Henry, many times, all of our interpretations are colored by what we want to believe at a subconscious level based on our experiences, our personalities, and influenced a great deal by our parents beliefs, like it or not. It can be a pervasive influence throughout our lives unless, we start rejecting such messages by searching out the truth by looking deeply inside ourselves. We must approach God's Word with a rational adult perspective or we come away with strange and untruthful doctrines.
I know as you read many of the posts on religion and dogma here some of it is stretched to the point of being ridiculous. This is why you must determine to search out God's Word based on your conclusions from personally reading His holy word. I always try to approach Bible study from a quiet, meditative mood, willing to learn from the Holy Spirit.
After reading your posts, I feel certain that you are very interested in having a closer experience and knowledge of Him and His Word.
I hope that for some reason that we have not gotten off on the wrong foot through misunderstanding.
As a final thought, Jesus came to earth to fulfill the promises of the prophets in the Old Testament to His chosen people, the Jews. So all truth is found in both testaments and is the inspired word of God through the Holy Spirit.
Nothing that is worthwhile is easy and the confusion will clear if you ask God to lead you in His Word, I can assure you that He will.
God bless you.
I hold you up to Jesus and will be in agreement with you that He give you understanding as you search for truth.
In Christ,
James |
