Comments on: The B-I-B-L-E #1

By: Priceless Posts From Mike Cope « Lookin’ Fer Learnin’

Priceless Posts From Mike Cope « Lookin’ Fer Learnin’ — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:55:14 +0000

[...] #1 Here is one of the most shocking discoveries of my early life: the Bible has to be interpreted. [...]

By: PreacherMike » Blog Archive » Small Differences

PreacherMike » Blog Archive » Small Differences — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:19:30 +0000

[...] #1 [...]

By: Places I’ve Been… « A Place For The God-Hungry

Places I’ve Been… « A Place For The God-Hungry — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:57:06 +0000

[...] The following are a few places I’ve been recently: Mike Cope wrote a very fine series on handling the Bible. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. [...]

By: PreacherMike » Blog Archive » The B-I-B-L-E #8

PreacherMike » Blog Archive » The B-I-B-L-E #8 — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:45:59 +0000

[...] (This is the last in a series on scripture. Earlier posts can be found here: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7.) [...]

By: Bekki Kearns

Bekki Kearns — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:09:20 +0000

I like the new site (so far)!

By: JRB

JRB — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 21:24:00 +0000

Amen to Kentf. All along Jesus has been teaching us about process, not events and not firm answers. We are either becoming more and more like him or are becoming more and more hemmed in by our own expectations. If we’re on The Way our understanding must necessarily change as we learn more from the teacher. Our weaknesses and misunderstandings are made perfect in Christ, eventually.

By: KentF

KentF — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:35:00 +0000

In reference to Lisa’s comments a couple of posts up….We are a weak and sinful people that, hopefully, are trying to find the heart of Christ, and be that love to a lost world - in worship; community; and, in personal journey through prayer, meditation and learning. I just wonder at times if we corporately think we’ve found “it” in worship style; thinking style or communication style?

In reality, I think it’s just more the fact that our whole outlook and process for now is simply on the wrong side of eternity - that is - it will always be somewhat off, not necesarily “conservative” or “liberal”.

By: eddy

eddy — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:09:00 +0000

Praise God for elders and members who continue to spend hours in study and prayer. Praise God that doing such really does change people!

By: Leland

Leland — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 19:49:00 +0000

Great words. They make me feel welcome as I struggle with my faith and ask hard questions of myself. The freedom to be honest is freedom indeed.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 19:34:00 +0000

Well, I guess we can all just do what we want — it’s open to interpretation!

It’s like a CoC website FAQ I once read that had a fabulous explanation (with scripture references) of the bible-based reasons for acapella music in worship service, and that the elders had spent “many hours” in prayer and study before deciding that it was scriptural to not have instruments.

Fast forward a year or so. Their elders and membership decided to go in a more “liberal” direction and NOW the FAQ says that after “many hours” of prayer and study, that instrumental music is all right after all.

Hm. It makes you wonder what REALLY changed, the Bible, or the people “interpreting” it.

By: David

David — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:35:00 +0000

It seems that most of us agree that we all bring different tools to the table of Biblical understanding/interpretation (education, intelligence level, all kind of other “baggage”). I, too, get humbled. When you throw in the mix the fact that no originals (or probably 1st generation copies of originals) exist, I get humbled even more. And then when I can grasp the fact that, say, Paul’s letters were not primarily written to me, they were written to the “Philippians” or the “Colosians”, etc. (in other words, I am reading someone else’s mail), then I am really, REALLY humbled. How can we ever begin to think that we have arrived at any kind of absolute truth? Can we arrive there?

By: Ahnog

Ahnog — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 17:48:00 +0000

Excellent comments Mike. I’ve recently left the Churches of Christ and embraced the idea that salvation takes place at the point of faith apart from outward works like baptism. I’ve had people ask me why I no longer believe baptism is for the remission of sins. I have to explain to them that I believe that because that is what the Bible says–I just don’t interpret that the way I did when I was in the Church of Christ.

Salvation is not about a long and difficult theological test in which we have to get all the answers right and only asssociate with those who have all the right answers. Salvation is about God’s work through Jesus Christ to effect His kingdom. Our role is to yield to that work through faith.

By: Suzie J

Suzie J — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:50:00 +0000

Thank you for this post. Interpretations have been on my mind a lot lately. Our church has been wrestling with the role of women for a while, and the leadership is prayerfully moving toward more inclusion. Parts of my Christian family may leave our congregation over this. It breaks my heart that my getting up and reading a scripture or saying a prayer may cause division or hurt some of my closest friends. I wrestle with the questions: Are we right? Are they right? Do we stay the same so we don’t offend? Is it my pride making me want to be up front? Will it be a sin? Could I go to hell for this? Could I go to hell for not doing this? Does it even really matter to God? Finally, after countless discussions with people at church, I just lay it at the feet of Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to move.

By: David U

David U — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:19:00 +0000

Community……what’s that? Great post, brother!

By: Beverly

Beverly — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:04:00 +0000

It is just so complicated, Mike.