Oldtimer said:
A +
If only years ago I would have known that all that studying of the bible was not necessary, that all we had to do was decide for ourselves what it means to have a relationship with God instead of what he tell us it takes to have one.
Now to me it was the opposite-- the years of studying the Bible, taking religion and theology classes in college, and Bible study groups always raised more questions-- and how I can relate them to my own life rather than to any preset rule set down by any other interpreter...
I've found that within the same religion (Christianity), within the same denomination, within even the same individual churchbuilding-- there are many varying and sometimes changing interpretations of the Bible by various ministers, leaders, elders, and theologians...With all that variation- you have to make your own interpretation from within yourself- or you will spend your life wandering many different ways....
You are correct many people have different interpretations of different Bible subjects. But there are some issues that there really is no room for interpretation. Only when people look to find a loophole to justify their actions.
Example: Lots of different conclusions have came from people reading Revelations. Who is the beast, who is Michael is there more than one archangel. Who is the Harlot etc.......These are many times symbolic and complicated visions.
I don't get caught up with debating most of these issues because they are complicated and probably over most of us Bible Knowledge including myself.
But there is many issues that have very little room for interpretation blunders. Many things Jesus or his apostles taught us as to our day to day way of life are in pretty simple language. Like to forgive each other, not to commit murder, not to be envious of others. Problem is some people do not like what they read so they use the old cop out excuse that well I interpret the Bible different than you! Bla bla bla.
These are the same people that move from church to church because they do not like the counsel they hear instead of heading it. Jesus gave us a road map to salvation. He tells us the things that we need to do and the things that we need to avoid. They are in plain easy to understand sermons and only those that do not like what they hear have a problem understanding them.
When Jesus tells us that men who lie with men will not inherit Gods kingdom or neither will drunkards or adulters there is not much room for interpretation differences it is easy for even the simplest child to understand what he is telling us.
Nothing I get more tired of in Religious discussions than when a person gets backed into a corner when asked to defend their religious beliefs and they use the old well I interpret that different than you. How and the heck do you interpret not to be drunkard any way but the way it is written?
To many people look to have their ears tickled today. I have broken many of the sins that Jesus mentions in the bible but live or die I will not justify them. If I did wrong I did wrong and I hope I am forgiven for it! But I know I will never be forgiven if I deny I did wrong and justify my actions to make myself feel better. Nothing worse than fooling ones self!