Dangerous? Perhaps in one sense, but in another there is the problem of simply accepting only the literal meaning when another meaning exists, or the problem of following the meanings provided by any expert, or church group, or pastor, or minister, or evangelist without digging deeper. The digging is not speaking only or such alternatives or even of our own logical study of the scriptures yourself.
amadeus,
It is dangerous when any Bible interpreter does not deal with the plain, literal meaning of the text, which allows for symbols, figures of speech such as metaphors, parables, etc.
So, how do you find the meaning of the Greek, πειρασμός (peirasmos) in the NT to translate it into English? Are you going to rely on the deeper meaning you recommend or will you turn to specialist Greek lexicons and word studies to find the meaning?
So what is the solution for a simple believer who does not know all of the scriptures that well. Many of them will simply go the way of their presumed leaders, which usually would consist of the ministers in the place they attend church if they do. The ones who don't or won't do that are perhaps the ones for which you express concern, although the ones that do may also miss the mark.
The leaders/preachers of the church should be teaching them this biblical standard: 'Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and
examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true' (Acts 17:11 NIV).
Any Christian leader worth his or her salt should be teaching all believers (incl. simple believers) and he has to,
'
14Keep reminding
God’s people of these things.
Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth (2 Tim 2:14-15 NIV, emphasis added).
Timothy was ministering to the church in Ephesus (2 Tim 1:18; 4:12) when Paul wrote to him. As a leader, Timothy was told that he was to be one 'who correctlly handles the word of truth' as he reminded and warned 'God's people'. There is no distinction here among high IQ or 'below average basic intelligence'.
God did not give above average IQs to all people. As a matter of fact those with above average IQs are more likely to miss out with God because they have such a gift than those of only average or below average basic intelligence. Man's logical brain does at times get in the way of understanding the Way of God. For this reason the correct Way to proceed is always by faith rather than by knowledge.
You seem to have a blockage against those with higher IQ when there are many people with lower IQ in western and non-western culture who are worshipping other gods. Those with any IQ can have a blockage because they 'suppress the truth in their unrighteousness' (Rom 1:18). No IQ is exempt from that category.
For the individual believer that I meet and when I am asked or impressed by God to do so, I will provide advice according to what I know or believe for that person. For one person my advice may at times differ from advice given to another.
What is your advice based on? From where does that advice come?
No black and white rules that apply to everyone. Everyone needs to, in the way God prescribes for that person, strive to go the God's Way. If a person really seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteous [Matt 6:33], will God mislead him? I think not. Sometimes it may look like it to us, but how well are we able to see what is in everyone else's person's heart?
Did I properly address or answer your question?
I'm sure glad I'm not of your persuasion: 'No black and white rules that apply to everyone'. There most certainly are black and white rules for all people. In your compendium of rules, is it legal
- to murder,
- to steal,
- to lie,
- give false testimony,
- to commit adultery,
- to be a paedophile or an illicit drug dealer, serve other gods and get into God's kingdom,
- to engage in fraud & extortion;
- promote terrorism and become a terrorist,
So there are no black and white rules for you, but there definitely are for me.
Did you answer my question? To which question are you referring?
Oz