Why do we have different ideas?

First, let me start with the assumption that as Christians, we all have accepted Christ as the Savior for our sins. And after accepting Him, the Holy Spirit has been sent to us to guide us.

My question is this. Knowing that we need the Holy Spirit to "open our eyes", why is it that religiously devout people can differ so much in their interpretation of the bible? If the same Holy Spirit is in all of us, why don't we all come to the same conclusion when we read the bible?

Very good question, hungry4God! I'll give you my best answer:

The Holy Spirit works in each of us in a different fashion. Hence differing spirtual gifts, etc. It reveals to us what is pertinent in our own lives for us to gain understanding of what God is trying to say through His Word, the Bible. This goes for people coming to Christ for salvation from any walk of life. Thus I believe God left the "decoding process", so to speak, to the Holy Spirit living within us after we receive Christ as our Savior, so that we can have a more intimate relationship with Him.

Thus we have the differing views on some scriptures; However, they shouldn't be too radically different.

- Andrew

YHVH (GOD) gave all of us an individual mind, so not every body is looks at a picture from the same angel.sense we do not look at the picture from the same angle we all see different thinks in the picture.

On the other hand if every body would see the same thing, would there be anything to learn?

With different people seeing and learning different things from the Word,that should challenge the rest OF us to check into the word of Life to see if The Person teaching is speaking the truth. That is done by reading and studying the word and by bathing it in lots of Prayer.

if we all agreed on the same thing then we may not be as hungry (challenged) to go into the word to find the truth,because the pastor could just tell us what it mend and we all agree on it

Then on the other hand a person may not be ready for some things in the scripture because he is a baby in Y'shua.
there are many reasons why we do not agree on everything but one thing is for sure:

Just because we do not agree or understand every thing the same way: it should not cause division among the believers.

The main thing we all should agree on is this:

"That Y'shua is the son of YHVH (GOD)

Born of a virgin

Lived on the earth to show us the way to the Father

Died on the CROSS for our sins

Went into the grave and arose again unto life

Assented into heaven to the Father and is preparing a place for us

and last but not the end, BUT the beginning

Y'shua is coming again to set up his new Kingdom

if we can all come into agreement on those points then everything else should not really matter

Put your trust in Y'shua

SHALOM

The bible is the same, always, no matter who reads it. We all know that. Our culture, upbringing, education, etc, acts as the lens through which we interpret not just the bible but the entire world around us, all of experience. If anything, it's amazing that we can agree on so much of the bible through thousands of different cultures. But to answer your question, it's because of the lens through which we look at the world that we interpret it differently. But as someone said, it shouldn't be too radically different.

This one's easy. The answer is Satan.

ForMyLord,

Are you saying Satan is the cause of our different interpretations? Please clarify and defend your answer as your answer seems disturbing to me.

- Andrew

Andrew, I'll explain my answer.

Jesus prayed that all believers would be like-minded and as one. Even as Jesus and The Father are one.

John 17:20-21.

So, it's God's very Will that we would all agree and not have so many divisions within the body. So, if the Holy Spirit or the Helper is also one with Jesus and with The Father (which is the truth), then the Helper wouldn't give us different interpretations of His Word.

But, who is the father of confusion? Satan is.

I agree that everyone can receive a certain message from God's Word which is designed individually for that person. But, this message would never contradict what the Helper would tell someone else.

Hope that explains it. Wink

ForMyLord,

I agree with your statement that being lead away from the truth to our own, often misguided attempts at understanding the eternal is from Satan. The Bible admonishes us that the Church is the "Pillar and Foundation of Truth" and will not be lead into error. It also admonishes us that our own private interpretations are very prone to error.

This is why I trust the Catholic Church even when I have read a book and think a teaching may be wrong. In every case when I continue researching the issue, it is I whom am wrong as I only saw one point of view, and did not have all the facts.

After years as a fundamentalist Baptist and an anti-Catholic, I have learned time and again, for 2,000 years on matters of doctrine, the Church has gotten it right.

The Lord be with you,
Brother Adam

People as humans have different interpretations of everything. two people can read the same story and get completely different things out of it. the only way to truly undersand the meanings is the understand who the author was, what they believed, and how they lived (poverty, war, etc..). without these things we are making guesses at the reasons behind such writings. with something like a short story or book people will talk over the meanings and share ideas. but with something like the bible people just argue the meanings and never listin to anyone else's point of view. If everyone would sit down and talk reasonably they would realize that they all have the same basic principle, but instead they focus on the details and shut their ears and open their mouths.

Flyfree432 wrote (View Post): › ForMyLord,

I agree with your statement that being lead away from the truth to our own, often misguided attempts at understanding the eternal is from Satan. The Bible admonishes us that the Church is the "Pillar and Foundation of Truth" and will not be lead into error. It also admonishes us that our own private interpretations are very prone to error.

