Misunderstandings? Scripture isn’t conflicted or confused… we are. We do the misunderstanding. I would argue that the reason, or at least a contributor, is that we apply secular definitions, interpretations, understanding to spiritual matters. You have to apply spiritual understandings to spiritual issues, questions. Scriptural and Secular are more than simply… opposites.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the
Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13, AMP)
“combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” – our methodology. Let me illustrate. One if the more contentious arguments among Christians is the issue of spiritual gifts. The more conservative end of the continuum do not believe the gifts are relevant for today. The opposite end would argue that scripture doesn’t support that view. Both can’t be right.
“But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]. But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature]. For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].”
(1 Corinthians 2:14-16, AMP)
This is only one scripture that speaks to this issue of understanding. And… this explains why we have so many denominations. You did see the last sentence – “But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].” That’s who should be our authority. Also, we ALL should approach every contentious topic with this mindset. Our ‘filter’ should always be the Lord and His Word. If/When it’s an issue of how to apply the understanding, then we need to be very certain of our stand and the scriptures that support it. WE are never the final authority… for that matter, I would argue that we are never the authority, period.
Too often we are ‘accused’ of majoring on the minors – those issues that are a matter of personal choice not scriptural. This is the time of a blurred line between scripture and secular. It’s not necessary to confirm personal choice but we better know our whys of believing. Nor do we need to expect others to always affirm and follow the same choices. It’s our differences that provide the ‘iron sharpening iron’ opportunities for growth and understanding never separation.
Bottom line truly is to NOT apply secular understandings or take scripture out of context to confirm our beliefs. If we discover that this is what we’re doing, then it’s time to stop and discover scripture’s responses to spiritual matters.
