The United States has survived for over 200 years because of its
constitution.  To be more precise, this country has survived based
upon the words of the constitution.  No one today, unless they
proclaim to be an atheist, lives without believing in some word of
somebody's.  you may not believe in the Word of the Bible, or what
is referred to as the Word Of God, but you believe in somebody's
word.  In other words, you haven't just made up your own idea but
what you believe and live by came from someone else and what they
believe.  In the case of the United States citizen, he believes in
the basic wording of the constitution.  Yes, he can choose not to
believe in everything the constitution says but he cannot, if he
plans to live in this country, choose to break its laws without
suffering the results.  Interestingly enough, the U S constitution
protects your rights to believe any way you wish but again, if you
break its laws, the government upon which the constitution is
based, will punish you.  In short, the constitution of the United
States is the final word.  Of course, we have a supreme court who
decides on matters of application of the interpretation of the
constitution but again, the constitution is the final word upon
what is right and wrong for U S citizens.  the Bible works in the
same way.  it is God's final Word on all that governs a Christians
life.  It is not a matter of personal interpretation but it may be
a matter of personal application based upon your interpretive
methods.  Many people today think you can interpret the Bible any
way you wish.  This is untrue.  The Bible interprets itself, if
studied systematically, and thus the personal application can
become standardized.  For example, the Bible clearly states how
one becomes a Christian, that is, the doctrine of eternal
salvation is easily discerned from Scriptural evidence.  Those who
have chosen to tamper with Biblical interpretive methods sometimes
think that the only way you can become a Christian and enjoy a
relationship with God is to join their church.  Of course, The
bible does not say what church is the right church but it does say
who is the right and only way to salvation and how you experience
that salvation.  Then, too, the Bible clearly states the existence
of Heaven and Hell.  Some may choose to believe there is no Heaven
or Hell but this does not negate the validity of the Biblical
record and God's feelings on the matter.  It is also true that
some pick and choose what they wish to believe from the Bible but
those that do so are simply stating they do not wish to live by
everything they find in the Bible.  This is, of course, their
right.  Those who choose to believe only certain parts of the
bible likewise refuse to except the biblical evidence that the
Word of God is inspired by the writers whom God chose to express
his Word.  If one, however, does not accept the Bible as the Word
of God, then license is given to pick and choose as one wills.
If, on the other hand, one comes to the realization that the Bible
is truly the Word of God, his view of the Bible will be far
different in all matters of daily life.  One may ask, then why are
there so many different interpretations and so many different
religions.  The answer is obvious.  Is the bible the Word of God?
Those who believe the Bible was just written by men who didn't
have anything better to do with their time will likely just think
its a nice book but nothing to take seriously.  Those who pick and
choose what they like, and don't like, will be confused in
personal application of Biblical principals and doctrine.  Those
who claim biblical authority, that is, those who except by faith
the bible is the Word of God, will begin to attempt to understand
Scriptural considerations as it applies to their daily life.  In
other words, they will take the bible and then apply it personally
to their life.  Another way of saying this is considering the
Bible as a measuring device.  The Bible believing Christian
measures his life based upon what the Bible says.  If the bible,
therefore, says thou shalt not steal, he will believe stealing is
wrong.  If it says, thou shalt not commit adultery, he will
likewise believe it is wrong to commit adultery.  Of course, I
could continue by offering dozens of other such ideas but by now
you get my meaning.  The real issue is this.  Do you believe the
Bible to be the infallible inerrant Word of God.  If not, we have
no bases for personal application.  If, on the other hand, you say
that you do believe the Bible is God's eternal Word, then we can
get down to exactly how the bible is interpreted.  There are valid
methods of interpretation of the Scriptures just as there are
scientific methods used to determine fact from theory.  This is
true when interpreting any language or document.  But who has the
last word, you say?  God, of course.

Phil.


I Flew Kites With Jesus
www.SafePlaceFellowship.com