This is why I trust the Catholic Church even when I have read a book and think a teaching may be wrong. In every case when I continue researching the issue, it is I whom am wrong as I only saw one point of view, and did not have all the facts.

After years as a fundamentalist Baptist and an anti-Catholic, I have learned time and again, for 2,000 years on matters of doctrine, the Church has gotten it right.

The Lord be with you,
Brother Adam

Amen, brother Adam !
I was raised catholic; turned anti-catholic; am now proud to be catholic.
I have recently been puting into practice; before I go to Mass on Sundays, I got myself a copy of the missal from my rectory in which I read the readings and the gospel in the morning before I go to church.
I find it interesting to compare my understanding of the readings and the priest's understanding (through his homily) of the readings. It often seems that my understanding is usually not that far off from what the priest has to say. It has never failed yet though, that the priest can present it in a "new light", or explain it to me where I "clearly" understand it.
Same words.
Same book.
Same text. Different "eyes"
One thing I admire about catholic priests is that they are not just someone who has read and studied the bible, but they are also highly educated as well. One of our local priests who recently lead an "all denomonations" bible study held at our local University has a doctorate degree as a biblicist which he received in Rome with the Pope's own personal "stamp of approval". He actually held the Dead Sea scrolls in his hands. He speaks and writes several different languages including Aramic, Hebrew, Greek just to name a few and could actually read (and understand) the ancient writings of the Dead Sea scrolls. I was in awe of how he came to "interpret" the writings of the bible.
Same words.
Same book.
Same text. Different "eyes"
I also consult the church in matters of doctrine because they seem to have "gotten it right."
I have gone to Mass twice in the same day just to see what the differences between two priest's homilies would be.
They both had different ways of presenting exactly the same message. The only differences I could notice were that each priest presented the same message with their own personal charisma.
The bible is the bible! It has not changed! When I don't understand a certain passage or message, I may have my own interpretation, but I choose to consult someone who does understand and can explain it to me the way it was meant to be understood. Me, personally, I look to the church for these answers, not just someone who has read the bible more times than me, but that's just me and that's what works "for me."
May God bless you and keep you, one and all In Jesus' name. Amen.
Forever your brother in Christ,
Paul E. B.

Funny you should ask. I would agree that due to our various experiences and culture we all will view the scripture differently. But what about even the essentials?

I am asking, here as well as on a number of other forums to which I belong for research. I have always been drawn to apologetics (gee that was a big surprise huh?) and have done some initial research into what binds christians together (besides love) in the way of "common" doctrine. But, not ecumenicism.

But rather, to see if there might be some way to overcome what I've seen in the way of contentions locally, with an eye to perhaps getting it published in one of the journals to which I subscribe. I've played with the idea for a while and I thought a good place to begin was to get feedback from "real people" as opposed to what I would call the "technicians" the Professional, academic theologians.

As for my own views, in no particular order:

1. The inerrancy of scripture
2. Justification by faith
3. Atoning vicarious sacrifice of Jesus
4. The real physical incarnation of Jesus
5. The full deity of Jesus Christ
6. The full humanity of Jesus Christ
7. The full deity of the Holy Spirit
8. The full deity of the Father
9. Virgin Birth
10. Christ will one day (I believe soon) return for His followers.

All the rest...since there is a question of whether a person can be saved, yet because of there process of discipleship, remain in a "stunted" growth rate evidenced by some errors in knowledge of how God has manifested himself (Trinity vs Oneness - peripheral - My own belief is trinitarian, and if I'm wrong, when I get there, he'll straighten me out) and other doctrines such as form of church govt, when the rapture will happen (pray for pre- prepare for post-) and others

I'm really not trolling, not trying to stir up strife or controversy. I am really doing research. And by the looks of things, either everyone has there own ideas and doesn't want to say, for fear of offending their friends/brethren. Or they simply haven't thought much about it.

I've come to rely on two maxims over the past ten years or so has been: In the essentials, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity. And to "speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent."

so ...about those "essentials," anyone? Question

You have posted in this forum: Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject:

Hi Mike,

There are certianly fundamental elements of the Christian faith, such as the Paschal Mystery (death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ), but to try to dig out 'essentials' is approaching truth in the wrong manner. It brings it to a 'lowest common denominator' of what we can all agree with. This is how heresy is started. Christians believe in absolutes. Such as absolute truth and absolute moral values. Truth is given to us by divine revelation. Divine revelation is revealed to us both orally and by the written word. Scripture (God's infallible, inerrant Word) and Tradition (such as the canon of the Bible) are manners through which Revelation is given to man.

You mention that you "think" you believe in the Trinity. The truine nature of God is absolutely essential, in a matter of speaking to the Christian faith. To reject it is to cease to be Christian. If you do not believe in the Trinity your options are to believe that there are three gods or that Jesus is not God.

