Denominational Hermeneutics
The interpretation of Scripture, otherwise known as "Hermeneutics" varies within just about every denomination. I was reading about it today, and here is a pretty good illustration...
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IF the phrase, "THE CAT SAT ON THE MAT" was in the Bible, this is how it might be interpreted:
The Liberal theologians would say, the cat didn't really sit on the mat... it's just an expression. Furthermore, cat and mat had different meanings back then, and it should be interpreted according to the customs and practices of that time period.
The Evangelicals would make an essential condition of faith that a real physical, living cat, being a domestic pet of the Felix Domesticus species, and having a whiskered head and furry body, four legs and a tail, did physically place its whole body on a floor covering.
The Catholics would develop a holiday called the 'Festival of the Blessed Cat'. This day would teach about how the cat was naturally white, and the mat was made out of gold, and how the cat eventually ascended into heaven. The ceremony would require the mandatory lighting of 5 candles, and the ringing of bells 3 times.
The Orthodox Church would immediately break away from the Catholic Church saying, scripture mandates that 6 candles be lit, and the bell should ring 4 times.
And eventually... the Southern Baptists will say, the cat actually dunked it's whole body in water and was fully submerged... before it came up out of the water, and sat on the mat. Therefore, we must do the same.
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So which view is correct? Most people in Church will believe whatever they're told. It's not even an issue.
Here's what I think; GOD gave us Scripture for a reason. If He didn't mean what He wrote, He wouldn't have written it. So I think we should take God's word at face value. As I previously stated... when it comes to doctrine, I believe the only thing worse than legalism is liberalism.
Now about legalism... If GOD actually required more than what the Scripture says... I think He would have wanted us to know, and I think He would have been clear about it.
"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." -- Hosea 6:4
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IF the phrase, "THE CAT SAT ON THE MAT" was in the Bible, this is how it might be interpreted:
The Liberal theologians would say, the cat didn't really sit on the mat... it's just an expression. Furthermore, cat and mat had different meanings back then, and it should be interpreted according to the customs and practices of that time period.
The Evangelicals would make an essential condition of faith that a real physical, living cat, being a domestic pet of the Felix Domesticus species, and having a whiskered head and furry body, four legs and a tail, did physically place its whole body on a floor covering.
The Catholics would develop a holiday called the 'Festival of the Blessed Cat'. This day would teach about how the cat was naturally white, and the mat was made out of gold, and how the cat eventually ascended into heaven. The ceremony would require the mandatory lighting of 5 candles, and the ringing of bells 3 times.
The Orthodox Church would immediately break away from the Catholic Church saying, scripture mandates that 6 candles be lit, and the bell should ring 4 times.
And eventually... the Southern Baptists will say, the cat actually dunked it's whole body in water and was fully submerged... before it came up out of the water, and sat on the mat. Therefore, we must do the same.
------------------------------------
So which view is correct? Most people in Church will believe whatever they're told. It's not even an issue.
Here's what I think; GOD gave us Scripture for a reason. If He didn't mean what He wrote, He wouldn't have written it. So I think we should take God's word at face value. As I previously stated... when it comes to doctrine, I believe the only thing worse than legalism is liberalism.
Now about legalism... If GOD actually required more than what the Scripture says... I think He would have wanted us to know, and I think He would have been clear about it.
"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." -- Hosea 6:4
posted by Sunny Shih at
10:15 PM
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