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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Decretive Will vs. Perceptive Will? | Ps 115:3 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 195553 | ||
Doc, I don't see how this long response relates to my question. While your comments are off the subject, allow me to respond. My older brother (at the time he wasn't a Christian) gave me good advice many years ago and I have held to it: "If you can't explain it, you don't understand it." I sometimes have the opportunity to tell other believers to not just read the Bible or know it but own it. I tell them, it's not your Bible (with the emphasis on "your") until you, by faith (1) are able to get out of it and understand it for yourself what God is saying to you, and (2) experience the presence of God in the course of living it out." The Bible is not just to be read but also owned. My Bible is my Bible not because I bought it, take time (however short) to read and study it, have an intellectual (however lacking) grasp of it, “a bunch of dead guys” told me what it means, or I memorized and adhere to a particular creed, but because (1) God speaks to me through it and, (2) opportunities are opened to experience God through it. I love books. I love to read. I just finished reading, "Power Through Weakness," by Savage. Now I'm reading, "Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear." At the same time, I'm studying Muller's, "God, Creation, and Providence in the Thought of Jacob Arminius" (that's heavy reading for me!). I'm also studying the "Book of Hebrews" with some commentaries, including Bruce and Lane's (the latter is an awesome read). Sometimes I get into a (bad?) situation where I'm spending more time reading my books rather than the Bible. All that to reiterate, "I love books!" But I'm not going to read my books the way I read the Bible. Creeds may be helpful but it’s not the Bible. "Godly and scholarly divines of the past" may have their value but they are not divinely-inspired instruments of learning in the sense equivalent to those who gave us the Bible. I don't believe what I believe because Calvin or Arminius, the Baptist Creed, Westminster Confession, or the Remonstrant, FF Bruce or William Lane said this or that; I believe what I believe because God speaks to me through the Bible. Other people and books may help clarify certain things in the Bible, creeds may be a useful device to facilitate memory, but they are not determinative of what I believe. JW's often respond to questions by rote as if they have a teleprompter in front of them. As a result, they fail to give answers directly related to the questions. From my point of view, if I just throw up what someone else says, I'm acting no better than those who have joined a cult. You are correct to say, "Nowadays we can garner to ourselves all kinds of teachers who will support our preconceptions, scratching our itching ears" (that you said "we" leaves me to assume you also are susceptible). This may occur when one, rather than giving the Bible its rightful place, lines it up alongside creeds and the teachings of others. You also said, “I've studied the various confessions of the church at the feet of well qualified university and seminary professors. My understanding isn't simply a matter of subjective opinion. It was proven through a variety of academic venues formally validating my comprehension.” Unfortunately: (1) No amount or degree of learning can guarantee freedom from errors; (2) No belief held is absolutely objective; (3) To study the “various confessions” is not the same as studying the Bible. Since you advise, “We can discuss it again after you do some reading,” and my library is filled with books I haven’t yet read, I will refrain from asking you directly any more questions so as not to take up your time. |
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2 | Decretive Will vs. Perceptive Will? | Ps 115:3 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 195554 | ||
Doc, Actually the first line of my post above (#195553) should read: "I don't see how YOUR long response (referring to #195490) relates to my question." I mention this for clarity...just in case... |
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