I encourage you to seek out the writings of the Church Fathers and those saints who have been declared doctors of the Church. You will see the fallacy of induvidualistic and modernistic interpretation. For 2000 years the same faith has been preached. It was given to the Apostles by Christ, and handed down to the successors of the apostles in an unbroken line. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church if you get a chance. In there you will see truth come alive through the decrees of the Magisterium. You will read all of the essentials, or basics of the Christian faith.

I wish you the best as you continue to search.

In Christ,
Bro. Adam

MikeC1956 wrote (View Post): ›
Funny you should ask. I would agree that due to our various experiences and culture we all will view the scripture differently. But what about even the essentials?

I am asking, here as well as on a number of other forums to which I belong for research. I have always been drawn to apologetics (gee that was a big surprise huh?) and have done some initial research into what binds christians together (besides love) in the way of "common" doctrine. But, not ecumenicism.

But rather, to see if there might be some way to overcome what I've seen in the way of contentions locally, with an eye to perhaps getting it published in one of the journals to which I subscribe. I've played with the idea for a while and I thought a good place to begin was to get feedback from "real people" as opposed to what I would call the "technicians" the Professional, academic theologians.

As for my own views, in no particular order:

1. The inerrancy of scripture
2. Justification by faith
3. Atoning vicarious sacrifice of Jesus
4. The real physical incarnation of Jesus
5. The full deity of Jesus Christ
6. The full humanity of Jesus Christ
7. The full deity of the Holy Spirit
8. The full deity of the Father
9. Virgin Birth
10. Christ will one day (I believe soon) return for His followers.

All the rest...since there is a question of whether a person can be saved, yet because of there process of discipleship, remain in a "stunted" growth rate evidenced by some errors in knowledge of how God has manifested himself (Trinity vs Oneness - peripheral - My own belief is trinitarian, and if I'm wrong, when I get there, he'll straighten me out) and other doctrines such as form of church govt, when the rapture will happen (pray for pre- prepare for post-) and others

I'm really not trolling, not trying to stir up strife or controversy. I am really doing research. And by the looks of things, either everyone has there own ideas and doesn't want to say, for fear of offending their friends/brethren. Or they simply haven't thought much about it.

I've come to rely on two maxims over the past ten years or so has been: In the essentials, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity. And to "speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent."

so ...about those "essentials," anyone? Question

hungry4God wrote (View Post): › First, let me start with the assumption that as Christians, we all have accepted Christ as the Savior for our sins. And after accepting Him, the Holy Spirit has been sent to us to guide us.

My question is this. Knowing that we need the Holy Spirit to "open our eyes", why is it that religiously devout people can differ so much in their interpretation of the bible? If the same Holy Spirit is in all of us, why don't we all come to the same conclusion when we read the bible?

Even though, at 1 Corinthians 1:10, we can read of the expected results of being truly guided by "Holy Spirit":

"Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought."

...at Galatians 5:19-21, we can also read where the Scriptures makes plain the true source of such unresolved differences, that is, between those who may, otherwise, exhibit such divisions, those who may claim to be Christians:

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are,...contentions, divisions, sects,...and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning you, the same way as I did forewarn you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom."

Perhaps to believe otherwise, would be making Jesus a liar. See John John 16:13

Agape, JohnOneOne

You have posted in this forum: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:07 pm Post subject:

You see I just learned that we all have the same problemand that being that we always like to be right and the other person always to be wrong. Just this month YAHWEH GOD showed me that we all need to get back to the commen dinominator. what is the commen dinominator ? well sence you asked it is Yeshua our Messiah (Jesus The Christ). if we all can put our differences aside and come back to the commen dinominator then YAHWEH GOD can work to us they way it was ment to be in the first place

it took me so long to find out what divided us but now i am back to the one and only thing that matters Yeshua and geting people into the kingdom of our father YAHWEH GOD

Quote: › Just this month YAHWEH GOD showed me that we all need to get back to the commen dinominator. what is the commen dinominator ? well sence you asked it is Yeshua our Messiah (Jesus The Christ). if we all can put our differences aside and come back to the commen dinominator then YAHWEH GOD can work to us they way it was ment to be in the first place

This is what makes a person a Christian.

Not a Calvinist.

Not an Arminian.

Not a Baptist.

Not a Mennonite.

Not a Lutheran.

Not a whatever.

Earlier in the thread is a list. It is a good starting point. I modified it a little.

1. The inerrancy of scripture
2. Justification by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone
3. Atoning vicarious sacrifice of Jesus
4. The real physical incarnation of Jesus
5. The full deity of Jesus Christ
6. The full humanity of Jesus Christ
7. The full deity of the Holy Spirit
8. The full deity of the Father
9. The virgin birth of Christ
10. Christ will one day return for His followers.

Anything outside of this is a gray area that scripture is silent on. If scripture is silent on an issue we must heed the words of Paul.

1 Corinthians 8:9

9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

Modes of baptism, Sunday work. Sunday vs Saturday sabbath. Things like these are not determiners of Christianity.