How do you check your belief in God’s ways for accuracy?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,526
2,608
113
#41
It Is scripture that gives us right and wrong, not the culture of any time. What the culture tells us is what the scripture is addressing. As an example, there are scriptures about how long men should wear their hair. It is important that we know the culture of the time and what it meant in that culture to have long hair.
When posthuman said it was important to examine cultural thinking, I don't think he was addressing morals.
I think he just meant to examine the cultural thinking of the historical works we're studying, so we understand what we're reading.

You said we should study history, and I think he was just adding to that, and saying we should also pay attention to the culture of historical writings. Cultural insights often help us to understand what people MEAN when they say certain things. It just helps us to avoid misunderstandings. (It's like when my first British friend asked for chips and I brought him Doritoes. I just didn't understand him.)

I ran into this a lot when studying Karl Marx.
His fans say he's accused of saying things he never said, and that's true... sort of.
He simply used strange euphemisms for things, which, without some study, we'd never understand.
So Karl Marx DID say all kinds of horrible things, but you only get that if you first study HIM PERSONALLY, to see HOW HE EXPRESSED HIMSELF.

I think we'd all agree that some cultural understanding helps us better evaluate what we're reading.

And I also think we'd all agree with you, when you said biblical truths are more important than culture.

.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,411
13,754
113
#42
how do you choose which parts are true and which we know better in ?
Obviously, I take issue with the wording of your question, but that aside...

Consider whether the issue is relevant for all believers everywhere and everywhen, or whether it is only applicable to some believers in some places at some times, and consider whether the text might be addressing something culturally specific and therefore may have limited applicability. Generally, you assume that the text is specific in its original application and broad in its general applicability unless you have good reason to think otherwise. In the case I cited, it's the latter.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,111
3,687
113
#43
Obviously, I take issue with the wording of your question, but that aside...

Consider whether the issue is relevant for all believers everywhere and everywhen, or whether it is only applicable to some believers in some places at some times, and consider whether the text might be addressing something culturally specific and therefore may have limited applicability. Generally, you assume that the text is specific in its original application and broad in its general applicability unless you have good reason to think otherwise. In the case I cited, it's the latter.
Give some examples where the Apostle Paul gave specific instructions to a church, that does not apply today?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#44
I think we'd all agree that some cultural understanding helps us better evaluate what we're reading.

And I also think we'd all agree with you, when you said biblical truths are more important than culture.

.
Finally!!! A man who understands what I am saying and not going off on tangents. WE use the study of culture to help us understand biblical truths, God created us, God is the ultimate of truth.

The church has accepted culture instead of God and doesn't realize it. It is time we learn to put God first and find out where the church went off on the wrong tractk.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,111
3,687
113
#45
Finally!!! A man who understands what I am saying and not going off on tangents. WE use the study of culture to help us understand biblical truths, God created us, God is the ultimate of truth.

The church has accepted culture instead of God and doesn't realize it. It is time we learn to put God first and find out where the church went off on the wrong tractk.
Does the Bible ever instruct believers to go outside the Bible and dive into cultural truth to aid our understanding of the Bible?

I get all I need from Scripture...just my opinion.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,411
13,754
113
#46
Give some examples where the Apostle Paul gave specific instructions to a church, that does not apply today?
That's a carefully crafted question, also known as "bait". I'm not playing. : )
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
#47
Give some examples where the Apostle Paul gave specific instructions to a church, that does not apply today?
I guess the most popular one would be "Women should not speak in church"? :)
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#48
Does the Bible ever instruct believers to go outside the Bible and dive into cultural truth to aid our understanding of the Bible?

I get all I need from Scripture...just my opinion.
Then why aren't you following scripture?
 

Dan_473

Senior Member
Mar 11, 2014
9,054
1,051
113
#49
Does the Bible ever instruct believers to go outside the Bible and dive into cultural truth to aid our understanding of the Bible?

I get all I need from Scripture...just my opinion.
Hi John,

I think that possibly it does

1 Corinthians 11: 14. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?


Acts 17: 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
-----as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
#50
Comparing scripture with scripture and it does not contradict.....context and honesty solves ALL issues of disagreement........

ALSO.......no one can understand the word correctly unless they have been born again from above <---The natural man cannot receive and or discern the word........and there is but ONE correct message of salvation <--the point is obvious.....!!
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#51
Hi John,

I think that possibly it does

1 Corinthians 11: 14. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?


Acts 17: 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
-----as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Finally!!! A man who understands what I am saying and not going off on tangents. WE use the study of culture to help us understand biblical truths, God created us, God is the ultimate of truth.

The church has accepted culture instead of God and doesn't realize it. It is time we learn to put God first and find out where the church went off on the wrong tractk.
It went off track early on. Did you ever find out who the nicolaitians were in the book of .revelation.