It is true we have seen how dangerous a church or state theocracy can be. There has to be a balance between protecting the truth versus false teachings.
If we get too heretical, we will see the dangers that the Roman Catholic or Calvin produced with harming any opposition.
Martin Luther had the minority opinion and it provided the opportunity for a reformation or great schism that allowed truth to prevail.
We must always realize most of us are all looking at the same book and we all are not perfect in interpretation.
We must give the freedom to debate and grace to differ on minor beliefs.
yep agree on all You said
the thing is in my own view individual interpretation is always wrong , but if we allow the witness of the law and prophets and epistles into our thinking letting what we learn “ interpret “ the gospel we’re going to find simplicity and faith built on what God said , rather than what the newest author of the latest “miraculous grace book “ or the latest “ secret keys to the kingdom book “
Gods word makes it easy to grasp the gospel you see the same echoes through the law prophets psalms epistles and even revelation everything points to Jesus and his teachings , having faith in him hearing his words in the gospel but hearing his words as of we understand he is the Lord our only savior
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that
ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”
Isaiah 43:10-13
what he was saying then was so we might hear this and believe it is he and it invites us to believe in Jesus and hear his word of eternal life
“My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
I and my Father are one.”
John 10:27-30 KJV
if we just pray and ask the lord to help us understand his word better every time we study and when we pray ask him to help us apply the new understanding to life he will answer, with that inner strength and peace only he can give.
only Jesus and the spirit can really give us understanding but often we want to give everyone else our understanding , rather than sharing the gospel Jesus preached which is Gods understanding
what I’m saying is
if we don’t interpret away anything and let the Bible do it for us it always leads somewhere very sensible within the bounds of scripture and reconciles one scripture and what it’s saying to another and what it’s saying .
And also usually leads to another open door to understand another aspect as we grow and move forward
What I mean is if we stay here
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32 KJV
“Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
“For
I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that
his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
John 12:49-50 KJV
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:18-20
If we set anchor in The gospel Jesus preached and sent to all Nations for anyone who believes . everything else makes sense in time but we learn and grow by faith , as we
learn from Jesus how to walk after him and
rest in his provision for our salvation and perfection thereafter in glory beyond death .
For now his great forebearance towards us , his covenant of mercies renewed each day towards his followers and believers of his name. Offering us repentance and remission of sins in his name
I’m just meaning to say there’s very little interpretation of we find the correct order and authority of who’s who in the Bible Jesus first , everyone else is witnessing of him and the time he would come ( ot) when he came won victory and returned to heaven (gospel) or after he sent the Holy Ghost back to the hearts and minds of his believers on earth ( epistles) really the whole Bible is about Gods plan to redeem creation through Jesus.