Question to those who reason the things of God

[Rhonda Lou]

Trouble is, I can't stay away, and I get excited and want to share what I've learned.

May we never recover from our passion for our first love.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[EricH]

I always want to understand how those with whom I am not in agreement think.

Does this help you in strengthening your own beliefs, or does it assist you in approaching them?

Have you come to better understanding with any of them since being on this board?

I guess it really just aids in accurate communication. My goal is to understand that the person is really saying an how they arrived where they have. It really does not help me strenthen my own beliefs. A weakness in another person's approach, does not guarantee that my approach is any better. My beliefs hopefully are based on what the Bible says, not the weakness or strength of another person's position.

I guess I have come to understand their thinking process, but not agreed with it. Does that count? Most changes in beliefs take place over an extended time. What I have ocome to see is that in most of the commmon arguments (election / free will; conditional vs unconditional security etc), folks talk past each other.

[traveller]

I always want to understand how those with whom I am not in agreement think.

Does this help you in strengthening your own beliefs, or does it assist you in approaching them?

Have you come to better understanding with any of them since being on this board?

I guess it really just aids in accurate communication. My goal is to understand that the person is really saying an how they arrived where they have. It really does not help me strenthen my own beliefs. A weakness in another person's approach, does not guarantee that my approach is any better. My beliefs hopefully are based on what the Bible says, not the weakness or strength of another person's position.

I guess I have come to understand their thinking process, but not agreed with it. Does that count

I was referring to "iron sharpens iron," and not necessarily a weakness in the other's stance.

Certainly it counts.

[traveller]

Which is why I came here to this board to begin with. I was looking for answers for something I truly did not understand. I seached it out here, but found more questions. Searched those out, found even more questions. I have found answers to some of those questions somewhere along the way, but not all by any means.

Here is a truism that is very simple to grasp but difficult to consistently employ:

There are no stand-alone verses in the Bible, they are all part of, and make up the integrated whole as they reveal the mind of God. Consequently, there are no stand-alone biblical doctrines, as they must all support (are dependent upon) one another (no conflicts, contradictions, etc.). Where a scripture appears to be in conflict with another scripture (paradox), then there is something concerning those scriptures that we do not understand. If doctrines are in conflict, we have a false doctrine (a teaching that contains one or more errors). Remember, there is "no shadow" in God.

Also keep in mind that we are given to understand even the "deep things of God" - but we are not yet given to understand "everything" concerning God! We must learn, and be content with, knowing the difference.

Yes, I understand about the difficult to consistently employ part.

I certainly agree that the scriptures are not stand alone but all parts fitted together to form the complete picture.

I do well to understand the shallow waters - though I do like to wade deeper at times.

[hillsong_girl]

I've seen a lot of debates and discussions in my 7 years here. I've often wondered - do those participating in the discussions actually consider what the others say when it's counter to one's own thoughts?

Tell me - do you look up the scriptures given? Do you investigate what was said if it's something new to you?

And I'm really curious about this - has anyone ever been in a discussion and altered their view because of it? Here on Worthy, I mean.

And one last question - do you think it's important to "hear" the other or is it dangerous? Either way, why.

1. Whether it's a discussion in person or something I read online, I investigate things for myself.

2. I have altered my views at times because of things from discussions with people, but not often do I do that.

3. Yes I think it's important to listen to how other people see things. As long as you know what you believe and why, I don't think it's "dangerous."

[Fraught]

Fez brought up an interesting difference - that being whether one is discussing issues with believers, or non. Actually - I had other believers in mind when I posted this. But it could make a difference, I would think.

Tell me - do you mostly enter conversations where your viewpoint is already set in stone, or those that give you pause? In other words, are you mostly looking for answers or pushing forward ideas?

50/50 for me. i want to let others know if they are looking at something the wrong way and i want to get others' opinions if i have run across something that's new for me or that i don't fully understand.

i think that positive reinforcement would be a good thing here. for instance, if i am wrong about something i have posted, i would like to see someone say "yeah, i can see how you might read it that way but have you considered such and such?" know what i mean?

[Guest]

.... Tell me - do you look up the scriptures given? Do you investigate what was said if it's something new to you?....

Yes!

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 17:11 (KJV)

And There Are Times The Scriptures Presented Or "Stumbled" Upon Change My View So Far Around I'm Left Mute

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:12 (NASB)

I Have Nothing Left To Add

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Proverbs 8:5 (KJV)

Except Jesus Loves You

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

Really Loves

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

You

>>>>>()<<<<<

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

[Shiloh62]

Fez brought up an interesting difference - that being whether one is discussing issues with believers, or non. Actually - I had other believers in mind when I posted this. But it could make a difference, I would think.

Tell me - do you mostly enter conversations where your viewpoint is already set in stone, or those that give you pause? In other words, are you mostly looking for answers or pushing forward ideas?

I actually tend to sway toward the conversations in which the opinion is different from my own, if only to try and discover if there may be reason to change my stance or if there could possibly be fault in my logic for having the belief. At any rate, I do feel it is important that everyone express their point-of-view to give others the advantage of seeing the topics in a different light than they are accustomed.

[Botz]

Fez brought up an interesting difference - that being whether one is discussing issues with believers, or non. Actually - I had other believers in mind when I posted this. But it could make a difference, I would think.

Tell me - do you mostly enter conversations where your viewpoint is already set in stone, or those that give you pause? In other words, are you mostly looking for answers or pushing forward ideas?

I actually tend to sway toward the conversations in which the opinion is different from my own, if only to try and discover if there may be reason to change my stance or if there could possibly be fault in my logic for having the belief. At any rate, I do feel it is important that everyone express their point-of-view to give others the advantage of seeing the topics in a different light than they are accustomed.

I like that....some of the best threads are those in which there are a number of differing strong opinions (including our own) and it as we thrash out these things, pray and look at Scripture, that we gain something....even if it means losing a portion of what we had always assumed as correct...ultimately convinced by Scripture and the working of the Holy Spirit, rather than just the persuasive words of a convincing argument....this can often be a process that operates over considerable time scales.