Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
What I have seen is a growth in a genuine "it doesn't matter what the Bible says, I feel like doing it THIS way and that's that." When a person doesn't make recourse to Scripture, it is no mere interpretational issue, it is a source of authority issue.
I don't expect anyone to just agree with me EXCEPT IN ONE POINT: THAT SCRIPTURE ALONE DETERMINES WHAT IS TRUE AND WHAT IS FALSE. Everything else can be hashed out, but without that common ground there is no "interpretational differences", there is only steadfast opposition to one another.
Can two walk together unless they are agreed? No, they can't, nor can they even discuss Bible unless they have a basic common ground concerning it's authority.
|
That's a common sentiment. But I see it as a recipe for greater tension and division within the body.
We must agree. And for the most part we do. All of us believe that Jesus is indeed God. We don't believe in the Trinity. Most of us believe in the
Acts 2:38 experience. I think we all believe in the bodily return of Christ. All of us believe that a believer should live a life of holiness, even if we have differing perspectives of what that means.
I've mentioned that I served in the Army. America is a wonderful nation. Why? Because in America we're free. Now, that allows for innumerable opinions, lifestyles, political perspectives, religious perspectives, etc. I don't believe there is a more diverse nation on earth. But our diversity is our strength. Every fascist nation built around a single ethic eventually falls. Because nobody will ever completely agree. Our diversity is therefore an enduring strength. But if we ever get to the point when we've demonized every dissenting opinion, every challenge, every alternative method, we've spelled our destruction. It's always the unbending branch the breaks in the wind. Now, even with America's diversity... when I was in the military I saw men and women of nearly every creed, race, lifestyle, religion, put on the same uniform, with a willingness to fight and die for one another. That is TRUE and AUTHENTIC unity.
Sadly, the church hasn't matured enough to realize that in spite of our differences of interpretations regarding the Scriptures... we all stand loving those same Scriptures. We wear the same uniform. We're brothers.
I wish I heard more, "What is your take on this?", instead of "Let me tell you why you really don't believe God's Word or know Jesus!"
Threaded Mode
