nPeace
Veteran Member
No Artist. It's not just the language and interpretation in how you read scripture.It's just the language and interpretation in how you read scripture.
It's misunderstanding, misinterpretation, misrepresentation, and in most cases, a deliberate twisting to fit a preconceived idea.
Surely you know that people do twist things to suit themselves and misinterpret, and misrepresent what others say.
Do you say, it's just... when people take your words and do those things, or have you never personally experienced that?
I think we should not forget that they are evil people who do things - including mislead others- for selfish reasons, and they are people who themselves are misled, and so misunderstand things.
We only have to read what was said of the Pharisees in Jesus day, to get a good example.
I mean, didn't these people call for the release of a know serious criminal, in exchange for the life of a man they knew was innocent!? How much more evil can one be.
There are wicked people today who couldn't care less about the truth of God's word, and they don't mind twisting scriptures... and then they are the mislead - misled (in most cases) because they do not yet really value truth.
You'll have to clarify what you mean when you say, "the difference between god and christ".Trinitarians can't see the difference between god and christ because everything christ says comes from god. So, they are treating the intermediary as the source because everything he says they say must come from the source word for word/concept for concept. To say they are different (human vs god) would be making that human like us and since they believe humans have a sinful nature, christ can't obviously be human. Only the prophets could speak for god but because jesus was the savior, they feel his connection with god makes him god. Most don't believe he is the creator.
I'm not sure whether you mean the difference between almighty God, and Christ, or a god (Godlike), and Christ.
If you are saying they cannot tell the difference between almighty God and Christ, because Christ represents God, I would have to suggest such individuals go back to elementary school, and learn the basics of what it means to represent, speak for, carry out the will of, someone.
Then they would need to learn the basics of son ship, ownership, and fatherhood, and other basic things.
After having that basic knowledge reading the Bible might be be a more productive and beneficial pursuit.
They would better understand basic expressions.
I understand that.Non-trinitarians see intermediary quite literally. They don't connect christ's nature with god just a spokesperson for him. So, they are talking about christ's role compared to god and their differences. The former is talking about christ's nature in conjunction with god.
Are you speaking of your own view, because we can then better relat, since I would understand your concept.
That would mean you are in agreement... to some extent, with @lostwanderingsoul, that Jesus is god, in the sense he is godlike.
So would that not be the same as saying Jesus is a god?
Now you are confusing your earlier statements - which all Trinitarians do. It can't be avoided.Scriptures that point to jesus being god is the popular father and I are one. Trinitarians see that the cobination of the two means they are each other-which is that's how it's read. They say the "one" means they are the same.
So explain please, bit by bit. break it down for me.
The combination of the two meaning what exactly? What are you combining... the individuals, God (the father) and Christ (the son)?
How are you combining them? Merging them into one entity? Why... and on what basis?
how do you get them to be each other?
Does this mean you are no longer speaking about nature?
How do you reconcile what you just said, with what you said earlier about nature?
In other words, believe what you will, as long as you feel comfortable with it... regardless. Is that it?It just makes sense. One person can't tell the difference between father and son and the other person can. Just their own interpretations of scripture verses and especially their personal experience. It would be odd for a trinitarian to feel closer to jesus if they believed jesus was not god regardless if he had the authority to speak for him.
I can agree with some things you are saying here. I too have experience that many, many, "Christians" can talk about doctrine without scripture. That's why it's false, and they are false, LOL. Didn't Jesus say that?But it's easier to talk about it without scripture. I know christians love their scripture but without thinking out the logic (or going word by word by scripture) of course you won't understand it. One takes it abstractly and the other literal. But if christians can't explain what they believe in their own words, it's kinda hard to see how they came to their conclusion and not the conclusion of the apostles and prophets.
In quoting Isaiah the prophet, Jesus said, "He said to them: “Isaiah aptly prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’ You let go of the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men.” (Mark 7:6-8)
Jesus went on to say to the Jews who had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32)
I understand that people express love in various ways. For example, two people may love a particular food, but express their love in various ways
One may savor the food
Another might gouge it.
Both love it, but the difference between the two, is that one is able to gain appreciation, while the other doesn't. To the latter, it may just be, "another belly full"
I think the same applies to where you said "without thinking out the logic (or going word by word by scripture) of course you won't understand it."
It does not have to be a case of whether it's literal, or figurative, what's important, is taking time to study meditatively, and prayerfully to understand what the author - God, is saying.
It is then, one can gain the understanding through the help of God's spirit, and his earthly organization.
(Acts 8:26-40)
Otherwise, yes, they come to their own conclusions, and not the apostles, and prophets.