Westernize or Christianize

[ScottGhost]

Christianity like Judiasm are Eastern rather than Occidental beliefs systems. When (in general) we wish to pass on a truth of Scripture to someone else do we seek to teach it from Christ's point of veiw or from the perspective of our preferred denomination, pastor, Bible translation or personal feeling because that is all we have known in our own experience. The Scriptures are completely true, but are our interpretations? Tell me what you think.

 

[Faithful Son]

Aren't you generalizing here?

I don't think of myself of anything, except being part of the body of Christ. As my life would have it, I don't attend a church or a religious institution.

I would be much more interested in helping real people with real problems, than to ask what they believed, since every individual on this earth, Christian or heathen, believes individually.

I wouldn't worry too much about how people perceive the Bible, or how they interpret it, because, the same as above, each persons interprets it individually. That is because the Word is sharper than a sword and the Word is God's Words and nothing passes by God's Words, without Him knowing about it.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

[rizen1]

Scott its like we drank from the same cup this morning. lol

The Scriptures are completely true, but are our interpretations? Tell me what you think

The word is the final authority that makes it true,
As for our interpretation ....well not always true.

I think it's being influenced by alot of factors, culture, environment, denomination, education and family. I've heard so many crazy things in my days I had to say, God forgive me but is this true.

But I could only get my answer from the bible,
The word said

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

All can mean anything, I believe knowledge falls under " All "

We have to go to God's Word, his words to get answers. When we desire to seek him first before man, the Holy Spirit will grant us the wisdom and understanding to interpret the bible.

I would like to share something I found, this morning.

Many Christians agree that the Word of God is “the Truth.” Yet from one Bible come thousands of differing interpretations about exactly what “the Truth” is. It was never God’s intention that people read the same document and come away with different ideas about what it is saying. God wants us all to be likeminded about His Word.

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

taken from ...Truth or Tradition

 

[Ann]

The Scriptures are completely true, but are our interpretations? Tell me what you think.

A short testimony from me: (I was not raised in a Christian home, I didn't know God, I knew of Him by what I heard at school. God spoke to me in my heart when I was 17 years old, clearly and without a doubt. By this experience I know for a fact that God does exist.)

Many scripture in the Bible is clear and need no understanding or interpretation. Then there is scripture that is not so clear that need understanding and interpretation.

I gave my short testimony to indicate that what God's Spirit reveal in your own heart, you can accept as truth.

2Jo 1:2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

Regarding scripture that we are unsure of and of which the meaning is not clear, we must not connect our own fleshly interpretation and spread it as the truth. We must pray about anything that we do not understand and only when the Holy Spirit open the Word to us can we tell other people our interpretation. I'm sure that any Christian receiving this word then will be able to discern the truth through the revelation from the Holy Spirit in their own hearts.

People received different gifts and one is of teaching, these people teach with the anointing of God and we can accept their teachings. Others teach without having this calling and this results in false teachings.
Every Christian must pray and ask God for discernment when they feel unsure or uneasy about any teachings that they hear.

Blessings!

 

[Faithful Son]

I appreciate your post sister Ann.

Brother Scott, I apologize if my reply sounded blunt. I was essentially trying to say the same as Ann, but I couldn't find the words. I have to confess, I didn't pray before posting either.

God bless

 

[jiggyfly]

Christianity like Judiasm are Eastern rather than Occidental beliefs systems. When (in general) we wish to pass on a truth of Scripture to someone else do we seek to teach it from Christ's point of veiw or from the perspective of our preferred denomination, pastor, Bible translation or personal feeling because that is all we have known in our own experience. The Scriptures are completely true, but are our interpretations? Tell me what you think.

I agree ScottGhost eastern and weatern mindset are very different indeed and it makes a huge difference in the interpretation of scriptures.

Here is just one example; a wedding, eastern tradition of a wedding during the time of Christ's earthly ministry was more about the groom than the bride. The bride is the one who is waiting for the groom to come out.The groom is the center of the festivity and ceremony. Western culture the bride is the center and is all adorned and the groom waits for the bride. So you can see the concepts of a wedding ceremony are completely oposite. This is just one example of many. In order to properly interpret the scriptures context and culture are very important. The bible is not just one book but rather a library of various books and letters with a variety of literary history and style. Each must be interpreted accordingly.

 

[ScottGhost]

I took no offense to your blunt reply. You actually responded very well. I agree with you that it is more important to help people where they are at in their lives and as Ann replied using the gifts that God has given us to do so. In Acts 17:10 (NASB)
10(T)The brethren immediately sent (U)Paul and Silas away by night to (V)Berea, and when they arrived, they went into (W)the synagogue of the Jews.

11Now these were more noble-minded than those in (X)Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

The Bereans did not believe what was taught until they verified the truth they heard themselves in their own Bible Studies to be true. The Spirit of God then verified the message. And of course they probably had the original texts or close copies. Paul was taking new concepts and making them culturally relevant to his listeners.

 

[ScottGhost]

I agree ScottGhost eastern and weatern mindset are very different indeed and it makes a huge difference in the interpretation of scriptures.

Here is just one example; a wedding, eastern tradition of a wedding during the time of Christ's earthly ministry was more about the groom than the bride. The bride is the one who is waiting for the groom to come out.The groom is the center of the festivity and ceremony. Western culture the bride is the center and is all adorned and the groom waits for the bride. So you can see the concepts of a wedding ceremony are completely opposite. This is just one example of many. In order to properly interpret the scriptures context and culture are very important. The bible is not just one book but rather a library of various books and letters with a variety of literary history and style. Each must be interpreted accordingly.

Interpret accordingly is the catch phase. You could put 10 Bible believing scholars in a room together and come up with 10 opinions. Which hermanutic do you prefer to use when doing Bible study?

 

[jiggyfly]

Interpret accordingly is the catch phase. You could put 10 Bible believing scholars in a room together and come up with 10 opinions. Which hermanutic do you prefer to use when doing Bible study?

I'm not sure I am understanding you correctly, when you say "which hermeneutic" are you refering to christian and jewish hermeneutics?

 

[ScottGhost]

In short I guess yes? Do you prefer to use a literal style, allegorical, jewish, linear, cyclical etc.......

 

[jiggyfly]

I think I probably use them all depends what text I'm studying though.