Tag: Biblical Views

B0001 What Makes Biblical Interpretation Reliable? Part 1

Posted on by John Mwafise Woloko

 

What Makes Biblical Interpretation Reliable? Part 1

For many people, including some Christians, interpreting the Bible is a major challenge. The reason is that certain interpretation protocols must be respected; failing to do so makes the interpretation unreliable. Let’s explore some key points to keep in mind when interpreting the Bible.

 

The Holy Spirit Guides

Simply put, arriving at an accurate interpretation of the Bible is impossible without the Holy Spirit’s guidance. John 16:13 teaches us that He leads us into all truths, in accord with the Father’s will. Without the Holy Spirit, biblical interpretation is devoid of meaningful spiritual backing. This is why unbelievers cannot provide a trustworthy interpretation of Scriptures, as spiritual discernment by the Holy Spirit matters. Moreover, when the Holy Spirit directs our interpretation of Scriptures, the outcome consistently aligns with that of Christians worldwide. Interpretations of the Bible that conflict and contradict are not from Him.

 

Understand The Difference Between the Logos and Rhema

The Ecclesiast was quite correct in saying God created man upright, yet we have pursued other schemes. This holds true regarding how we have swapped the use of Logos and Rhemas in our Christian lives. Everything written in the Bible represents the Logos, the written word of God. Rhemas are the inspirations that come from the written Word or Logos.

 

The written Word or Logos conveys a specific message that remains unchanged. That message was created within a particular context, sometimes intended only for certain people, and plays a distinct role in completing the Bible’s unique message – life, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. When recording the Logos, the writers had a particular meaning and message in mind for a specific audience that points to the Cross.

 

Bear in mind that theological research and discoveries aid greatly here by generating evidence to grasp that message. The meaning or intention in the Logos remains constant over time. Christian denominations and worldviews frequently find it difficult to grasp the true meaning of various parts of the Logos. The Book of Revelations serves as a good example, with some interpreting it literally and others allegorically, resulting in conflicting and contradictory views. Misunderstanding the meaning of the Logos makes it hard and complex to produce reliable Rhemas from it.

 

A single verse of the Logos can spark hundreds of Rhemas. Rhemas are distinct because they are tailored to an individual or group seeking guidance from God and pertain to a particular situation. For example, the apostles heal a man at the temple gate known as Beautiful. When reading that Logos, one receives a healing technique or ministry, while another feels inspired to establish a humanitarian organization. Someone pays attention to the paralytic’s faith, whereas another person is interested in the belief that God heals even now. Through meditation, Christians worldwide can produce hundreds of Rhemas from that one passage across different contexts. Yet the true meaning of the verse is that the Apostles healed a man before entering the temple.

 

As theology depends on the Bible to guide theological research, trying to produce Rhemas from any source other than the properly interpreted biblical Logos is witchcraft and superstition.

 

 

 

Context

Context is the next element to consider when interpreting the Logos. What was the purpose behind writing the Scripture? For whom was it written? Where did it get written? Is it about the Old or New Covenant? How is it relevant to us nowadays? These and numerous other questions assist us in contextualizing the Bible passage so we can firstly determine its precise meaning, and subsequently produce authentic Rhemas from that meaning.

 

Numerous preachers nowadays extract Rhemas from their context and apply them indiscriminately without clearly distinguishing between different contexts. Also Some Christians pick and apply certain Old Testament Scriptures in the New Testament context without considering the meaning of the message in both covenants? Also, although many still cling to the “eye for an eye” mindset or eagerly pursue revenge when wronged, we are now in a distinct context that demands loving our enemies, praying for them, and striving to lead them to Christ.

 

To conclude this first section, we need to differentiate between studying the Bible and meditating on Scriptures to grasp the intended message of the writer, allowing the Bible to interpret itself, and meditating on that meaning to obtain specific Rhemas or revelations that provide guidance or solutions tailored to our unique context in our time.

 

Be sure to read Part 2 to gain a full understanding of what makes biblical interpretation reliable.

 

Share this content with those in your community who have difficulty understanding the relationship between the Bible and theology.

 

Explore, study, grow in wisdom, and remain blessed in the Lord!

 

Click here To Read Part 2

T0004 How Does Theology Differ From The Bible?

Posted on by John Mwafise Woloko

 

How Does Theology Differ From The Bible?

A major confusion within the Body of Christ is the inability of Christians to distinguish between the Bible’s actual content and theological explorations. Consequently, the Bible’s content is nearly always replaced by the findings of theological research. Upon closer investigation, the Bible and theology present a clear distinction, and both are intended to serve specific purposes in a divine relationship.

Here are six ways the Bible and theology differ, which can aid Christians in their spiritual journey.

 

Authority

The Bible is a Book that contains God’s Word for humankind. It contains doctrines that clarify the message of salvation for humanity. Theology uses these doctrines for research to further illuminate that biblical message. Theology achieves this goal by gathering evidence from the entire universe and the Bible itself. Think of the Bible as a treasure field, and theologies as the tools for extracting its various valuable resources.

Inspiration

The Holy Spirit inspired every Word in the Bible. The Bible plainly states that the Holy Spirit moved and inspired both Old Testament prophets and New Testament writers. Theology is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit only when the theologian or researcher first submits to God, relies on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and depends on the Bible to direct their research. Our theological research is driven by biblical passages that capture our interest and require further comprehension. For instance, to determine if the Bible is genuinely God’s Word, we can examine its historical accuracy, its compilation process, its division into chapters and verses, and its translations into other languages. This understanding bolsters our confidence, deepening our faith in God’s promises.

