If the Holy Spirit is leading, why do we have so many...

[OneLight]

A simple question that has probably been thrown around Protestant circles for a few hundred years. Why do we have so many varying theological differences, and some that are hugely divisive? Why imparticular do we have such a huge difference in Arminian and Calvinist believers? Would the Holy Spirit not want us to know with clarity what is absolute? Or, is it that God does know all, who will be saved, if grace is resistible...., but He needs for us to drop our own pride. It is almost like liking opposing teams in a super bowl, and the person is not going to change their mind.

There are so many differences in theology simply because everyone of them is making private interpretations of their own, and think that the Holy Spirit is the one speaking to them when actually it is their own human interpretation. If I were to take this sentence: I didn't say that you stole money.....and thousands of years in the future people find this one statement.....it could actually be interpreted in 4 different ways.

1. I didn't say that you stole money......means that I didn't say it. It was said by someone else.

2. I didn't say that YOU stole money.....means that i named someone else, not you.

3. I didn't say that you STOLE money....means that I actually said "borrowed" not stole.

4. I didn't say that you stole MONEY......means that you stole something else, not money.

So, if this one statement can be interpreted in 4 different ways, how much more the Holy Bible? One then should ask who then has the authority to accurately interpret the Holy Bible? And if you say the Holy Spirit....remember that all those people claimed to have the Holy Spirit in them. Furthermore, the Bible also warned of making private interpretations of Scripture. There are different theologies because all of them were making private interpretations.

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Context is the key. This could of been said in as many different settings as there are different ways to read it. Let's analyze a little deeper.

1. I didn't say that you stole money......means that I didn't say it. It was said by someone else. Which could of been said and read this way if someone is asking why they had said something.

2. I didn't say that YOU stole money.....means that i named someone else, not you. Which could of been said and read this way if someone is asking why they are being accused.

3. I didn't say that you STOLE money....means that I actually said "borrowed" not stole. Which could of been said and read this way if someone is asking why they are saying they stole it if they borrowed it.

4. I didn't say that you stole MONEY......means that you stole something else, not money. Which could of been said and read this way if someone is referring to what was stolen.

You present a situation without showing the whole picture. This is the problem with a lot of conflicts, tunnel vision. If your example provided a full picture, there would be a better understanding of what took place and what the question was about.

About being led by the Spirit, one needs to walk closely with the Lord to better hear Him. That is what growing in Christ is all about, a closer walk. Who else are they to listen to? Man?? I pray not.

I agree that contexts helps, but sometimes that is not enough. 2000 years in the future is a different time era than now. Culture and the meaning of words change over time. For example, the word "gay" at one time meant "happy." In those days, when people say, "He is gay" - it meant that he was a happy person. Today, those words have nothing to do with happiness. And sometimes, people read scripture and apply it to today's modern meaning rather than to its proper time.

If one is doing a historical or cultural study, they would know the difference. This is also important when we study scripture, yet, the Holy Spirit does guide us if we are willing to listen in all humility. From my experiences, everyone begins reading scripture by applying today's language, but it is not long before they realize that this is the wrong way to study scripture if they are truly studying scripture and not just reading the bible as a book..

[Openly Curious]

The answer given to me is that as long as there is flesh and spirit operating in this earth there will always be conflicts in doctrinal beliefs. The facts are that not everyone is following the Spirit of truth into truth. The flesh follows the things that please the flesh and the spirit follows the things that please the Spirit. There are those who have itching ears who will continue to heap to themselves to believe only those things they want to hear. Not everyone wants to be lead into the truth and willingly choose to follow the lies thus being deceived by Satan. It's really that simple. The children of the flesh always persecutes the children of God and one of those ways is to tare down the truth with lies spreading false doctrines.

[rjp34652]

Your vision is myopic. The topic is being examined through eyes that see only what you're looking at. In this case the lens is protestant dogma.

Do you remember your history? Do you remember the intellectual spiritual and political consequences of the reformation?

The Reformation was a paradigm shift in Christian culture. Prior to that time interpretation of doctrine was the sole purview of the priests. Reading the Bible was restricted. Moveable type for printing presses changed that and if it didn't put a Bible in every home it came pretty close. Luther's movement was the most noteworthy, but not the only one. The end result was the new belief that the individual person was able (and responsible) for his or her decisions regarding interpretation of the Bible and who was to lead them.

In religious circles it was called Protestantism, but it really meant freedom. It was the birth of intellectual liberty in religion, in science and in politics. Kings no longer ruled under the sole authority of heaven. The masses believed that they ought to have a voice in their own government. Western democracy was born of this attitude.

If God was good and consistent and true, then truth ought to be the same throughout the universe - and so the scientific method was born and technological advance leaped forward. Like the rest, science was based on the belief that one was licensed by God to explore and learn the truth for one's self. Having accomplished that task one also had the right to enjoy the rewards of one's labor - giving birth to incredible prosperity.

Examine other religions that do not believe in God's goodness or in the liberty of individuals before God and every man. Islam comes to mind. Despite the politically correct mistaken attitude that Islam was some sort of intellectual light to the world it's quite the opposite. Every advance that Muslims enjoyed was robbed from other cultures. The greatest evidence can be presented today. Google Dubai. Have a look at the wonderful building projects there. Are any of them due to Muslim architecture, Muslim builders or Muslim science? None. Islam suppresses all that and more. The technology and the artistry have been paid for or robbed directly. Islam is not free and hence does not suffer from the constant doctrinal upheavals in Christendom. The same is true for Buddhism and Hinduism and all the rest.

Only Christianity enjoys intellectual and spiritual freedom to explore the reasons for why God does thus and so. Not for nothing did Jesus say He had set us free for freedom.

The pity is that we've thrown it all away for the sake of cultural hedonism. I fear we shall pay a terrible price for our negligence.

but that's just me, hollering from the choir loft....

Edited March 4, 2013 by rjp34652

[JohnD]

1 John 4:1 (KJV)

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 (NASB95)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

People aren't testing what they perceive of as the Holy Spirit or what they believe is the Holy Spirit because they don't know how. Or they are unwilling to because when push comes to shove their version suits them rather well.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB95)

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB95)

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

1 John 4:1 (NASB95)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Acts 17:11 (NASB95)

11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB95)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Now he will tutor you through the scriptures once you follow these steps to verify it's him doing the tutoring...

John 16:13 (NASB95)

13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.