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Symbolic Meanings
mercie:
--- Quote from: mcmiller ---Thanks for the replies.
I'm afraid, though, that I may have burried my real question too deeply in the body of my original post.
My first dilema is to be able to determine when we should look for a deeper spiritual meaning for words we find in the bible and when are they to be taken as-is?
Secondly, if a term has spiritual significance, does it always have the same meaning?
Christianity has for the most part taken everything stated in the bible as literal with virtually no deeper spiritual meaning. This is more than a nitche, it is a ditch. On the other hand, I think we run the risk of getting into the other ditch by trying to apply some deep spiritual meaning to every word in the bible.
Where is the balance, and we are encouraged to be balanced in all things.
Mark
--- End quote ---
Great illustration Daniel.
:D
mercie:
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver ---Hi Mark,
This is the beauty of His Word, we have discussed this in other threads, the richness, the texture, the layers of Truths that can be mined are infinite.
We can find verses that when taken literally can help us to lead a healthier happier life here and now but at the same time provide spiritual food, giving us meat for spiritual growth, prophecy too can have a physical and spiritual fulfilment being just as true on multiple levels.
The Word of the Lord is more amazing the longer we seek it, I have found that the more I learn the more I am aware of what I don't know.
Excellent topic,
Joe
--- End quote ---
Joe.
I do believe the layers unfold piece by piece , almost building a Spiritual vocablary where each word holds a literal meaning and in the same breath a spiritual one, which can also be said of how certain phrases work
by comparrison.
This maybe the reason when somebody uses scripture in expressing a certain understanding its not first seen by some( double de Gook), all relative to how we understand Hellfire is not ET and many Do not in that God Spirit is one which heals infirmities and does not destroy.
Just seeing one side of the word as using Christendom for example blinds a greater Spiritual one.
The problem arises when one may only see the literal word and another may see its meaning by comparing the with the Spiritual with the Spiritual.
Just FOR example.
Satan is compared WITH Fowls of the air in the parable of the Sower.
Are the Riches of the Rich man REALLY WEALTH in Math 19, Could this man just be another pharisee where some may see Him just as a Rich man.
Daniel has given a great example in how we are to see things.
Thanks again Daniel.
ciy:
The rich,young ruler is all of us. We are all rich and carnal. I do not believe it is talking about a gate it is saying it is impossible for man to do anything to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Saying a prayer, raising your arms, moving a little finger or blinking an eye. It is simply by God's grace which I know all of you know better than I. We all must give up everything we have and give it to others in order to give up this life or to give up love of this world. Show me one disciple or "main player" in the bible that did not give up their worldly life to follow the calling of God. The disciples were not part time fisherman or tax collectors and part time preachers. Moses did not hang around trying to stay in the world and the wilderness at the same time. David hung it out there for about 13 years. Elisha burned his plow and killed the oxen, Joseph prison, etc. Odd how we try to reason with our own understanding and think well "God cannot mean THAT! it does not make sense I have always been a business owner and I will work God into my schedule".
It has always puzzled me why Paul was a part time preacher with a tentmaking business on the side. Then to find out that tents can be tabernacles then it made sense Paul went around telling people that they are the new tabernacles.
One other thing. I have been well off and I have been broke and I believe that the broke love money and make it an idol before God in many respects more than the rich do. The rich think they do not have to depend on God for money and the poor depend on God for money. It is really amazing how God did this. It is not about the rich in money or the poor in money. The rich man is the old man and the poor or meek man is the new man. The bible is always talking about us. Every character in the bible is us. All the psalms are about us getting rid of that old outer man who is profitting in his way and we say "how long?" must I have that carnal Cain leading me. I hear a lot of people today saying "Now if you are rich you probably are not chosen because only a few will be chosen" Who is it that says what is rich? Is $45000 per year, $65000 per year, $100000 per year or if I have $200000 in my 401k at what point do I become rich. Impossible for anyone to say, but yet many spend a lot of time trying to condemn the rich man when the rich man is us. The key is to be joyful and seeking God whether you are rich or poor, but the condition surely has nothing to do with whether you one of the chosen or not.
I am speaking to myself here more than you all. Please do not anyone take this as anything other than me trying to sort it out and maybe some food for thought.
ciy
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