Do you find the Bible confusing?

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

I apologize for not being more clear. The message in my post was: There are a number of "teachers" who take the position of, "All commentaries on the Bible are a waste of time. i.e. are of little or no value, excerpt my own, which I deliver on Sunday morning. And, which I fully expect you all to accept as Gospel.!" A satirical statement on spiritual pride: My ideas and understanding are better (more correct) than everyone else's.

As to your question concerning John 14:14:

There are only three basic positions one can take with a question such as the one you asked. (1) Please, someone instruct me in how to understand the Bible. I am getting really desperate here. (2) You folks really don't what you believe - or why, and I am going to have some fun with you. or (3) I already have "the answers" and I am just trying to draw you out so I can expose your false thinking.

In the case of the first position, you need to seek out a face to face meeting with a creditable Bible teacher (pastor, elder, etc) and discuss your questions and spiritual issues with him/her. Attend a solid Bible study class, where you can ask pointed questions and where a personal, give and take duologue can be entered into.

As to the remaining two basic positions, they are only those who love to play religious right/wrong and one-upmanship games. It is unfortunate, but there seems to be an over abundance of folks who like those sort of activities. I don't, and I don't play.

Now, there does exist a forth position, which is becoming a rarity on many forums, and that is where people actually engage in discussions for the purpose of exchanging information, ideas, experiences, concepts/understanding, etc. so that mutual growth in the knowledge of God may increase - and personal, spiritual maturity has the opportunity to be achieved and exercised. That is, where one person instructs another, and in turn is instructed by others. Where the best teachers are also the best students.

The question now is which position have you taken, and how do you plan to demonstrate it?

This is interesting as Timmy and I are often approaching things from a similar angle. In this, though, we are probably different. I honestly don't believe that I fit into either of the first 3 categories. I neither want anyone here to "fix" my knowledge of spiritual matters (including the Bible), nor do I want to "fix" theirs, and I have no desire to mock anyone elses sincerely held beliefs.

I do believe that I am in stage #4, or at least that I am striving to do so. I like to discuss issues because I am interested in what other people believe, and feel that we can learn (or at the least strengthen our own beliefs) from each other.