considering starting my own website

[drivenfuture]

I use a lot of wix and webnode, generally for my poetic and gaming hobbies...but was considering starting one for theology-related concepts.
I don't feel tremendously spiritually equipped, but I do read my Bible, and my hope in this is that people would kindly correct where I am erring in study, or support a concept or thought maybe they had not considered. Perhaps there are others like me, who really desire to serve Christ but struggle to understand doctrine...a place I am definitely at in my life right now.
What do others think--is this a good endeavor?
I will say, I would prefer to share these links on Baptist Board as I feel my current Calvinist church may come on a bit too rigid.
I also think that if people see how I'm viewing and interpreting, perhaps they can guide me to a denomination that may be better suited, if need be; or if there is a serious doctrinal issue, in regards to salvation particularly, they I may be corrected.

 

[InTheLight]

What type of a theology/doctrine based website would you create? A blog? A forum?

 

[drivenfuture]

a blog

 

[Dave G]

I also think that if people see how I'm viewing and interpreting, perhaps they can guide me to a denomination that may be better suited, if need be; or if there is a serious doctrinal issue, in regards to salvation particularly, they I may be corrected.

I've a lengthy comment that may seem a bit odd, but here it is:

Don't let anyone try to tell you how you should be "interpreting" the Bible.

In fact, I prefer to tell people to believe the words on the page, and then let God do the work of increasing their understanding of them.
God's children have the Holy Spirit as their Teacher ( 1 John 2:20-27 ), so I figure that the best thing that anyone who is saved can do, is to simply ignore the teachings of men and sit down and spend some serious time in study.

I also think that the only "help" you will need for your entire life, will be for someone to dig out a passage that applies to your question, and tell you to believe the words themselves.

Question:
Do you trust God's word alone, or do you place that trust in a man or group of men?
To be blunt, I would tell you to trust no one except the Lord.

There are plenty of men and groups of men out there who are trying to tell people "how to believe God's word"...
Scripture itself even tells us that in the last days evil men and seducers will "wax" ( become, grow ) worse and worse.
That is why I cannot stress enough that we as believers look to His words alone...
Because the reality of it is, God commands us to trust Him and His words, not another person's and not our own understanding.

See Proverbs 3:5-7.

As for the website or blog, many people do it.

I personally see no need to, as there are countless ones out there and I think that I'd be simply adding to the "noise"...
Do I actively discourage it?
No.
But I also don't actively encourage it, either.

However, if you feel that the Lord would have you do it, then by all means, do it.
You may learn something very valuable out of it.



May God bless you.

 

[drivenfuture]

ok, well here's a first sampling:
Let Go and let God? :: Jesusthoughts

 

[Van]

ok, well here's a first sampling:
Let Go and let God? :: Jesusthoughts

I liked many of the points you made, but had difficulty figuring out just what you were driving toward.

I think your point was we are to serve God, and not just let God serve us. If so, spot on!!

One other BTW comment, I am not sure the OT saints did not have the promise of the New Covenant, but you are definitely right, the New Covenant had not been inaugurated.

Thanks for sharing and may God bless your quest to grow in the LORD.

 

[drivenfuture]

It's more a reflection on the prominent Christianese quote "Let go and let God," analyzing the biblical accuracy of such a statement and if it has any merit. Scripturally, it does have relevance if the letting go is in the normal workings of life--but all too often people utilize the let go and let God in reference to a division or offense...when this is not a Scripturally accurate response.

 

[Reformed1689]

If you don't feel gifted in that area don't start the site.

Be not masters knowing you will receive the greater condemnation....

 

[drivenfuture]

If you don't feel gifted in that area don't start the site.

Be not masters knowing you will receive the greater condemnation....

I'm not sure why you say if I don't feel gifted...I'm not claiming to be a pastor/teacher or anything of the sort... My goal is simply to either be encouraged in study of the Word, or corrected if my theology is indeed flawed. There is quite a difference between being a pastor/teacher and reflecting on Scripture. We must all study it...If we simply take the teachings of a teacher simply on the basis that they are a teacher...we may be led astray. I only seek to share my devotionals and grow in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ...which is a practice encouraged by the Bible.

 

[Reformed1689]

I'm not sure why you say if I don't feel gifted...I'm not claiming to be a pastor/teacher or anything of the sort... My goal is simply to either be encouraged in study of the Word, or corrected if my theology is indeed flawed. There is quite a difference between being a pastor/teacher and reflecting on Scripture. We must all study it...If we simply take the teachings of a teacher simply on the basis that they are a teacher...we may be led astray. I only seek to share my devotionals and grow in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ...which is a practice encouraged by the Bible.

You said you don't feel equipped.

That said, if you are putting things out for the public to consume you have effectively become a teacher.

 

[drivenfuture]

You said you don't feel equipped.

That said, if you are putting things out for the public to consume you have effectively become a teacher.

You realize that without personal reflections and interpretation from non teachers, we would never have gotten luther, tyndale, or Calvin, right? This is one method of equipping, as I am allowing for criticism of my work, as opposed to an adamant my word is authority.
Also, do not measure my blog based on your feelings of me...measure my blog from Scripture, then see if it is false.

 

[37818]

Don't let anyone try to tell you how you should be "interpreting" the Bible.

@Dave Gilbert
@drivenfuture

Can you explain your own Hermeneutics? Do you know what your own presuppositions are? How would you explain how one can know God Himself? How would you explain, how we even know anything?

Now those are four questions, of many more detailed issues. Please pick one of them to answer, or one question of your own, that you would prefer to address. Thanks.

