This is idealism, but it is not truth. This is not what Jesus said: “Just try your best to figure it out and whatever fits for you, that’s what it means.”

That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry I can’t explain myself better to you.

If we’re seeking God, and of a contrite and humble spirit, then despite our own interpretations and bad ideas, I believe God will get through to the believer what needs to be ‘got’ by them.

I’m simply saying I trust God to teach me what I need to know, when I need to know it. And I hope to actively pursue that principle in my life. I trust God not to lead me astray, and to keep me in check. I dunno, call it simple. Whatever.

I bet you don’t disagree though, hm?

We as born again believers are supposed to live like Jesus and spread His gospel. All the parables present a principle concerning God’s kingdom and they are both object lessons concering truth and templates for us to follow. But no parable can establish a doctrine purely on its own and without the support of epistle teachings.

The parables, without epistel revelation, can be manipulated to fit one’s own doctrinal preference.

I have found that philosophy would be without purpose if it did not seek to make the simple a profound conundrum.

We have a similar statement in high-tech sales: “If you can’t convince’em, confuse’em.” And a lot of the time people buy.

I think these scriptures aptly apply to how some, such as Rollins, and others as well, should be viewed:

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.

Vain babbling.

I have to believe that when it comes down to it with interpretation of parables, metaphors, and even precise statements, that God is able to communicate effectively what needs to be heard by us humans, despite ourselves and our bad ideas.

This is idealism, but it is not truth. This is not what Jesus said: “Just try your best to figure it out and whatever fits for you, that’s what it means.”

Rather:

“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”

We arrive back, not at scholarship and excellence, but God’s mercy in illuminating an otherwise darkened mind.

It’s like when talking about whether the Bible is true or not…either we believe God is able to communicate with humanity despite the best efforts to the contrary by history, time, evil machinations, etc. or He is unable. Since Jesus said His words will never pass away, I believe that despite any problems that have come up in the past 2000+ years, that God can still tell me what I need to know, through the Bible.

I think the same thing goes for confused interpretations.

“The parable of the mustard seed grasps this. It speaks of a seed becoming a tree that will provide a nest of birds. The traditional interpretation is that this tiny movement will become an institution that will house people. But then there is another interpretation which says that the birds of the air are symbols of evil. In this reading, the movement will grow into an institution that will house that which stands opposed to God. What if neither interpretation is true but rather they both are?”

Such illumination makes the issue of faith, which is the principle addressed by Jesus, so much clearer. I have found that philosophy would be without purpose if it did not seek to make the simple a profound conundrum.

Brilliant.

It might not be over… Friday afternoon usually moves to “ghost town” mode around 4 or 5…

Carry on… Ignorance is bliss…