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Discussing Difficult Bible Passages
Over the last couple of months I have had some conversations with various people about passages in the bible that they find difficult to understand or difficult to reconcile with their understanding of God. Some of us can go for years without being disturbed or confused by something and then all of a sudden a passage hits them and their confidence is shaken. Others come to passages, wrestle with them and come to an understanding for themselves. Still others talk with people or even enroll in theology courses to gain a better understanding. Some just get stuck. I thought this would be a good place to have a conversation and share some insights.
I am inviting you to leave a comment listing the bible passage(s) that you have found difficult. You may want to just put up the reference or the reference and a particular question or difficulty. I will have a go at responding to all of them - I don't promise to solve everything but at least I hope to be able to point to a way forward. In addition, I look forward to your insights or understandings of various passages that you have come to. Lets share our questions and our insights.
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David Wanstall, 4/24/2008 |
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| | | Chris Cass (Guest) | 04/25/2008 14:18 | Matt 9: 16-17:
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skin will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
Please, what might this mean?
| | | | Malcolm Pryor | 04/25/2008 15:09 | I'm really glad that you did the beattitudes last week, because I would have nominated them for this! :) The meek are not looking good to inherit the earth at this stage ... :)
I know there are some passages that I want to 'query' and I'll come back with them in coming days.
| | | | David Wanstall | 04/27/2008 21:48 | The context of Matt 9:16-17 is in verse 14 when the practices of Jesus' disciples are contrasted with those of John the Baptist disciples and those of the Pharisees. It seems to me that whenever God moves the people involved in those moves develop practices that contain that move - whether it is the quiet meetings of quakers, the class meetings of methodists, or the bands/uniforms of the Salvation Army. If you like they become the containers/wineskins/clothes for that move of God's Spirit. Unfortunately sometimes the particular form of clothing can become too important or not flexible enough to contain the next move of God. So when it comes there is often conflict and sometimes splits. However over time the new move develops new 'clothes' - they may be fresher and more flexible but they are just containers and often contain similar elements (like fasting). The challenge is to remain flexible to new moves while being humble enough to learn from the wisdom developed in past moves.
| | | | Andrew Northfield | 02/15/2009 14:04 | Matthew 5:39 has been a challenge for years, particularly the bit about "Do not resist an evil person". I understand that returning hate for hate multiplies hate and that only love can drive out hate but it is the passivity of not resisting evil that I think I struggle with. Can you shed some light on this passage.
| | | | south (Guest) | 02/02/2012 02:29 | hi??
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