Subject: Genesis Creation, a practical example? |
Bible Note: Dear Sir, Greetings in Jesus' name! Friend, I know your heart when you want to create a 'universally accepted way of determining biblical literalism and biblical symbolism.' I trust that your intentions are of the greatest order. However, historically this is exactly what (almost) every denomination had in mind when they 'split' to make their own distinctive 'method.' Sadly, after a generation or two had passed, and the number of 'affiliated' churches were created or 'grafted in,' the result was a human endeavor. God wants us to trust Him! This means that we are always blessed by the individual local chruch, and it's sole reliance on the Holy Spirit. Some say this is a 'confused' way of doing things, that we have to 'organize' our beliefs. In my humble opinion, every attempt to 'organize' beliefs, no matter how honorable, eventually became yet another (slightly) different human institution. Each of these institutions focuses on a few areas of Scripture, to the detriment of the whole. Some are more 'radical' or 'fundamental' or 'conservative' than others, but the fact remains that there is a certain spiritual bigotry or bent as a result. Many of the saints on this forum clearly show their institutional traditions in their answers. (And few will admit it! :-)) Friend, all I can say is that God never intended for us to have a 'universally accepted way of determining biblical literalism and biblical symbolism,' except the Bible, the (daily unique) moving of the Holy Spirit, and the love, responsibility, and fellowship of the local church. This is, and will always be, enough to please our God. Finally, to those who disagree with this, and claim that denominationalism has 'saved the church' from much turmoil, I can only say that yours is a hypothesis based on not trusting God to curb the 'variances' that man has a tendency to produce. Indeed, each denomination has within itself myriad 'embarrassments' that would negate this argument. Also, from the perspective of the skeptic, the whole church's multiple divisions and sub-divisions and sub-sub-divisions portray a confused, divided body of Christ. I think it is only the grace of God that has allowed our basic faith in Christ Jesus to remain intact, not any human system of 'organization.' In fact, I think that the Lord has protected our faith *in spite of* this man-made divisional system. :-) All this said, maybe we will stumble upon a 'universal' system of interpretation that fulfills God's intentions. (but I won't hold my breath! :-)) Blessings one and all, in Christ Jesus charis |