 

[Dave G]

Can you explain your own Hermeneutics?

I know that I don't have to be taught them by men ( 1 John 2:20-27 ).

Do you know what your own presuppositions are?

Many of them.
By God's grace He is working with me through His word to toss them aside and simply believe His words.

How would you explain how one can know God Himself?

Believe the Gospel, and His words.

How would you explain, how we even know anything?

By His word.

Is there anything more important, sir?
Not to me there isn't.

I trust it, and He tells me to trust it and Him ( Proverbs 3:5-6 ).
He also tells me not to trust men ( Psalms 118:8, Psalms 146:3, Jeremiah 17:5 ).

That is why I encourage my brothers and sisters, because they have Someone that they really can trust.

The Lord.

 

[37818]

I know that I don't have to be taught them by men ( 1 John 2:20-27 ).

Yes, but that does not present any of the specifics of that Hermeneutic.

Many of them.
By God's grace He is working with me through His word to toss them aside and simply believe His words.

That does not present what those presuppositions are and are not in understanding God's grace.

Believe the Gospel, and His words.

That does not explain how by the Gospel and His word one is knowing God.

By His word.

Is there anything more important, sir?
Not to me there isn't.

How does anyone know said word is from God? And not just from the mere imaginations of men? There are starting points.

 

[37818]

For me, my starting point, it was complete ignorance whether the Bible was really God's word or not. I had no reason yet, not to believe it was. Yet it was out of my ignorance that I believed from the Bible the gospel through which I came to believe in God's free salvation, by which one can know for sure from God who cannot lie. . . .

 

[Reformed1689]

You realize that without personal reflections and interpretation from non teachers, we would never have gotten luther, tyndale, or Calvin, right?

How do you figure that?

 

[Revmitchell]

I use a lot of wix and webnode, generally for my poetic and gaming hobbies...but was considering starting one for theology-related concepts.
I don't feel tremendously spiritually equipped, but I do read my Bible, and my hope in this is that people would kindly correct where I am erring in study, or support a concept or thought maybe they had not considered. Perhaps there are others like me, who really desire to serve Christ but struggle to understand doctrine...a place I am definitely at in my life right now.
What do others think--is this a good endeavor?
I will say, I would prefer to share these links on Baptist Board as I feel my current Calvinist church may come on a bit too rigid.
I also think that if people see how I'm viewing and interpreting, perhaps they can guide me to a denomination that may be better suited, if need be; or if there is a serious doctrinal issue, in regards to salvation particularly, they I may be corrected.

If you are struggling in thus area then it is not appropriate that you start a website about it. Taking on such a task should be done by someone who is knowledgable. That said there are plenty of sites already out there.

 

[Van]

It's more a reflection on the prominent Christianese quote "Let go and let God," analyzing the biblical accuracy of such a statement and if it has any merit. Scripturally, it does have relevance if the letting go is in the normal workings of life--but all too often people utilize the let go and let God in reference to a division or offense...when this is not a Scripturally accurate response.

"Let go and let God" is generally viewed with disfavor. Basically it flies in the face of our call to be diligent.

 

[drivenfuture]

hermeneutics:how one interprets Scripture--two answers: referring to original Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew to further analyze intended meanings; For example..predestination is the word prehorizo--a conjunction of the words prothesis and horizo--prothesis meaning preestablished and horizo meaning boundaries.
Also, interpreting Scripture with Scripture to maintain consistency.
Presuppositons--well, this is actually a dangerous question. No Christian ever presupposes the Bible to be true--they are either taught it is the true Word of God by a young age, or come to believe that as a result of their studies.. How did you learn 2+2=4? Well, it's a matter of fact, whether or not you believe it. But you didn't presuppose it, someone taught you this. The Bible is true, but I did not presuppose the Bible is True, the Bible is true because God has revealed it to be true through His word, which was assembled through councils that were under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In other words, God taught people what to believe. The only presupposition that can truly be made is that God is real..as stated in Scripture, which are revealed by all of creation. The reason I believe the Bible to be true is because God opened my heart, according to His sovereign will, to believe that the Bible is a direct revelation of the triune God.
How can someone know God? Well, if the Lord opens their heart and calls them to believe this message: That Jesus Christ the God-man, God's only begotten son, lived a perfect sinless life, and died by crucifixion as a substitute for us, taking our sins on the cross, forgiving all our sins/iniquities, and was resurrected three days later. Now, therefore, repent of your former life and turn to God.

 

[drivenfuture]

@DTaylor...the reason I say without personal interpretation we don't get Calvin, Tyndale, or Luther...was because the church was teaching complete heresy as authoritative Word of God...people who were seemingly well educated and had solid biblical knowledge, but they were completely corrupt...it was only through Luther's personal studies that he conveyed his 95 Theses--his own personal interpretation of the Bible...no group study..no scholarly study other than what the completely corrupt church taught him (this was right after the reign of the Borgias mind you), and without his own, personal interpretation, there would be no Protestantism at all. Now not everyone agreed completely with his 95 Theses, such was the case of John Calvin, whom disagreed in terms of free will vs. predestination--there is not much documented of the two's interactions, but of what we do have we know they greatly differed on the theology of predestination, but Calvin was also considered a heretic by the Catholic church. Without personal interpretation, Calvin would not introduce predestination.
Can we interpret wrongly? Absolutely...but this is why we need help of the brothers and sisters in Christ, to come to a mutually agreed upon understanding, but even then we may be led astray. We must all be careful.