A
adf417
Guest
I respectfully ask Protestant to give me their take on ths please.
How does a Protestant determine which scriptures are meant literal vs. which ones are meant symbolic, metaphorical, or any other figures of speech? Is there different levels of belief involved w/ determining this?
Without getting into doctrinal issues, from where I stand, I see three basic levels of Christian belief that “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ”
1st There is the basic level where I put the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the like, that have a very basic belief of Jesus but will ultimately remove the Deity by any means. Most people would not consider this to be a Christian belief, but apparently it is at a certain level. I correlate this very basic level to the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus’s disciples began to believe in him.
2nd I see the general Protestant grouping that will take it to the next level. This level includes all of the 1st level but much more. Protestant belief is deeper and hold Jesus to the highest standards. I correlate this level to when Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah.
3rd I see the Catholic/Orthodox/Lutheran grouping that will take it even farther. It seems to me this group believes Jesus as much as the 1st two groups with the added belief of the Eucharist. This level would take us to Pentecost – the ultimate level of belief where everything begins to make sense to the deciples.
If a Protestant, on his own, thinking for himself, influenced by the Holy Spirit, can interpret parts of John chapter 6 as symbolic, what keeps him from migrating into either level 1 or level 3? The key for me seems to be in the figures of speach, no?
Peace to all!!!
How does a Protestant determine which scriptures are meant literal vs. which ones are meant symbolic, metaphorical, or any other figures of speech? Is there different levels of belief involved w/ determining this?
Without getting into doctrinal issues, from where I stand, I see three basic levels of Christian belief that “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ”
1st There is the basic level where I put the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the like, that have a very basic belief of Jesus but will ultimately remove the Deity by any means. Most people would not consider this to be a Christian belief, but apparently it is at a certain level. I correlate this very basic level to the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus’s disciples began to believe in him.
2nd I see the general Protestant grouping that will take it to the next level. This level includes all of the 1st level but much more. Protestant belief is deeper and hold Jesus to the highest standards. I correlate this level to when Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah.
3rd I see the Catholic/Orthodox/Lutheran grouping that will take it even farther. It seems to me this group believes Jesus as much as the 1st two groups with the added belief of the Eucharist. This level would take us to Pentecost – the ultimate level of belief where everything begins to make sense to the deciples.
If a Protestant, on his own, thinking for himself, influenced by the Holy Spirit, can interpret parts of John chapter 6 as symbolic, what keeps him from migrating into either level 1 or level 3? The key for me seems to be in the figures of speach, no?
Peace to all!!!