Christians: Seriously now, doesn't this ever give you pause?

Question

Even amongst Christians there is much disagreement over what the scriptures are supposed to mean. Oh, I have no doubt that each of you honestly believes that your own interpretation is the accurate one, but the fact that there can even be so many different interpretations of the same scriptures only lessens the credibility of the bible as the word of God.

No, you DO NOT even agree on the big ones. Some Christians say the death penalty is wrong, and some say it's not. That's a pretty big issue and I think God would have made his position on it very clear to everyone, if, that is to say, the bible really was the word of God.

Answer 1

This is coming from someone who considers himself to be a Christian: (also a Buddhist, a Sikhist, and a Hindu)

The Bible is an inaccurate and flawed book of history. The meaning of it has been lost in multiple translations by the Catholic church, which, lets face it, couldn't be trusted in that period of time. I don't think it is the word of God, nor do I think any other Holy Book will be an accurate word of God.

Answer 2

The big problem is the fact that some will interpret a scripture that doesn't need to be interpreted.

Most of the Bible is quite literal. There are two types of speech in literature, figurative and literal. These concepts are learned in grade school. It is easy to determine where the Bible is literal and where it is figurative.

There are some who say that even literal, straightforward passages can be interpreted in different ways. That is where the majority of the problems start. Take the following verse for example.

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).

There is no interpretation necessary for the verse. If you believe AND are baptized you wil be saved. Notice the AND in the sentence is a condition. It is not an OR nor does it say that you are saved BEFORE baptism, there is an order to the sentence as well. That verse is very literal, there is no confusion about it. Yet... There are multiple beliefs that are shown to be in error by this one verse.

Infant baptism - infants cannot believe in anything at an early age.

Salvation by faith only - the phrase "and is baptized" cannot be ignored.

Salvation prior to baptism. - the order of the verse is very clear.

So in order to support the religious beliefs above, the various groups MUST interpret that scripture to mean different things. In doing so, they are interpreting and changing a scripture that is obviously very literal and does not need to be interpreted. Other denominations will insist that you cannot understand the scriptures without a priest's interpretation. That is a false statement as well.

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).

Answer 3

On the contrary, the fact that there ARE so many interpretations gives all the more credence to its validity.

Case in point:

A three-car pile-up occurs down the block from your house. You follow it on the local news station on TV, and you discover that there were 4 eye witnesses that witnessed the event from 4 different street corners. The odd thing about the situation is that each eye witness said identically the same thing, nearly word-for-word.

Another three-car pile-up occurs in your city, and again there are 4 eye witnesses, but they each have a slightly different account of the incident from different angles and perspectives.

Which of these two scenarios seems the most realistic? I would be highly suspect if I were the judge and 4 eye-witnesses gave identical nearly word-for-word accounts of the event.

Rather than looking at the points of disagreements, why not look at the points in which they DO agree, and see what is really being said. Or better yet, read the New Testament for yourself with an open mind, and draw some of your own conclusisons.

Answer 4

This doesn't give me the least bit of pause. Among people who truly study the Bible, I don't see that much disagreement. It's when people don't read the Bible that you get the different stories. When people just pass around what they're told and they believe it as true, or when they read a verse here and there but not the whole book. And frankly, I don't take what those people have to say with a grain of salt.

Answer 5

My sentiments exactly. The bible says to be of one mind in Christ. It's a damn shame that atheists have to point this out to the believers (not saying you're an atheist; I don't know if you are), but I've noticed alot of young believers (in their faith and chronologically) who come in here and ask some of the most uninformed questions possible. I know one learns by asking, but they're setting themselves up for abuse from some very idiotic people in here, and it would be better if they just observed for a while and continue in their prayers and studies. There are far too many people in Christianity who think they have the inside track on understanding it from A-Z, and it's painfully evident that many don't.

Answer 6

1 Cor 2:9,10 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man does receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Based on 1 Cor 2:9,10 the deep things of God must be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

Based on 1 Cor 2:14 knowledge of God's is not based on our natural understanding but on our spiritual discernment with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Many disagreements in the Word arose because they are based natural understanding and not spiritual discernment. The true meaning of any Scripture can only be determined by revelation of the Holy Spirit who will not contradict Himself. Unfortunately not many Christians however authoritative go by spiritual discernment hence we have all the various interpretations without the unity of the Spirit.

Answer 7

If you read the signs that Christ gave for the end of this system of things, this particular point is shown to part of the sign of the end!

The Bible says that Satan makes himself into an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14) Thus by causing many denominations to exist he hopes to confuse the subject beyond anyones ability to see where the true light lies.

Frankly, he has done a good job of it.

Here is a page dealing with the truth and sectism:
http://bythebible.page.tl/Sectism.htm

Answer 8

I think because it can mean so many different things, and still retain it's original meaning.

Like, umm, say "Love one another" which Jesus told His disciples when they asked what was the greatest thing we could do for Him. Now some will look at that and say it means that within the Christian community we should show great affection for each other. Others will think it means to go out and do things for other people, like be a misionary or something. Still others look at it and say it means to just be a kind and generous person wherever you go.

Those are all correct, but differ. See what I mean?

Answer 9

I don't think that means anything. Look at how many different ways people interpret the US Constitution. Or any book that has ever been written. There's always going to be as many interpretations/understandings of the original work as there are people to read it, but that does nothing to question the validity of said work.

Answer 10

Some groups believe the wine and bread involved during Communion actually are parts of Christ, others believe they are representative of them.

Different groups have different interpretations of the Bible.