What is the Bible telling you?

Author's note:  For quite a while I have generally tried to stay away from topics that openly and specifically advocate or criticize a specific religious perspective (i.e. Catholic, Baptist, etc.).  I now feel this is 'hiding' who I am.  I should not be ashamed of my beliefs or my perspectives. You may disagree with the topic or the perspective I am advocating and that is your choice, however this is something I believe is significant and led me to where I am today.  All I would ask that if you do read this, read it with an open mind.  And now, on to the post....


This is something that has been working through my mind for some time now, and I don't know that the idea or how I am presenting it is anything 'new' or original, but perhaps it bears repeating.

As I look across all the different 'Protestant' denominations, there is one thing that really causes me to wonder.  It has to do with two 'statements'.  They may both be used together, or just one.  1) They claim they are the 'true' church or the true expression of the 'New Testament Church', and 2)The Holy Spirit has given them the correct interpretation of Scripture.  I will say that when only one of these statements are used, it's the second.

I really don't know how someone would qualify the first statement, although it does tie to the second. But I'm not going to go there (I'm not a graduate theology student anyway).  It's the second statement that really interests me.  The thoughts that continue to run through my head are:  If all of those denominations were given their (often conflicting) interpretation by the Holy Spirit, then 1) why don't they agree, and 2) since they don't agree, wouldn't it suggest either the Holy Spirit is playing a mean trick on mankind perhaps there is some other issue?

Looking at this situation, I am reminded of the verse that ends the book of Judges (Judges 21:25) "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."    All of these different denominations are following an interpretation of scripture that is 'right' to them.  What is right and true when it comes to the Bible is not for an individual to decide.  The Bible (the New Testament in particular) was gathered in approximately 382 AD (or CE if you use that method), and the deciding authority for what was in and what was out was the one 'Church'.  The Church interprets the Bible, and the Bible is part of the Church.

Here's an illustration:  I can pick up a book of economics, and read through it and attempt to apply the principles on my own.  Odds are, that I will miss some information, and misinterpret other information.  If I take that same economics book, and go an economist, or even better the economist that wrote the book, I will be able to understand and apply the principles much better.  That person will be able to show me the underlying concepts in that book.  This idea is reflected in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:30-31 "30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him."  The Church is that guide.  The Church is the one who assembled and 'canonized' the Bible, it just may know something about the content.

I know, it's not popular, or nice to point out these kinds of things.  However, I am just making a statement of what I see.