Theocentric Musings

I've found when discussing the scriptures with others that we don't disagree, or debate, the words written, we disagree, or debate, over the interpretation. I find as humans that type of mentality infiltrates more than just books, it infiltrates our interactions with those we are in relationship with, or that we speak with in passing. We seem to place so much value on our own interpretations of a variety of things, that we end up elevating an interpretation, no matter how fal se it may end up being, above Love. We stop walking in Love because we in fact have made our interpretations of things, whether it's due to past experiences, hurt, pain, our self centered wisdom, or a variety of other things, into an idol. An idol that rules our lives. We don't have to live like this. We have a better way. We know a better Way, Truth, and Life. Let's walk in Love, and only Love. What do we really have to lose walking in His way, walking in Love?

I  think Caleb Miller does a good job at describing what the church and many Christians have turned the wonderful story and attributes of our wonderful, loving God, into: "bipolar god creates man to serve him man screws up angry god wrathfully kicks them out of eden man screws up vengeful god destroys every living thing man screws up hippie god becomes peace loving human wrathful god kills hippie ... son hippie son redeems man through taking the father's abuse man has an opportunity at salvation, but only less than 1% will get it. bipolar god laughs and laughs while billions burn." [END QUOTE] This is why I share things that I write, and from men and women who have received wisdom from the Lord to help teach how we can get our interpretations wrong, and place the blame at the wrong Feet, as well as teach how historical beliefs affected writings in the past and currently. One of the first places to start in proper interpretation is knowing just who steals,...

I think the number 1 thing that affected evangelism for the worse and created all this drama that now happens when people think they are sharing the Gospel is that the church has taken a term from the bible and given it a new meaning. That word is repentance. The twisting and redefining of that word has changed the gospel from a "come as you are" to a "clean yourself up first". It took a comment from Jesus of hope and guidance and twisted it into an order or demand. Your definition of this word completely changes scripture, thoughts, words, and interpretation.

Christians have to remember when it comes to their theology that many of their doctrines could actually be traditions of man or interpretations influenced by their own emotions, thoughts, or biases. We can also affect our interpretation or doctrines by how we envision God, that's why it's important to have a correct view of God as Father not as destroyer, or you will color that image into all that ... you read, Holy Spirit or not. There have been various revelations as time progressed since the writing of scripture, some true, some not so. To be so close-minded and dogmatic about your beliefs without acknowledging that your beliefs may in fact not be as accurate as you believe them to be does Jesus a disservice. That is why we must be always open to learn, but in that same respect if things are centered around killing, stealing, or destroying, we should really take pause before receiving that as truth. Yes, I know, our walk is by faith, that includes faith in our belief...