From: joni@apollo.hp.com (Joni Sini)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: God's influence
Date: 19 Aug 92 04:18:03 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Chelmsford, MA

In article <Aug.14.03.30.56.1992.28696@athos.rutgers.edu>, jloucks@uts.amdahl.com (Jim Loucks) writes:
|> Loren Sanders (REX) and Scott Mayo have written some excellent
|> replies for Liang-Wen Chang or anyone searching for answers to
|> God's existence and influence. Thanks guys, that was good stuff.
|> 
|> Scott said something and I'm curious to know what he had in mind
|> at the time he wrote the following:
|> 
|> smayo@wang.com (Scott Mayo) writes:
|> >The Bible is not difficult to read. At least the New Testament isn't.
|> >Jesus spoke very simply, very directly. He taught that man is sinful,
|> >but could be forgiven. He taught that he offered the forgiveness of God.
|> >He taught some simple morality. I don't think Christians *have* to
|> >read between the lines to be saved, but I do admit that a lot of
|> >Christians seem to like reading between the lines. I say this to our shame.
|> 
|> Scott, I was wondering if you could expand on your thoughts regarding
|> Christians reading between the lines. What do you consider reading
|> between the lines? Were there specific issues you had in mind? Why do
|> you think some Christians do this?
|> 
|> I'm interested in hearing what Scott was thinking and what anyone
|> else considers reading between the lines, specific issues relating
|> to reading between the lines, and why you think some Christians do 
|> this.
|> 
|> -- 
|> Jim Loucks           jloucks@uts.amdahl.com 
|> {apple, pyramid, sun, uunet}!amdahl!jloucks

I agree wholeheartedly with Scott that "The Bible is not difficult to read.
At least the New Testament isn't." .   I dont know what he was thinking when
he refered to 'reading between the lines', but I can give you my view.

What I would refer to reading between the lines is when one 'adds to or takes
from" what is in context.  I have seen a scripture interpreted to be entirely
different (in my view) than what is printed, by adding 99% explanation to it.
Or by interpreting a verse, and applying that interpretation to another 
unrelated verse. I prefer to take things from context; if the verse is spoken
figuratively, (such as a parable) I accept it figuratively.  I have never
come across an idea/teaching/principle that wasnt repeated over and over. 
The NT, IMHO, has some basic ideas that repeat over and over, with many
of those ideas echos from the OT.

For example,I have been told that certain scripture (regarding the NT) 
applies to certain groups of people. That view was based on an interpretation 
of one verse applied to another unrelated verse, not extracted from the context.  
Such things as that I consider 'reading between the lines'.  

I would rather not bring up "specific issues" because I dont want 
to get sidetracked to that issue.  For now,  I'll just say that I have been 
told that the Bible clearly says "X", but I dont see it, and when I ask where
it is, I was given some verses glued together with alot of explanation. 
But when each verse is taken in context without the glue, they are not 
related. 

Why do some Christians do this ?  I dont know.  Because they have been
taught that way maybe.  

Joni Sini