 

Authenticity

The message of the Bible is authentic, meaning it is trustworthy and true. There is no risk involved in believing and trusting the Bible’s content. Our ability to research allows us to be confident that this beautiful message was inspired by God for us. Be cautious with theology as it frequently lacks authenticity. There are diverse motivations for theological research that do not stem from a genuine desire to grasp the Bible’s message. Consequently, theological research is often tainted by bias, subjectivity, and prejudice. Unless we’re open to Scripture testing our preconceived notions, our research is unlikely to yield genuine findings.

 

Sufficiency

The Bible is self-sufficient, meaning it can survive on its own without any external support. The Bible can interpret itself, allowing readers to grasp its core message. Theology is an endless pursuit, particularly when scripture is manipulated for selfish aims. Theology’s potential for infinite development stems from humans’ perpetual quest for knowledge.

 

Consistency

The Bible’s message is remarkably consistent, from Genesis to Revelation, all leading to a singular theme. That theme is Jesus, the Messiah. The hidden message reveals God’s intention through Jesus to rescue us from sin and restore us to His fellowship. The chapters and verses of the Bible work together to fulfill this specific goal. Additionally, Satan can be seen in the background diligently working to thwart God’s plan. If a theologian’s goal isn’t to genuinely grasp God’s message in the Bible, their theological conclusions will lack logical consistency. Furthermore, these theologians delve into complex explanations, employing extensive and difficult-to-grasp terminology, which ultimately breeds confusion, division, and segregation.

 

Purpose

Thus far, it appears the Bible’s objective is to enable us to know God, discover His will for humanity, and do God’s Word. The message is that original sin in Adam separated us from God. Jesus offers us the chance to be freed from sin and to be brought back into relationship with God. We can regain this fellowship by believing in Jesus by faith. Theology’s role in any research is to find evidence that clarifies this biblical message.

Please relay this message to community members caught in deceptive religious patterns.

Stay Blessed In The Lord!

T0003 Why Do Christians Have Conflicting Theologies?

Posted on by John Mwafise Woloko

Why Do Christians Have Conflicting Theologies?

Upon careful examination of the Christian cycle, you will find multiple movements that call themselves Christian. You’ll find Christian factions broken into worldviews, denominations, cults, different schools of thought, occult beliefs, and many other groups, all of which profess to represent Jesus.

 

For instance, some Christian worldviews embrace free will, but others reject it entirely. Some believe in eternal separation from God in hell, while others think there is no hell, or that God will simply destroy all non-believers, a concept known as annihilation. A few Christian groups believe in universal salvation and reconciliation with God; some embrace reincarnation. One faction adheres to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, while another rejects it. Some say miracles are a thing of the past; others believe Jesus is the same throughout time. We cannot examine every movement claiming to represent Christ in this article.

 

Why do two people who identify as Christians, despite reading the Bible, which is divinely inspired, reach opposing conclusions leading to arguments, confusion, and irreconcilable conflicts? Here are nine of the many reasons this occurs:

 

  • They substitute the Bible with their theologies. When Christians fail to grasp theology’s true meaning, purpose, and role, this occurs.

 

  • They prioritize theology over God’s Word. Actually, some people mistakenly believe that a theological explanation is equivalent to God’s Word in the Bible. Theologies simply provide supporting evidence to help us teach and explain the Bible’s message clearly.

 

  • They base their theologies on selected Scriptures. The Bible’s message, from Genesis to Revelation, is consistent, displaying a clear, harmonious progression from the Old Testament to the New. When you select Scriptures, you don’t rely on the entire Bible. Using only a fragment of scripture will lead to insufficient conclusions.

  • They develop their theologies to defend their school of thought. Your school of thought is how you build your understanding of biblical doctrines. Some schools of thought are founded on unproven assumptions. For instance, some Christian factions believe the age of miracles has ceased. Others don’t believe God can condemn individuals to eternal damnation. Their theological frameworks are constructed to uphold their existing assumptions, rather than to genuinely grasp and proclaim the true Gospel.

 

 

  • They approach the Bible with bias, subjectivity, and prejudice. For instance, some people approach the Bible with the notion that it is corrupt, incomplete, or full of errors. Some claim it was human-inspired and suggest salvation can be achieved through various paths. If you refuse to let the Scriptures challenge your traditions, lifestyle, knowledge, or prior knowledge, you risk creating theologies that resist God’s will.

 

  • They want to keep their human traditions. That your movement’s founder passed down certain Christian traditions through the generations does not validate them as genuine truth. Such Christian milieus prefer religiosity over genuine New Testament revelations. This is how the Pharisees and Sadducees behaved when Jesus walked the earth.

 

  • They don’t rely on the Holy Spirit. It is abundantly clear in the Bible that the Holy Spirit is necessary in the Christian’s life to achieve anything or do God’s will. Not all theologies originate from the Holy Spirit; some are simply human constructs. The Holy Spirit is the source of diversity, not of division. He ensures that two sincere Christians do not disagree on doctrine.

 

  • They don’t allow the Bible to interpret itself. The Bible can stand on its own, even without theological interpretations. A Christian will still live a wonderful life by solely reading the Bible, meditating on the Word, and acting according to its teachings. Theology adds a unique dimension by providing explanations and addressing the fundamental questions of existence with internal and external evidence.

 

  • They rely solely on theories, assumptions, speculations, and suggestions. These are vital for theological research, as long as the researcher is prepared to concede their position if evidence is lacking. Intellectual pride is our current challenge, spawning numerous intellectuals unwilling to abandon their unproven theories because of the prestige, societal position, or benefits they enjoy.

 

While many other factors contribute to theological disagreements among Christians, these provide a starting framework for deeper investigation.

 

Ensure this information reaches others caught in unhealthy theological patterns.

 

Study, research, grow in wisdom, and stay blessed in the Lord!

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