Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!prometheus!pmk
From: pmk@prometheus.UUCP (Paul M Koloc)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: From Fig to finding a Candy Man
Message-ID: <280@prometheus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Oct-86 01:50:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: promethe.280
Posted: Tue Oct 14 01:50:21 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 08:08:54 EDT
References: <1156@cybvax0.UUCP> <258@prometheus.UUCP>
Reply-To: pmk@prometheus.UUCP (Super User)
Organization: Prometheus II, Ltd., College Park, MD 20740-0222
Lines: 86
Xref: linus talk.religion.misc:516 net.religion.christian:4869

>In article <2724@burdvax.UUCP> devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) writes:
>>Each scripture passage has only one correct interpretation, but may have 
>>many different applications.  You learn that in Hermeneutics 101.  You can't 
>>interpret a verse one way and someone else interpret it another way and have 
>>both interpretations be correct.  One must be wrong; both may be wrong.  

In article <3764@ism780c.UUCP> marty@ism780c.UUCP (Marty Smith) writes:
>A good point, Tom.  You should have stopped there.

Why stop?
I don't quite agree with the "one correct interpretation".  The
reason is that truth isn't reducible to just one set of words,
and it's difficult to confine it to a single concept.  It's also
difficult to "isolate a chunk of it" from other truth.  

So it's not so much that a different interpretation is incorrect
although that's possible, it can be that it simple expresses a
different blend.   

>>In Matthew 13 the disciples ASKED Him, "Why do you speak to the people in
>>parables?" and He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of
>>heaven has been given to you, but not to them.  Whoever has will be given
>>more, and will have a abundance.  Whoever does not have, even what he has
>>will be taken from him.  This is why I speak to them in parables:
>>	Though seeing, they do not see;
>>	though hearing, they do not hear or understand. ..."
>>It seems pretty clear that the reason Christ spoke in parables was to keep
>>hidden from unbelievers those truths which only the children of God could
>>understand.  It merely emphasizes the blindness of unbelief.

>This seems ludicrous.  You're saying Christ deliberately withheld the word of
>God from all people who couldn't understand what he was saying.  It is my
>belief that Christ wanted to reach everybody.  But, apparently, because I
>don't interpretate these parables correctly (as you claim there is but one
>absolutely correct interpretation), I have thus been condemned by Christ
>right out of the gate.

I don't think that such a conclusion is clear in the slightest and 
I agree that saying Christ deliberately withheld truth is ludicrous,
with one exception.  My understanding is that certain people have
"mental blocks" and still others are incapable of learning such 
principles because they have sociopathic personalities.  In those 
cases it is some deep seated feelings that "authority figures" are 
stupid, and that such "clap trap" is just so much jive to keep them in 
a position of power and to keep the "good stuff" away from the 
person.  So it's every one for himself, and it's really not too
difficult to defeat them.  

The exception has to do with "lying".  As I see it we must tell the
truth to those that have need of it and we are not reasonably certain
wouldn't misuse it.  For example, in WWII I would cleverly lie to the
Nazi SS who are seeking Jews, to both protect their lives and to
protect "truth".   Perhaps the human mind protects itself from truth 
it would misuse by developing "mental blocks".  

>>In many
>>places Jesus uses physical blindness as a picture of the state of the
>>unbeliever.  It's only when the Son of Man comes and removes the scales
>>from one's eyes that one can believe in Christ and receive His salvation.
>
>The scales from ones eyes?  I hope you didn't get that metaphor from the
>Bible. 

That's interesting, our souls are blind, now, but if we are to
"be in heaven", that is to be a saint or "saved" we must learn to
see the "good" in all things, and act accordingly (love).  Then we
should be in much better shape as far as what we can do as beings. 

>But anyway, you can't have it both ways.  First you say I
>cannot be saved, because Christ is deliberately not speaking to me.  Then
>you say I can be saved, if I will only open my eyes.  It is the unbelievers
>who need the saving.  Why withhold the truth from them?

I think there is a misunderstanding or a mistake here, Christ
speaks to all, but certainly, all of us aren't listening or at
least we all may not be paying attention.  

>I hope you're not accusing me of claiming to be an expert on Christ.  

Judging by your questions you are getting there fast  - two steps
forward.
+---------------------------------------------------------+--------+
| Paul M. Koloc, President: (301) 445-1075                | FUSION |
| Prometheus II, Ltd.; College Park, MD 20740-0222        |  this  |
| {umcp-cs | seismo}!prometheus!pmk; pmk@prometheus.UUCP  | decade |
+---------------------------------------------------------+--------+