Biblical Question for opinion and discussion
@tsatske (92)
Williamsburg, Virginia
October 22, 2017 5:21pm CST
There is a Christian with whom I debate quite often. She said the Bible says that you can not understand the Bible unless you are saved. She doesn't like to give Biblical refrences since she says if you read the Bible you would already know where she pulls things from, so I can't tell you where she is getting this.
This does ring true to me to a certain degree, I certainly know when I first became a Christian, I would hear people quote the Bible and not believe they were quoting the Bible because I understood what they quoted so well, and I automatically expected the Bible to be harder than that to understand.
But I asked my son (31) what he thinks of this and he says to him it seems like pre-destinationlism.
So I'm just wondering what other people's opinions are?
7 people like this
8 responses
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Oct 17
Wow! A 'Christian' who won't back up what she says scripturally? I wouldn't trust that person. I have been reading the Bible since 1980 and I still don't know everything in it. Though I can give you chapter and verse most of the time, and if I can't, I know how to find it. The Bible isn't hard to understand. God wouldn't make his Word impossible to understand. No one would be able to become a Christian, accepting his Son, Jesus, as Savior and Lord.
David said, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2
If babes and sucklings can understand God's Word, anybody can.
Predestination is something else entirely.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Oct 17
@FayeHazel Thank you. Not a friend I would trust, at least not as a Christian.
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
23 Oct 17
I tend to agree with @just4him -- it seems your friend is controlling and manipulative. I would be wary.
1 person likes this
@tsatske (92)
• Williamsburg, Virginia
24 Oct 17
@just4him Thank you, I think you are both right. She is someone I engage with debate on another forum site because I feel her Christian posts are very unChristian, to me, and I feel I should speak up in case there are seekers reading it, so they will have an alternative view point.
1 person likes this
@BigTalpha (117)
•
23 Oct 17
Let me try to clarify things for you. First off it's not predestination because she wasn't saying that it was predestined for a Christian to understand the Bible. Do I think she went the wrong way about it yes I do but that can be expected from a Christian who more than likely hasn't studied her Bible. Now, if you want I can give you some examples to back it up. However what the Bible says is it takes a teacher of the Bible to help you understand God's word. It takes a Christian to lead someone who isn't saved to Jesus. Jesus never sent anyone that wasn't saved to preach the gospel. The reason is because someone who isn't saved does not understand God's word the unsaved person has to be taught and has to be saved in order to lead others to Jesus.
1 person likes this
@tsatske (92)
• Williamsburg, Virginia
23 Oct 17
Yes, I can see this. I think, that people can understand the surface meaning, after all, most are reading it in their native language, but it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal so much more depth to us.
@tsatske (92)
• Williamsburg, Virginia
22 Oct 17
Yes, I feel that she does this, she says things are Biblical but then refuses to offer a reference for them, and if I disagree with her interpretations says if I were a real Christian I would understand. LOL. My main argument with her is she is very 'if you don't do blank you are going to Hell', and I think that is unBiblical. I think the Bible is clear that I am going to Heaven not because of what I do or don't do but because of what Jesus did. I do my best to do what God wants out of love for Him, not to get me into Heaven.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (159105)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Oct 17
It could be the mentality of some to think that only a "saved" individual is better able to understand the Bible. I doubt the Bible says that. Also, faith is a very private and personal thing and some may feel that they have a different understanding of the Bible than others do.
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
23 Oct 17
Welcome to MyLot!
Hm. That's a tough one. I remember something like that, possibly in the Book of Acts or Revelations, but I can't remember it exactly.
All due respect to your friend - but the Bible is a really big book - unless references are given , she can't expect people to have it completely memorized where she is quoting from. (Maybe she is a bit insecure about her own knowledge of where she is pulling from? Again, no disrespect intended)
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
23 Oct 17
I disagree... I think anyone can read and understand the bible.
I would say Christians are more apt to applying and using that wisdom. Except I dont think that's true. A wolf can cloak itself as a sheep for appearance; just like a Christian can claim to read and abide by scripture.
It doesn't make it true.
Its what's inside, unseen that matters. Some scriptures make no sense to me. Others have new clarity after other life experience.
Its a personal journey to understand and that's what life is. Its a journey for finding fulfilment.
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
22 Oct 17
Not sure exactly where she is quoting from either but in one part...
Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. - Matthew 13:10-12
People often say they get nothing from the bible or that it is a simple story or confusing. I suppose Jesus did create simple parables so that everyone could understand if they desired to.
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
22 Oct 17
Hmm sounds like she just wants to be right..and in control of others..never a good sign.
