I have spent the last few weeks thinking about what I need to say next. I have noticed over the years that there are few subjects more prone to offence than speaking about spiritual things. There are as many different interpretations of the Scriptures that we read as there are readers with almost as many faith positions.
The topics that will be unfolding over the course of this blog series will evoke in many readers greater or lesser emotional responses. Not my opinion nor any other person's opinion matters when it comes to faith unless those opinions align with what God's opinion of the matter is, regardless of whether we like it or not. When our individual opinions align with God's opinion regarding any matter then for that group of people there suddenly is agreement, because God's opinion remains the same. We might all understand different facets of His opinion but the agreement will remain.
Unfortunately there will be times when I do a mini case study regarding any topic when names will be named and references will be made to specific things said or declared. It is then that emotions will start to be stimulated. It is my hope that when that happens that instead of immediately taking offence and closing the heart off, those people who are then challenged will rather open their minds and investigate the topic for themselves to see if what I say is true or not. Dialogue via e-mail can be engaged in for clarification. I will not however, entertain counter productive arguments when they come. If there is a difference in opinion then show me from the Scripture that my opinion is not correct.
My first resource for understanding the Scripture is the Scripture itself. I do follow the principle of Sola Scriptura or Scripture Alone, even when the Scriptures reveal uncomfortable things about my beliefs and actions. What does the Scripture say? Not what do I think it says, but what does it say in actuality. What does it not say?
Secondly, what is the original word behind the English word in the translated Scriptures? How were those words used and in how many other places was the original word or phrase used? Is the translation of a word honest or not?
Let me give an example. In many churches, babies are baptised. Now the question is this, "does baby baptism really constitute Scriptural baptism?" or is it something different? Scripture states that we should repent and be baptised. First, to repent means to engage our own wills and turn away from our sinful ways by our own choice and second, baptism is an act of personal identification with the death, resurrection and ascension with and in Christ. It is administered by someone who already has gone through the process themselves upon someone else who is making their own personal declaration. Can a baby engage their own personal will to repent and then make the personal identification with Christ by their own will? They cannot. I for one, do not remember anything of my baptism as a baby, but I do remember exactly what it was that I did when baptised as an adult. The word baptise in Greek means immerse in English. The English baptise is merely a transliteration of the original Greek word and not a translation. Now I wonder what would we all read when we read repent and be immersed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? We certainly would now have no grounds to baptise a baby by the sprinkling of water on their heads as now no other definitions of the word baptise can exist. Suddenly the doctrine of the practice of baptism becomes clear. We would then teach our children differently and they would probably make their own decisions regarding committing to Christ themselves and not base their salvation on belonging to a church anymore but upon their own personal faith in Christ. And most probably earlier in their lives.
So, in the rest of my blog I will be pretty straight regarding what I believe Scripture teaches and I am hoping that you will meditate on what I say, look in the Scripture on a broader basis to see if my communicated belief is correct and true. I am hoping that everyone who reads my words from here on in will be enriched by what I place in this blog site. Please do not get angry at me before considering whether I truly have a point or not.
The topics that will be unfolding over the course of this blog series will evoke in many readers greater or lesser emotional responses. Not my opinion nor any other person's opinion matters when it comes to faith unless those opinions align with what God's opinion of the matter is, regardless of whether we like it or not. When our individual opinions align with God's opinion regarding any matter then for that group of people there suddenly is agreement, because God's opinion remains the same. We might all understand different facets of His opinion but the agreement will remain.
Unfortunately there will be times when I do a mini case study regarding any topic when names will be named and references will be made to specific things said or declared. It is then that emotions will start to be stimulated. It is my hope that when that happens that instead of immediately taking offence and closing the heart off, those people who are then challenged will rather open their minds and investigate the topic for themselves to see if what I say is true or not. Dialogue via e-mail can be engaged in for clarification. I will not however, entertain counter productive arguments when they come. If there is a difference in opinion then show me from the Scripture that my opinion is not correct.
My first resource for understanding the Scripture is the Scripture itself. I do follow the principle of Sola Scriptura or Scripture Alone, even when the Scriptures reveal uncomfortable things about my beliefs and actions. What does the Scripture say? Not what do I think it says, but what does it say in actuality. What does it not say?
Secondly, what is the original word behind the English word in the translated Scriptures? How were those words used and in how many other places was the original word or phrase used? Is the translation of a word honest or not?
Let me give an example. In many churches, babies are baptised. Now the question is this, "does baby baptism really constitute Scriptural baptism?" or is it something different? Scripture states that we should repent and be baptised. First, to repent means to engage our own wills and turn away from our sinful ways by our own choice and second, baptism is an act of personal identification with the death, resurrection and ascension with and in Christ. It is administered by someone who already has gone through the process themselves upon someone else who is making their own personal declaration. Can a baby engage their own personal will to repent and then make the personal identification with Christ by their own will? They cannot. I for one, do not remember anything of my baptism as a baby, but I do remember exactly what it was that I did when baptised as an adult. The word baptise in Greek means immerse in English. The English baptise is merely a transliteration of the original Greek word and not a translation. Now I wonder what would we all read when we read repent and be immersed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? We certainly would now have no grounds to baptise a baby by the sprinkling of water on their heads as now no other definitions of the word baptise can exist. Suddenly the doctrine of the practice of baptism becomes clear. We would then teach our children differently and they would probably make their own decisions regarding committing to Christ themselves and not base their salvation on belonging to a church anymore but upon their own personal faith in Christ. And most probably earlier in their lives.
So, in the rest of my blog I will be pretty straight regarding what I believe Scripture teaches and I am hoping that you will meditate on what I say, look in the Scripture on a broader basis to see if my communicated belief is correct and true. I am hoping that everyone who reads my words from here on in will be enriched by what I place in this blog site. Please do not get angry at me before considering whether I truly have a point or not.