Why I do what I do the way I do it

Rude people always excuse their bad behavior.

 

I never said he couldn't. I was just curious about what he said. Luke said if you didn't know basic things like context, original intent of the author.... I would say one should know those things before speaking/writing about a passage. Those are the basics.

 

Oh yeah. You said "I" would be the one to know how much I know. confused

Doesn't that put you right back where you started? Ignorant people thinking they know things they don't know?

In other words, for your plan to work, somebody smarter than me has to critique all my posts before they're published so as to be sure that I don't spread ignorance and heresy. :BangHead:

 

Ok, so who on this board should decide if Matt knows these things and is qualified to post? Matt can't decide this for himself because he may just be acting out of ignorance. :tonofbricks:

 

I figured that would be your answer. I'm like you, I don't know Greek/Hebrew.

Just some other thoughts about studying Scriptures.
1. Knowing the context is vital to understanding the meaning of the passage. It's easy to read an isolated verse and think it means something else because of something we may be studying at the time.

2. Original intent of the author is very important as well. If a passage didn't mean "A" to Paul, then it cannot mean "A" to us.

3. Knowing the purpose of the book itself. Matthew and Mark write about similar events, but with a different purpose.

4. Know the historical context. What was going on at the time.

5. Use the English term the same way the author used the original term. If you are like me, I'm do not know Greek. I have to rely on others.

this is just a summary list that I just threw together. When we discuss the Bible, it's important to not just find a passage that sounds like it supports us. We should rather find what the Bible says.

 

Amy, I was commenting on him taking out one of the important things and ignoring the rest. Do you think one should speak on a subject they have not prepared for? If I'm telling you a passage means something, but I don't look at the context or anything, would you even think of listening to me? Of course not. Matt took original language out by itself. That's why I asked Luke to clarify what he meant by that.

 

Luke - I've asked this before, but don't recall your answer: do you consider yourself the eyes, the mouth, the hands, the feet, or some other part?

 

Ok. So for example, since I believe Calvinism is error, should I be allowed to post that?

 

Luke, I think that's what this forum IS. I post something that may or may not be correct, then lots of people tell me where and how I am wrong, and where and how I am right. If I later determine that I have posted something in error, I should post a correction, or apology if I have posted something mean-spirited. Many on this forum have done just that.

The point is this is a forum for to debate issues. And you as a Calvinist should understand that God has a purpose for allowing people to post ridiculous ideas on this forum...so that the rest of us will be spurred to more study about an issue to better understand our own position.

I'm glad there's a guy over on the "other-denominations" forum who says that faith has nothing to do with salvation. It makes me articulate the truth better.

I think all of us, Cal, arm, non-cal, and "other" could be reminded of Paul's advice to a young pastor in 2 Tim. 2: 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness...

 

It does what it can as of the ability it has been given; but does that mean it's better than the feet? Or the eyes?

 

Hey Luke

Will you let me know when I am smart enough to have a conversation with you?

John

 

Forgive me for not remembering the exact context of the following example (the facts are true, but I have forgotten both the pastor's name and the association of churches)... but I believe it favors the view that Sometimes a simple Christian who believes the bible can make positive contributions to a church and a conversation:

A guest pastor was preaching at a church whose denomination of Baptists had drifted far to the left, until many churches, including this one withdrew to form a new, conservative group. The pastor said something completely orthodox in his sermon, and an old man with a hearing problem stood up and said, "That's not in the Bible!" Those around him explained his error, after which he sat down and later apologized profusely to the preacher. The Guest preacher said, in effect, "If a few more people like you had been around a few years ago, our denomination might not have gotten so far away from God's word."