letters to surfers

"In view of the hundreds of different interpretations among Christians, how can we know the truth?"

by Robert Brow (www.brow.on.ca)

When we go beyond the universally agreed framework of the Nicene Creed, I don't think God is troubled by alternative interpretations. Jesus for example used parables which are designed to be open-ended. He refused to give us the correct answer. This is an essential part of teaching by metaphor and imagery. Evangelicals have tended to be concerned to "prove" the correct interpretation of this or that point of exegesis or doctrine. But God allows us a freedom of exploration to examine alternatives, and out of the confusion of voices the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. It is our extreme fundamentalist friends who want to cut off the discussion before it starts by "We already know what is the correct answer. It is set out in our statement of faith and if you don't accept that we do not recognize you as a Christian."