“The Bible Says it. I believe it. And that settles it.”
I often hear that as the fallback position of many Christians when it comes to defending their faith. That sounds good and holy, but that does not always fly as TRUTH.
The Bible says a lot of things which, when taken out of context, can be made to sound true. But sounding like Truth and BEING the Truth are not the same thing. Context is everything.
Context is defined as “the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.” The Luciferian LEFT loves to take statements…something someone said…out of context and ascribe to the statement a meaning that was not at all what the person said.
For instance, JUDGE NOT, is a statement that we often hear when we are pointing out where someone might be doing something that we believe to be wrong. Jesus never said not to judge, He said be careful HOW you judge.
As a result, many believe that Christians are wrong to judge others because the statement is out of context. Here is what He actually said…in context.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Jesus was referring to HYPOCRITICAL judgement. In other words, to criticize someone while you are doing the same thing. OF COURSE we are to judge…we do it all the time. IN fact, you are judging what you are reading right now. Only a fool or a weak Christian does not judge.
Be careful, for Scripture, taken OUT of context can make the Scripture mean something it does not actually say.
Here is a list of CHRISTIAN Denominations. There are currently 45,000 different ones. NOT CHURCHES. DENOMINATIONS. Remember your 2nd grade math…long division? Numerator and denominator? The denominator was the number by which the whole number was divided. Hence CHRISTIAN denominations are separate VERSIONS of Christianity.
The 44,000 denominations all profess to be Christians, yet they denominate (divide) over what the Bible says. That is how we end up with Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, etc. They DON’T agree on what the Bible says. Some things in the Bible are not clear and are open to interpretations. Baptism, communion, gifts of the Spirit, function of the church, role of the Holy Spirit, healing, tongues, feasts, and end times are some of the issues that Christians divide over. Check this site out.
Yet, every denomination can show why what THEY believe is the TRUTH. They all read the same Bible, but disagree on what it actually teaches. Hence, The Bible Says it. I believe it. And that settles it is not actually true.
All Christian denominations are part of the Christian RELIGION. Religion is simply a belief in a Supernatural God. THEOLOGY is the great divider. OLOGY is defined as “the study of” while THEOS means God. So, theology is simply “the study of God.”
Denominations are the problem. Paul warned us “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife’s.” Division within the body of Christ because “strifes,” are hindering the advancement of the Gospel. The Prophet Amos asked a very simple question:
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Much of what you and I have been taught is mere speculation based on the opinions of man.
I host a daily podcast where we openly discuss the things that we believe. There are no sacred cows. We ask the question “who told you some of the things you believe and why have you not investigated it more deeply?” For instance, WHO are the Jews and are they God’s chosen people? Is there anyone in Heaven today? Did speaking in tongues cease? Are we supposed to always obey the government? Does God love everybody? What do Christians DO? Once saved always saved? Is there a Rapture of the church? Is God pro-choice? What we find out often shocks us.
Nothing is too sacred to discuss and after 2118 weekday broadcasts most of us are still friends.
Who taught you what you believe? Where did he learn it? Have you always been in the same denomination your whole life? If the Bible says it and that settles it why aren’t some of these issues settled? Where did your Pastor learn what he is teaching you? Aren’t you curious?
Is there any wonder America is such a divided nation. Heck we cannot even get the Christians to agree on what is true. Jesus warned us that “if the blind leadeth the blind they both end up in a ditch.” It is time to start digging our way out.
“Not everyone who says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom.” Evidently some folks who claim to be following Jesus are missing the boat.
“What is Truth?” That is what Pontius Pilate asked Jesus on the night He was sentenced to death. Jesus never replied. Pilate was looking into the face of the incarnation of Truth and he was unable to recognize it.
Ronald Reagan exhorted us to “Trust, but verify.” If it is a good axiom for politics, wouldn’t it be even more imperative for the things of the Spirit? Are you content to blindly follow what the hireling in the pulpit tells you? Are you sure that other denomination has got it wrong?
Only the Truth makes you free, Jesus told us. Doesn’t Truth matter to you? Are you comfortable believing things that are not True? Is it possible that some of the things your “church” teaches is not true?
Jude, the half-brother of Jesus warned us that “evil men have crept in unawares and changed the Truth of God into a lie…” Crept in where? What did they change? How do we recognize the imposters? Interesting, eh?
I was taught from an early age that Mary was ever Virgin. But a reading of the Bible shows Jesus had siblings? How can that be? Is somebody is pulling my leg. Check this out.
The Bible says it. I believe it…but it is far from settled. We all need to “study to show thyself approved.”
Broad is the way and narrow is the gate…many come, FEW find it. What if what you have been taught is not true? Are you ok with that?
Only the TRUTH will make you free. One God. 45,000 denominations. Trust but verify.
After reading this blog, I have a newfound understanding and appreciation for context in interpreting the Bible. So often, people use verses to support their own beliefs without considering the context in which they were written. Thank you, Coach Dave Daubenmire, for shedding light on the true meaning of “Judge not” and the importance of context in understanding Scripture. It’s eye-opening to realize that there are so many Christian denominations because of disagreements over interpretations, rather than truly following the teachings of Jesus. I will definitely keep this in mind when studying the Bible and discussing my faith with others. Keep spreading the truth!