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."
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