There are more positions at which I can shake a stick, but couldn't. There are hundreds of denominations. There a several positions regarding baptism (sprinkle, pour, immerse or none), the Lord's Supper (every day, every time the church meets, once a quarter, once a year or no observance), doctrine of last things, the Bible itself (which version, what is inspired, what language, is it without error, etc.) Confusing isn't it? Its enough to cause anybody to throw up their hands and say that they've had enough of it, and walk completely away. And many have.
Yet,
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. - 1 Corinthians 14:33
God is not the author of confusion. Even more, he is the author of peace. A confused person is not at peace. I want people to have peace through the knowledge of the truth. Its God's will that we, mankind, should know it and not just believe it. He wants us to know truth. If he wants us to know it, then it must be available to everybody.
I like simplicity. I like simple, uncomplicated landscape photography. I like finding simple solutions to complex problems. Part of simplifying the confusion is related to what Jesus said:
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. - Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. So it is incumbent upon people to reduce the number of masters in their lives. This is akin to not knowing what time it is when you have two or more watches. More importantly, we must eliminate the number of Bible related masters. One night while preparing a Sunday school lesson, I had a question regarding a verse. So I went and got another version. That didn't help, so I looked at a third, then a fourth, and finally a fifth. I was no closer to comprehending what was written. One didn't agree with the any of the other five. I wish that I could tell you that I remembered the above verse at that time. I wish that I had, but, sadly, I did not.
Ultimately, I did pick one Bible version. I picked the King James Bible. I'm not here to argue its merits though there are many. I am here to encourage you to pick one, and throw the others away. Pick one "master." Two or more will result in confusion. In Bible "translation" there are two methods. One is formal equivalence (word for word) and the other is dynamic equivalence (essentially thought for thought). Pick a formal equivalent Bible like the KJV, and toss the others.
Another centuries old controversy is over law and grace. Pick one. Romans 10:4 says that Christ is the end of the law to all them that believe. Pick grace and toss the law. In 1 Corinthians, there were four divisions: Paul, Cephas, Apollos and Christ. Pick the one given in 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Paul. Follow Paul (I'll visit on this one in more detail later) as he follows the Lord. Paul says that there are many gods (1 Corinthians 8:5). Pick the one that happens to be the God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:6). When there are two or more choices between things in the Bible, then pick the best or greatest. For example, among faith, hope and charity, the greatest is charity (make sure that you let the Bible define charity).
In following this simple guidance, I have tossed commentaries, dictionaries (both Bible and English), study Bibles, reference Bibles, the Greek and Hebrew texts, Strong's concordance numbers, denominations, false doctrines, "Christian" books, radio preachers, TV preachers (list to be continued). My final authority on all matters is that one King James Bible. It provides its own commentary. It defines its own words, and it has the truth that God wants all men to know. There is ample evidence in the Bible to support each and every bit of truth
When the Bible is your final authority, then when what it says conflicts with what you understand then you must allow it to alter your understanding. I was saved 33 years ago. I have been a serious Bible student ever since. I have thought many times that I had all the pieces in the right place. Then God hit the bottom of the card table and all the pieces went flying, and each time I began putting the pieces back together. This time around there is no case where I have had to force a piece back in place. If it seems like I am then I don't fit it into the puzzle.
If you are ready to have your puzzle pieces bounced then read on. If you are not, then don't waste your time. I'm reminded of the adage: A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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