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Conference yukon::christian

Title:The CHRISTIAN Notesfile
Moderator:YUKON::GLENNEON
Created:Wed Dec 11 1996
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:81
Total number of notes:2400

40.0. "Querying "statements of faith"" by ICTHUS::YUILLE (He must increase - I must decrease) Tue Feb 25 1997 13:24

   A question was asked about sincere, Biblical discussion of the 
   'statements of faith' outlined in note 2.  Discussion continued in 
   the 'chit-chat' note, 14.*.  It was felt worth assembling the few notes 
   on this topic to clarify the issue to future noters.

							Andrew
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40.5Not censoring Biblical interpretationICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseTue Feb 25 1997 13:4333
40.6ALFSS1::BENSONAEternal WeltanschauungTue Feb 25 1997 16:1210
    
    The Statement of Faith should exclude language referring to or worded so
    to imply a millenial reign on earth.  It is unnecessary.  And it is, as 
    this string has brought up, a point of contention among Christians, and 
    among Christians here.
    
    Of course, it won't bother me if it doesn't change.  But it is an
    unnecessarily narrow statement/implication.
    
    jeff
40.7Never Did Agree With ThisYIELD::BARBIERITue Feb 25 1997 16:5810
      I never did agree with the idea of saying the guidelines
      are the Bible and the Bible only, but then adding specific
      *interpretations* of the Bible.
    
      I think we should just hold up the Bible as standard and
      allow for noters to have whatever interpretation of it they
      have so long as they assert that their standard is the Bible
      and the Bible only.
    
    						Tony
40.8ALFSS1::BENSONAEternal WeltanschauungTue Feb 25 1997 17:5223
>      I never did agree with the idea of saying the guidelines
>      are the Bible and the Bible only, but then adding specific
>      *interpretations* of the Bible.
    
>      I think we should just hold up the Bible as standard and
>      allow for noters to have whatever interpretation of it they
>      have so long as they assert that their standard is the Bible
>      and the Bible only.
    
>    						Tony
    
    Assertions of the Bible as the standard are not in themselves
    effective for the apparent purposes of this conference.  Barthians, 
    Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, Unitarians, and other groups might
    effectively argue that their standard is the Bible.  But their standard
    is actually presuppositions which inform all of their interpretation
    of the Bible.  This is different.
    
    The standard has got to be the Bible.  But that doesn't preclude folks
    from discussing their interpretation of specific Biblical content and
    principles.
    
    jeff
40.9ROCK::PARKERTue Feb 25 1997 18:234
    Listen to Andrew.  He, unlike Jeff and I, at least spelled millennial
    right (two n's, not one)! :-)
    
    /Wayne
40.10I Understand Your View JeffYIELD::BARBIERITue Feb 25 1997 18:4717
      re: .8
    
      Then the standard of the Conference is the Bible + (whatever
      interpretation of it).
    
      My only point is that those are two different things.
    
      There are, I believe, sincere people who believe the Bible
      is the standard and yet may interpret it differently.  I 
      wouldn't want to insist that every JW is insincere.
    
      And I'm not meaning to hint that I have any less of a problem
      with some of these beliefs than any person who feels a need
      to insist upon more than the Bible only as a standard (i.e.
      a need to insist on any interpretation of the Source).
    
    						Tony
40.11ALFSS1::BENSONAEternal WeltanschauungTue Feb 25 1997 19:1221
    
>      Then the standard of the Conference is the Bible + (whatever
>      interpretation of it).
    
>      My only point is that those are two different things.
    
    The range of reasonable Biblical interpretation is actually very
    narrow.  The Bible has enough content in its different books, taken
    together, to understand what it is saying.  We would expect no less
    from God for he wrote it for our sake so that we might know him and
    enjoy him.
    
      >There are, I believe, sincere people who believe the Bible
      >is the standard and yet may interpret it differently.  I 
      >wouldn't want to insist that every JW is insincere.
    
    I wouldn't even suggest that any JW is insincere for they obviously are
    sincere. Sincerity of personal conviction concerning interpretation 
    doesn't change what the Bible says, which is generally very clear.
    
    jeff
40.12"I Have Many Things To Tell You, But..."YIELD::BARBIERITue Feb 25 1997 19:588
      Actually, Jeff, I think oftentimes the Bible is purposely 
      quite veiled!!  Something about riddles and enigmas (Proverbs
      somewhere/NKJV).
    
      But, thats another topic and one I don't really want to
      bother with.
    
    					Tony
40.132 Corinthians 4:4GRANPA::BROWNMy kids call my father Granpa BrownSat Mar 01 1997 10:263
    How about 2 Corinthians 4:4 which says The god of this age has blinded
    the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the
    gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. NIV