Posted by PS on December 04, 2003 at 02:12:42:
In Reply to: Re: I am channelling all the great philosophers now... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Only $19.95! posted by greg chaplik on December 04, 2003 at 00:48:42:
: : Pastor Steve, your intellect is dizzying! (Princess Bride). Ah, The finite trying to comprehend the Infinite. That is alot to think about- wait, im dizzy now! Just kidding! In my meager pursuits of philosophy, psychology and theology over the years I have grappled with some of these very concepts or contradictions or appearances of (real or unreal or any variance of) the idiosynchrosys (poor spelling?) of my faith and the bible. I have a theory myself, I know it is flawed in that I have found contradictions within this idea ( BIG DISCLAIMER!), so here it is in very simplistic, stripped and red neck rigged form. The flaws or contradictions or however a person may look at are there in the bible to allow just that. Not there to cause division or dis array or anything but to allow an individual in any given circumstance to have a range in which adjustments can be made in thought and or action - the Calvinist vs. the Arminian. From a psychological perspective a person may need to change, adjust or modify there views on God and the bible because of life situations, tragedy ect. I have thought alot about these things and my views vary and change at times. sometimes I get confused and frustrated trying to come up with logical solutions to the questions I have and then I realize that im a finite being trying to comprehend the Infinite. Circular thinking? I dont know, im dizzy again! Later, Greg
"Red neck rigged form" -- is this a technical term? I like it. ;-)
Some great points here! The opportunity to reinterpret, reapply, & recontextualize biblical truth in our continuing (lifetime) search for a sound hermeneutic certainly is necessary and any thinking person will do so. I would add one thought here, as a criteria (or an anchor), which I know you know: There must be a higher, ultimate reality that is without contradiction or change, in which we trust by faith, so that we can then live by our largely subjective interpretation of the revealed truths that point to this reality, and our whole salvation doesn't depend on having it right. Otherwise, the whole foundation of our faith is as unstable as tectonic plates in San Francisco. This higher, ultimate reality is non-changing. Our ideas about Him may change, but He does not. Our interpretation of His truths will change, but He remains unchanging eternal truth. This may sound like a given, which every believer should realize, but many don't, and many of those who think they trust in "Him" really are founded on the way things work in this God-reality. Anyway, this is why the Ultimate Reality in which I trust--Yahweh Elohim Adonai--can remain above my finite reasoning--I really don't mind. In fact, I require that kind of transcendence and incomprehensibility in any God I serve. ;-)
Oh, yeah... back to your Bible contradiction theory: What if this problem was always God's design, so that those who really want to know truth--to know HIM--will have to look much higher than the ink on the paper, will have to trust in much more than their understanding? :-)