What makes our beliefs so different?

I acn't speak for all that ails us, but much of our difference in belief is due to difference of intrpretation of scripture. While our core beliefs doctrinal are, for the most part, the same, we often differ on the more minor points of scriptural interpretation.

Thankfully, these points are relatively minor, and we are permitted those differences of interpretation. Where we often go wrong is when we make those nondoctrinal items matters of salvation or faithfulness. Generally, they are neither issues of salvation, nor litmus tests of our faithfulness to our Lord or His Word. When we make them issues, we are putting ourselves above the Word.

 

(My opinion only) I think most of us agree on the core beliefs of salvation. That is what God seeks of us- to be reconciled.

Everything else we disagree on is because of our biases, our upbringing, or something that makes us read into our interpretations what we want it to mean.

 

I would think it is because the enemy, knowing he cannot have us, seeks to thwart our bringing others into the Kingdom of God by dividing us.

 

I believe that most of us don't answer difficult passages of scripture with clear passages of scripture. I really believe it's that simple.

 

We are all sinful humans. We are impacted in the way we think/reason by so many factors. Then we are confronted with spiritual issues relating to a Holy God whose ways are not our ways and thoughts are not our thoughts. He reveals truth to his children through his Word and the illumination of his Spirit. However, our fleshly nature that remains keeps us from seeing all things the same way and certainly we won't all grasp the great truths at the same time or same pace.

 

It is because we are all humans, we all have different experiences and ideas from which to interpret what we read, and our views are shaded by what we know as well as what we do not know.

Often, our sense of self-importance determines whether or not we will argue certain beliefs with other people. If we esteem ourselves more than others, we will refuse to even look into an alternative to what we believe to be right, or to accept that there are other possibilities, or to understand that certain things are preferences and not doctrines.

Also, remember that disagreement doesn't always mean a lack of unity - sometimes it's simply an expression of individuality among like minded people. Overall, there is a core group on this board that has a number of different views within, but are agreed on who Christ is, what he did for us, and that we should live accordingly. They pray for each other, some write or talk on the phone, or simply are there for each other in times of need on this board. It's not uncommon to see two people seemingly going head to head on one section of the board, and high-fiving each other on a forums down. Sometimes that's hard to see if someone hasn't been here a while, and it's easy to get upset and think there's a "fight".

Then again, sometimes there is. There are a few people who just want to argue everything and can't get along for nothing or nobody. Unless it's a troll, (and I seem to attract them like the Billy Goats Gruff) it usually takes a little while to figure them out, but once you do it makes life easier to just ignore.

But...disagreeing can be fun because it makes you study and you learn. Unless it gets mean, disagreeing is a great tool. Sometimes I'll even disagree with myself. LOL Seriously...I'll try to defend something I don't believe just to learn more about it, and if I find myself making great sense defending something I don't believe, it's time to look into it and see if I really don't believe it.

So yeah, there's good and bad, but it all points to us being human, having brains, and having individuality. I've rather have a group of fifty friends who don't all look alike than a thousand friends who all think the same.

 

Yeah, what Gina said!

Plus God created us all different. He meant for me to be this way..... oops, calvinism.

 

We all have opinions and differences. Sometimes we like to discuss them.If nobody did that this board would be vacant.We do have to remember though not to take ourselves to seriously and allow for those differences.

It is fun learning different points of view and discussing those views even though sometimes the best we can do is agree to disagree.

Some of the things you see as argueing or fighting is just keyboard frustration.Keep in mind on the printed page there is no body language and sometimes what is said in jest does not shine through.

 

I think the main reason that so many of us disagree on some of these issues is that so many of y'all are wrong!

I am doing my best to straighten you guys out, but you just won't listen!

 

sorry. I just couldn't stop myself...


Seriously, All of us need to be willing to discard our beliefs whenever they cannot be soundly established from clear passages in Scripture. Certainly there are secondary issues about which there is some room for disagreement, but we must continually be willing to examine the BEST arguement against our position to continually reevaluate if we are as on track as we usually think we are.

When I studied eternal security, I read the best writers I could find against my position. If I could not answer their arguments, one of two things was true.

1) I did not know my own position well enough, or

2) My position was wrong.

Just because someone changes their position on a matter does not mean that the view they discarded was wrong, or that the view they embraced is right.

I used to be a supralapsarian, but now I am sub. It feels so good to finally be right!

Just something to think about...

 

Sub-supra-lapra-sarian? sic? No, just a reprobate human, saved by grace, washed in the blood, redeemed to the uttermost. I also have trouble deciphering words of more than 10 letters. I have enough trouble convoluting 5-10 letter words.

Sub-supra...sarian.Is that a subspecies of a mutant, extinct dinosaur not yet discovered?

Selah,

Bro. James

 

Amen Gina!

 

All I know is that at my ordination, one of the brother pastors asked me, "What are the eschatological implications of supralapsarianism?"

OK. I'll admit it. It was not at my ordination, but at the ordination of a good friend. It was an interesting question with an even more interesting response, especially being that it was asked with a totally straight face! Only a few of us there had ANY idea what the lapsarian question involved. For those who are not sure, it relates to the order of God's decrees. Real important stuff. I may start a thread... JK.

 

Well, we really don't all read the same Bible. Many of us have different ideas as to what the Bible really is, how we got the Bible, what makes for a 'good' Bible, etc... I'm not trying to bring a Bible version debate to this discussion, so noone needs to answer this... but as a KJV person, I find doctrinal discussions often break down to what does the bible really say. Of course another professed KJV believer will have to agree that the Bible says what it says. Others may turn to different translations or go to the greek and at that point the argument is essentially over. Then it must be fisticuffs or pistols at dawn.

 

Another reason is that we are not all at the same level in our Christian growth. I find that what I believed as a young Christian was not the same as what I believe now. As I grow, I study more and God reveals more things to me. That goes for all of us.

Also, the Bible says we "see through a glass darkly". We will never have a full understanding of all of the points in scripture in this life becaause of our sinfulness. This point was made earlier, but I wanted to add the biblical support for the idea. God's revelation is perfect, our ability to understand leaves something to be desired.

That being said, it is great to debate the points and read how others debate them. It provides much incentive to do further study on these topics.

 

No, it's because he is wrong

 

I can't think of anyone on this board who is not a KJV believer. I'm most certainly a KJV believer, and I have no doubt that I will disagree with you on what some things in scripture say. As for KJVOism itself, it would be incorrect to presume that two KJVOists will agree on what the bible says in the manner which you cite. For example, on the matter of wine, there are some KJVOists who say that all alcohol is forbidden, and some who say that drunkenness and abuse of the drink are forbidden, while alcohol in and of itself isn't.

Anyhoo, getting back to the OP topic, we need to remember that there is what scripture reads, what scripture says, and what scripture says to you/me. The Holy Spirit will often speak to me via scripture differently than he will speak to you or anyone else. That's simply because each of us is different, having different needs, hurts, and challenges. Scripture is not a one-size-fits-all manual for dummies. It's a vehicle through which the Holy Spirit speaks to us. That's one of the reasons it is the living word, and not just a static word.