Why do fundamentalists think they are the ultimate authority on scripture?

Question

Quote from another post.

"God's Word, the Holy Bible says that homosexuality is a sin, and we are ALL BORN IN SIN." I would be simply telling you what God's word says"

Do you fundamentalists not see the error in the above statement?

You are not telling me what "God's word says"...you are simply telling me your opinion of interpretation of the scripture.

Remember there are many religions in the world...and among them even, many fundamentalist, protestant religions. Each one of these religions will look at one exact same scripture and interpret it differently...come to completely different conclusions.

How, then can one use the phraseology..."I'm telling you what God's word says"... If even the studied theologians who know the original texts cannot agree on the interpretation of what eactly, God's word says.

I remind you...there is only one ultimate authority on scripture..that is not you...it is God...

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Well the first thing that is relevant to this question is the fact that there are so many versions of Protestantism and even in each of the denominations there are indeed divisions on doctrine, we have to say then that the first weakness of Protestantism is that it is divided against itself and does not have a single authoritive body to interpret the Bible.
Further to this, in Evangelical fundamentalist traditions it seems that they see themselves as the only authoritive Christian denomination with the true power and god given right to interpret scripture, so we arrive at religious elitism.

Answer 2

There is no question that you are right, 'the ultimate authority on scripture is God.' But, His authority and 'way for us to understand His Word and His Will and His Ways...along with His character and His 'plan for all humanity'..."He" chose to record for us in the scriptures; especially, the Old and New Testaments of the bible.

After close and thorough study of the bible one will find that 'the bible interprets itself!'

By thorough 'cross referencing' and 'comparing scripture'...and by the leading of the Holy Spirit of God,... one can certainly draw most accurate conclusions that 'are not based only upon opinion' but, instead, 'upon the scriptures explanations of itself.'

But it takes some serious work on the part of the reader.

God bless.

Answer 3

Yes God is the ultimate authority... We are born with a heart that does not want to obey God . Homosexuality is willful disobedience to Gods word. That is why the Gospel must be sent to all corners of the world , that there is a way out from the punnishment from sin .

Answer 4

The bible is called the living word for a reason.

It is the same today and tomorrow and yesterday, but I know that it speaks to me in different ways through the same scripture depending on what is going on around me at any given time.

So, that is why you may have variations of interpretation, but in the end Gods word stands true, but I do believe that you MUST read it for yourself.

Answer 5

My thoughts:

The majority of the Bible is not open to interpretation. The Bible is very clear in its commands. Jesus was very clear in His commandments.

When the verse says: "“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” it is VERY clear in its meaning. There is no interpretation necessary here.

You believe and are baptized... you are saved.

You don't believe (you won't be baptized if you don't believe) you are not saved.

How simple is that???

The denominations of the world would like everyone to believe that the Bible is not easy to understand and is open to interpretation. That is a FALSE statement. Anyone who has any reading skills at all will see the difference between literal and figurative language. That is something you learn in Grade School!!

Remember the old saying "if it isn't broke, don't fix it". Same applies to the Bible, "if it is literal, then it doesn't need to be interpreted"..

The catholic church is notorious for stating that the Bible needs to be interpreted. That is their way of getting you to accept false teachings.

the Catholic Church is very prone to say (and she has a host of allies in this matter) that the force of any scriptural argument which is brought to bear upon her fallacy is "merely your interpretation." That reminds me of that classic poem about an owl critic. He proceeded to criticize an owl over the open door of a barber shop while the barber went on shaving. The critic pointed out that the fellow that stuffed that owl should have considered a live one. He said it was hunched over unnaturally, the expression on its face was all wrong, its claws were out of shape and so on and on. Finally, the owl with some to-do, left its perch and flew out the open door. Thus some will profess the Bible to believe and yet deny the very thing they see, and, we might add, others will read the Bible with their father’s spectacles upon their heads and see the thing just like their father said.

The Catholic Church would have the people think that they cannot understand the Scriptures and that they must rely upon the priest for the proper "interpretation." Thus millions of people are kept in the bondage of ignorance and are coached to say, "That’s just your interpretation" when some passage from the Bible is brought to consideration in opposition to Catholic error. Here is the point: let the Bible speak for itself and when you see it in the Book believe it for what it says. Paul said of Timothy, "From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures . . ." (II Timothy 3:15). If a child can understand it, can’t you?

Further, if you say that you cannot understand it, you are charging God with requiring of you more than you are able to perform, for we read, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15). We urge you to follow the example of the Bereans: "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

No interpretation necessary. If you don't understand it, study more. The answers are there, in plain sight.

Answer 6

Hi GC,
I do not profess to kn ow exactly what GOD says but I do attempt to interpret what HE tells me thru HIS Inspired WORD. We are to read, study, and obey HIS WORD as Christians. I do have several references that I believe tells me that Homosexual Relations are not right in HIS WORD. There are a number of people who want them to say otherwise and they read these scriptures differently because they want to be homosexuals, I believe. If you are iunterested, I would be glad to add them to this answer. Since your question did not ask for them I will leave them out. Have a wonderful evening.
Thanks,
Eds, A simple Fundamental Christian.


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Answer 7

It relies upon on your definition of a fundamentalist, i think of. There are some who declare to be fundamentalists who do no longer bypass away lots room for any interpretation different than their very own, yet in particular, people who might declare to be fundamentalists evaluate that they don't have the basically precise observe on interpretation. case in point some areas interior the Bible are presented as being symbolic! (Revelation, case in point). As regards eschatology (learn of destiny events), some fundamentalists have faith in a destiny Tribulation era, and Millennium, and different fundamentalists insist there is not any such factor. the two are analyzing the comparable Scriptures, yet some say "A" must be understood interior the gentle of "B", mutually as others say "B" must be understood interior the gentle of "A". So, contained in relation to maximum fundamentalists, your grievance does not extremely prepare. yet contained in relation to others, who must be categorized as sectarian, your grievance is very ideal.

Answer 8

I am filled with God's Holy Spirit and when I read His Word , the Spirit in me confirms what God is saying in His Word.
The Spirit of God is alive in us Christians and brings us into the Truth of God. There is no own interpretation , because the Spirit of God doesn't lie.

Answer 9

The Bible says men burning in their lusts after one another is sin. Romans 1:27
This is what we commonly call homosexuality. So how can it possibly be interpreted difierently? The Bible explicitly says it.

Answer 10

The Holy Spirit aids in interpretation of scripture. You don't like the message, that's obvious, but your problem is not people. Sometimes truth hurts but it's still the truth.