Can We All Understand the Bible Alike?

It is not a novel idea, but one worth noting here, that the church is being challenged today by subjectivism. It is specifically challenging as it relates to one’s understanding of the Scripture. It’s the philosophy that says, “you believe what you want to believe, and I’ll believe what I want to believe, and while we’re both trying to get to the same place, what you believe is o.k. and what I believe is o.k..”

While we could focus our attention on why we believe what we believe and why denominations believe what they believe, I want us to concentrate on differences within the church itself. Can New Testament Christians understand the Bible alike?

Within the churches of Christ we are divided, and splintered over different views in matters of doctrine—the Holy Spirit; marriage, divorce, and remarriage; worship; fellowship; and, the list goes on and on. Is there a right and wrong answer with respect to such subjects? If one’s view is not the same as mine, can we not both be right? Let’s take it a step further—can we both go to heaven?

It’s important to note that the division that takes place over such issues as mentioned above is not the result of a difference in understanding. Rather, it is a misunderstanding of the Scripture. The Book by which you and I will one day be judged is to important for us to misunderstand the doctrinal content that is found therein. For the purpose of this study, let’s consider some rules that will help us as we open our Bibles for the purpose of studying the great book handed down by the Almighty.

Study, Study, Study!
Though daily Bible reading is important, nothing will quench your spiritual appetite more than drinking deeply from each page—study the Book. It’s not easy. True Bible study is a “weariness of the flesh,” but a task worth the effort. David said, “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.” A statement that he followed up with, “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes” (Ps. 119:131,135). David had an insatiable desire to know the word of God and to be a student of God’s laws.

Add to that, study is something that continues on an ongoing basis. Education does not end when one receives his diploma. As many have often said, graduation is where true learning begins. As Christians, never will a day pass when we do not need the guidance of the Lord (Acts 8:30-31). That instruction comes from the Bible, and our successful living depends on daily Bible study.

Be Honest With Yourself
When one open’s the pages of God’s word, it is important that he do so without bias. The Bible was written by divinely, inspired men, and its message has one meaning. Peter, one of those men, said that “the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Prior thereto, Peter said, “Knowing this first, that no prophesy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Pt. 1:21,20). The only way to study God’s word is by being honest with one’s self and by being open to the possibility that what one has always believed may in fact not be what the Bible says.

Use Good Judgment
The Hebrews writer said, “…those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). In other words, when you fill yourself up with the knowledge of God’s word, use the good sense that God gave you to determine the truth between right and wrong. It is equally important to use the good common sense that God gives us when it comes to Bible study. We sometimes make the Bible hard to understand. When the fact of the matter is, what we might call the doctrinal elements of the book (i.e. marriage, salvation, worship, fellowship, etc.) are not difficult to understand at all.

Use Divine Reasoning and not Human Reasoning
By that I simply mean this, when studying the Book, do not insert your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. For instance, God said “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). The Bible says that the saved ones are those who believe and are baptized. Who are we to reach the “opinion” or have the “feeling” that as long as we accept Jesus through prayer we’ll be saved—after all, a great number of “believers” today, that’s what they did. Who are we to judge and say that they are lost?

What about this example? God said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and who marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Mt. 19:9). Who are we to theorize and rationalize ourselves into thinking that one can divorce and remarry for a cause other than fornication?

It is not up to us to reason why this and why that. We must simply do as we are told. There are no gray areas in matters of doctrine. Here’s a thought for you, “because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:25). The point is, who are we by human reasoning to question God?

Obviously there are a number of other areas that should concern those who are sincere about understanding the Bible the way that God intended. In your studies, remember the following: context; who is talking, and to whom is the writer talking; do not interpret one passage in a way that it contradicts another one.

May God help us to understand the Bible alike in matters of faith. God is not the author of confusion. His word can be understood. It is up to us to study and discover His message for our lives.