Well, I dont agree with much of what you say, simply because all it takes it one look at the big range of 'Christian' religions that exist...and there are so many that exist, because all of them 'interpret' many things from the Bible, differently...if they all agree upon interpretations, there would not be all of these different 'Christian' religions...if the Bible was as clear cut and straightforward as you suggest, there would be only one Christian religion, where all Christians agreed with each other...I just dont see that existing today...
Anyway, altho we disagree on this, thanks for the conversation...
Well now you're begging the question. It is not that they interpret things differently. They have philosophies that cherrypick verses for what they can seem to say rather than what they do say - like what Carolina whatever his name is has been trying to do with what I wrote. He read more in than what was there in order to use it as a platform for attack.
It happens every day in politics right here on this forum. And you have, seemingly, no trouble in parsing what words mean when used by certain groups when it comes to politics. Yet you wish to claim it's too difficult when it comes to scripture..
The problem isn't in knowing all the groups, it's in knowing the scripture itself so well that when a group offers something that wreaks, you immediately know they're wrong.
I worked on Volkswagon Beetles for a number of years when I was younger. I stripped 18 of them completely from the ground up - for parts. At one point, I knew all the parts so well, that if you put a non-original part in front of me and tryed to say it was original, i could have told you it wasn't. I also could identify where individual bolts on the car went based on their size and length. There is no substitute for intimate familiarity.
As for your latter statement that if the Bible were clearcut there would be only one Christian religion.. it isn't that easy and you and I and everyone here knows that. Anything can and will be defrauded for power, money, ego, you name it. Christianity is no stranger to frauds who have sought both wealth and power because abusing Christianity can be Quite profitable. Afterall, followers are required to tithe 10% of their income in support of their ministers, teachers and mission work, etc. Doesn't take much imagination to figure that 10% of the income of, say, 5 Million people, is a lot of cash.. and power.
NIV Acts 2:36-42
36. "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
NIV Acts 4:2
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
NIV Acts 5:42
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
NIV Romans 12:6-9
6. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8. if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
NIV Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
NIV Romans 16:17
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
NIV 1 Corinthians 4:17
For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
NIV 1 Corinthians 11:1-2
1. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.
NIV Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
NIV 2 Thessalonians 2:15
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
NIV 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7
6. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
7. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.
NIV 1 Timothy 1:3-4
3. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
4. nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.
NIV 1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
NIV 1 Timothy 2:7
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
NIV 1 Timothy 4:1-2
1. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
NIV 1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
NIV 1 Timothy 4:9-11
9. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
10. (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
11. Command and teach these things.
NIV 1 Timothy 6:2-5
2. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
3. If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4. he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5. and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
NIV 2 Timothy 1:13
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
NIV 2 Timothy 2:1-2
1. You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
NIV 2 Timothy 2:15-18
15. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18. who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
NIV 2 Timothy 4:2-4
2. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
3. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
NIV Titus 1:9-11
9. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10. For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
11. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
NIV Titus 2:1
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
NIV Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.
NIV James 3:1
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
NIV 2 Peter 2:1-3
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
NIV 1 John 2:21-27
21. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
22. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son.
23. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
25. And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.
26. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
27. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.NIV 2 John 1:9-11
9. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
11. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
NIV Revelation 2:14-16
14. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
15. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
NIV Colossians 2:6-10
6. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
7. rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
9. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
10. and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.