TOO MANY DENOMINATIONS!

TML: How can anyone figure what the real "truth" is when all these so-called Christians split up into all these denominations and yet all claim to be basing their ideas on the same Bible?

HOSTESS: Good question! Let's pretend we are in school and 25 students are given the same book to study...history. Then they are given a tough test. Each student's paper (presuming they don't cheat) may come up with a different variation of answers than the other students' papers. So whose fault is it? The book's fault? The teacher's fault? or the students' fault who did not carefully study?

In terms of the Bible, it is a translation, which creates some problems. But the reason for all the interpretations is (1) there is a Devil who puts phony ideas in people's heads to get them to try interpret the Bible subjectively instead of objectively. (2) Many who are interpreting the Bible are NOT FOLLOWING THE COMMON SENSE RULES. In Bible college they give you in some classes lists such as this one:

   Common sense rule: If the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense

   Culture rule: Understand the culture in which the passage is based

   Context rule: Check out the verses before and after, and the overall book context

   Comparison rule: Find out what other passages on the same subject say before interpreting

   Clear vs. unclear: If it is an unclear passage, use clear statements from other passages to interpret

   Construction rule: check out word meanings and verb tenses from the original language

In most cases, when a DOCTRINE divides churches (some are divided more on governmental form or other less significant issues), it is because one of the groups hasn't done their "homework" as stated above in their interpreting.

Of course, all I've stated is generalizations... if you wish to discuss a particular DOCTRINAL difference...feel free.

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