for everyone to be omniscient before making any sort of biblical commentary. { No - that is not what I am asking/saying. } That’ll never happen.

Even if you knew the entire Bible word-for-word from Genesis to Revelation, could recall any passage with perfect instancy, and were raised in a bubble from birth, would your experience effect your view of God compared to someone who was literally born getting beat by drunks, in poverty, and often went without food or clothes that fit?

I understand all-too-well that your life experience affects your worldview - I have studied it in myself and others for decades.

What I am saying is - no matter what your background - you have the same opportunity as anyone else to obtain the proper knowledge and understanding necessary to make a proper interpretation of scripture - if you go about it the right way.

Why do I say this?

Because God is the source of all knowledge and understanding. And, He will grant knowledge and understanding to anyone who is sincere - having the proper attitude - in asking Him for it.

He would like for everyone to understand it!

However, if you have a 'swine' attitude - don't expect to obtain any pearls...

You absolutely must want to know the truth - "even if it hurts" - and be willing to accept the truth that God shows you - even if it is not what you were hoping for.

Read my post (quoted above) again - very carefully.

The last paragraph is not referring to commentary; but rather, your own study of the scriptures. It is saying that - if you don't approach study of the scriptures with the proper attitude - you will not get the proper result. And, in such a case, the attitude needs to be corrected before any more effort is made - otherwise, you are just "spinning your wheels"...