Christians, why do some of your fellow people act like this?

Question

(Note the SOME, I did not generalize so do not sue me, damnit.)

Okay so in the Bible, verses here and there they take it literally, as in really, really literally.

And yet some verses here and there they say "oh you intrepreted this wrongly, actually it's like this like that blah blah blah"

So, why is it that some verses they take it really really really really literally, but other verses they say there must be a certain way to intrepret it?

For example, Noah's Ark, a lot of people took the story literally, some take it as parables, some try to justify it with science,

but for stuff like

"And the LORD repented that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. " - Genesis 6:6, see the intrepretations fly and all sorts of explaination.

Answer 1

If you are taking Noah's ark as an example, Jesus Christ took this story very literally (see Matthew 24:37-39), so the option of interpreting this figuratively is not even left open to us. Other passages of Scripture may not be so unambiguous.
If you ask why some people say one thing and others another; the simplest answer is they are human. There are limitless variations among human beings. Some are knowledgeable, others are ignorant; some think they know much and know little; some know little and realize it - some are young in their faith others are old; some old and wise, others old and foolish.
How would you generalize Christians any more than you would generalize Americans? or women? or left-handed people?
Better to stick to the facts.

Answer 2

Like any other written work, the Bible uses certain literary conventions: hyperbole, metaphor, etc. Complicating the interpretation even further is the fact that the writers of the Bible used story-telling methods such as present tense descriptions to make the reader feel as if they are part of the action.

Some verses are clearly meant to be taken literally. When God gave a commandment, it was supposed to be followed to the letter. Note that it wasn't necessarily intended to be a universal commandment, but the persons to whom it was addressed were supposed to do as He commanded.

Other sections are meant as parables and their content is largely symbolic. Understanding the literary techniques that were in use at the time of the Bible's creation can help you distinguish between that which is to be taken literally, those verses which are symbolic, and that which applies to one person or group of people.

But even with that information, it can sometimes be hard to know which one is which. The best solution is prayer and asking for the Holy Spirit's help in understanding the true meaning and intent of a particular passage.

Answer 3

> Okay so in the Bible, verses here and there they take it literally, as in really, really literally.

Organized religions allow people to function with minimal thinking, as people are told what to believe. Literal interpretation of the bible is the easiest of the easy, as followers have to do the least thinking of all. For example:

This must be literally true. How could that be? Who cares? To answer that question would require needless thinking. Let us just accept it as literally true and move on.

Answer 4

Throughout religious history and history in general for that matter, man has falsely interpreted and twisted the meaning of written literature either by honest mistakes or alterior motives and agendas. That's not to say we haven't deciphered anything correctly. Though the bible is and has been probably one of those that have been the most blatently manipulated for the 'alleged" betterment of mankind. To add to this convenience, many of the scriptures are written in parable form and although the claim is that the bible never changes and remains, it is recognized that mans interpretation of it has throughout time. So which scriptures are parables and which are not? It is the underlying err in faith, it is the reason that there are numerous denominations that can't agree on many simple objectives laid out in the gospels. The ultimate claim would be that since the bible is the word of God and God is so superior in intellect and universally incomprehensible that we as man in our puny intellect and mediocre abitlity to concieve the thoughts of the Almighty some things in the bible may not be perceptable or comprehendable to us and will reveal itself to us through divine gifts of discernment. It all depends on who interprets the bible for you and to what and whom you put your trust and faith in. To believe or Disbelieve that's the real question.

Answer 5

One has to understand that any text--whether it is the Bible or the daily newspaper--has to be interpreted in order for it to make any sense to the person that reads a text. One also has to realize that the Bible is composed of many different types of literature written by many different people, edited and copied by countless others, over a period of thousands of years. The Bible contains poetry, prophecy, apocalyptic literature, narratives, parables, proverbs--all of which needs to be interpreted in the light of the times and people that produced this literature, as well as the style of the literature itself. For instance, one can say about a woman he admires, "She has eyes like quiet pools of water." That is a pitiful attempt at poetry but most people will not interpret that phrase literally--it is a metaphor used to describe a feeling. Many things go into interpreting a Biblical text, including the level of one's education, one's theological tradition (or lack thereof), and the attitude that is brought to the text, (to name a few variables).

Answer 6

because some verses are meant literally and others are meant to symbolize. Its not that people interprete the verse wrong it's that they take it out of context. Like that verse you wrote in Genesis, God regretted making man because of mans wickedness and evil. He knew it would come to this and He knew exactly what He was going to do about it but that doesn't mean that He wasn't sad about it. He was thinking that if He hadn't made man then He wouldn't have to destroy them for their evil, but He knew that it was the right thing to do even if He disliked doing it.

Answer 7

In a million Cor.14:22-23 Paul writes, “Tongues then, are a demonstration, no longer for believers, yet for unbelievers; prophecy besides the incontrovertible fact that, is for believers, no longer for unbelievers. So if the full church comes mutually and all of us speaks in tongues, and a few who don't understand or some unbelievers are available in, will they no longer say which you're out of your concepts?” Paul’s coaching right here confirms 2 issues with regard to the contemporary of tongues. First, that one important purpose of the present is to place across the gospel message to an unbelieving concentrated visitor who speaks a language unknown to the gang. In that way the concentrated visitor can understand that she or he's receiving a private message of supernatural commencing place. He additionally taught that tongues are for use sparingly in a team placing (2 or 3 on the main, one by one) and purely while an interpreter is present (a million Cor. 14:27-28). it incredibly is so the gang can understand the message as nicely. And 2nd, it confirms that having a team of human beings all conversing at as quickly as in a language unknown to any of them might cause them to sense reliable approximately themselves (a million Cor. 14:4), besides the incontrovertible fact that it makes them appear as if a team of loopy human beings to outsiders.

Answer 8

People tend to interpret the Scriptures to fit their own needs. My pastor says that people only obey the part of the Bible they actually believe. So they try to twist the other scriptures around to suit their own fleshly desires. But the Bible is clear about what happens to people that do that. When you read Revelation, it talks about the grief that will come to those who add, or take away from the Scriptures.

Answer 9

It depends on the interpretation you get as well, in another interpreation, like the NIV it says God was greived, not that God repented. That God felt pain in his heart for creating man because all they wanted to do was lust after sin, he never created them for sin and sinful deeds. As for Noah's ark, you should ask the Turkish nation why they won't let anyone go up and see if there really is an Ark on their mountain.

Answer 10

Before you read it pray that God would give you revelation to what u are reading. I used 2 feel the same way but everytime i prayed... not all the time i understood it and had many question but then one day it just hit me... what i was reading spoke to my heart and opened my eyes to a whole nother level understanding and truth... Dont give up seek truth.. i know the blah blah part it will soon turn into the woow know i get it !!!..