why is the bible written with values that are so loose to interpretation?

Question

i mean theres like a 1000 diff ways to interpret the bible. one person tells me that they are against gays. then the next person says that being against gays isnt christian. which one is right??? is there any continuity?

Answer 1

You can interpret the Bible in a legalistic way - that is, a way that shows how you can be a "good" person, while others might be "bad" persons. The trick is: Don't do this, don't do that, etc.
Or you can interpret the Bible according to the Spirit. That is, you accept the authority of the Bible, and you understand that its central message that God's law is there to show us we are all sinners, and that grace is there to free us from the condemnation of the law.
Throughout the New Testament, we se a teaching that Christianity has nothing to do with being better than others, or going around condemning people, but rather to enjoy a free relationship with God through Jesus Christ. A Christian is a liberated person.
Now we believe that homosexuality is not in God's plan for mankind. However rather than going around condemning the homosexuals of the world, we feel it is more helpful to present the gospel of freedom, so that homosexuals can find freedom in Christ.
In too much so-called Christian religion, people who have grown up into a homosexual thought pattern have felt so guilty and have told themselves: "I mustn't think this way. I mustn't. It's wrong." And the more they concentrate on that, the bigger their problem gets, of course.
There is a reason why a person is a homosexual. There is a reason why a person has any obsession in particular. The Holy Spirit can help us to find that, and to free us from it. Not to enslave us into more guilt.
So yes, I agree with those that believe homosexuality is not God's plan for you. But I also agree with those who say I am not there to condemn you. The two concepts are not contradictory.

Answer 2

The problem is interpreting ancient text. People did not speak the way current speech is written and spoken and thus the interpretation is off - and open to interpretation.

Also; Do you remember being in school and the teacher asking for everyone to write an essay on their interpretation of an essay or book. There were many interpretations of the same book or essay - yet the teacher did not give one student an "A" for the only right interpretation - the teacher graded everyone on the quality of their interpretation.

The bible is the same - its all in the interpretation - and many of the various religions out there have their own interpretation.

Who is right?

Who is the absolute right interpretation?

Hence, the confusion.

All you can do is find one interpretation that best suits your values and beliefs.

Answer 3

Their is definitely no 'looseness' to the interpretaytion. The problem is not with the Bible but with the reader- often times emotion or personal feeling get in the way of receiving the truth.
Misunderstanding HOW to apply a concept is a big issue also. For example- homosexuality is an abomination, it is wrong, sinful and there is no justification for it (this is true with any sin but I use this one because so many have problems with understanding) Adultery is an abomination, it is a sin and there is no justification for it- why do we not see people going around beating up, abusing , and disrespecting adulterers?? It is the act of abuse, rejection and disrespect of a person that is unchristian behavior- it is unchristian to tolerate sin, but we are to , and it is possible to love the sinner, accept and show mercy and grace to the sinner, whether they are gay, adulterer, theif, liar, etc but reject the sin. Some people do not know how to reject the sin without rejecting the sinner so this causes problem for them and others feel that they are rejected just because a behavior is rejected even when this is not true.
I will never tolerate homosexuality- there is no question about how God feels about it- the Bible is VERY clear as to what is and is not sin and there is no room for interpretation. But though I do not tolerate the sin, I hope that I always sho love, mercy and grace to the person walking in sin because I have sin of my own that I am being delivered from and I had issues that were just as bad before I came to the saving knowledge of Christ and if someone had abused me "in the name of God" rather than show me the love and grace they did to help me to be free, I would very likely not be alive today.

Answer 4

There is absolutely nothing vague about the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 says, "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, [v17] that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."

The scriptures tell us specifically the roles of the husbad (Ephesians 5:25-29), wife (1Peter 3:1, 2) and children (Ephesians 6:1-3).

The scriptures also tells us what sort of people will be in God's Kingdom. 1 Corithians 6:9-11 says, "What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, [v10] nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom." There is no mystery that the Bible condemns homosexuality on all fronts.

When people make their own philosophies regarding what is right and wrong is where problems lie, which is why I am sitting here answering these type of questions that really should not be asking because it is clear in the scriptures.

Acts 5:29 says, "Obey God as ruler rather than men." There is nothing hard about that scripture. It is telling us that man is not the key to salvation, because they are imperfect, they die and are replaced with other human rulers with their own agenda contrary to God's of course. You still be in subjection to the "superior authorities" by abiding by their laws and pay taxes. It is only when an authority figure or ruler tells you to do something that is contrary of what God wants.

Psalm 83:18 tells us that God's personal name is Jehovah, which is the Most High over all the earth. There is only one way to interpret that. Jehovah is God's personal name. Just as you have a personal name, so does God.

Revelation 14:1-4 mentions 144,000 that will be going to heaven to be joint heirs with Jesus. Nothing complicated here. It simply tells us that heaven will consist of spirit-annointed people only. Therefore, that negates the fact that good people only go to heaven. There are requirements to get to be one of the 144,000.

Deuteronomy 5:17 says, "You must not murder." Simple. Plain. Easy. To the point. You must not. It did not say, You should not, but must not. But people go and kill others.

Jehovah God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and sulphur because of the loose conduct (homosexuality) and other debased things, despite the constant warnings Jehovah gave. Have you ever smelled sulfur? It stinks. Jehovah was furious with that ancient city that it rained fire and sulphur. What a combination? The term "sodomy" comes from that ancient city. Do you think Jehovah God will tolerate the wicked conditions that exist currently forever? Or will God act and bring about destruction like he did with ancient Sodom and Gomorrah?


People just want to find things to battle with. The scriptures is not loose to interpretation. It is a matter of who is interpreting it.

Answer 5

The Bible is written clearly, and is easy to understand, what it says is what it means, It is the interpretations of people that confuse the simplicity of the Words of God.
When a person reads a verse that is clear, yet they do not agree with what it says CLEARLY, they then go about to interpret it into something that they will agree with.
One person reads a verse and says it means that.
Another person reads the same verse and says it means this,
and yet another says it means something totally different then both of them. All of these are interpretations, the TRUTH is, what it says is what it means, no interpretation needed.
Bible is quite clear, and very simple to understand, it is our own thinking which confuses it.


In His Holy and Precious Name, Jesus Christ

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Answer 6

the Bible was written so that even a child could understand it. the trick is to have the Holy Spirit. if you ask God for the guidance of the Holy spirit, then you will understand everything perfectly.

about the gays, yes, the Bible is very against it. in the beginning....God created man and woman. its not man and man or woman and woman. only a man and woman can create a child, and that is the way it was meant to be.

Answer 7

Some people lie. Homosexuality is sin.

1Corinthians 6:9 Don’t you know that evil people will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts. 10 Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom. 11 Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of that was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Some of you used to do those things…

It is NOT PERMANENT!

Answer 8

It's not Christian to be against homosexual, just the act of homosexuallity.
the bible isn't loose in it's interpretations, people just choose to pick what they want to believe.

Answer 9

The bible is written vaguely so that a broad group of people will be willing to follow it. The idea is that no matter what your values are, you'll find them in the bible.

Answer 10

I don't thinkthere is anything "loose" about the interpretation..

pretty clear cut to me...

course i am not fickle , I look for simple truth.