Some people say, “Scripture interprets Scripture.” It might be more accurate to state that the Holy Spirit may clarify one verse of Scripture with another verse of Scripture.
God says something through Scripture about the human mind. The human heart (mind) is deceitful and desperately wicked. It can’t be trusted to interpret Scripture. We aren’t supposed to speak a vision out of our own heart. We aren’t supposed to add to Scripture or diminish it. Interpretation adds interpretation to Scripture. Scripture must be spiritually discerned. Spiritual discernment comes from the Holy Spirit. Are we each supposed to interpret Scripture independently, or does God have a pattern for unity of the Body of Christ?
Scripture is the most authoritative means through which Christ speaks. However, different Christians interpret Scripture differently, each one claiming to have the truth. Theologies of major organizations are not consistent. Interpretations of the Bible vary. There are two problems. Many Christians trust the human mind to analyze Scripture. Others believe that the Almighty God is able to reveal the interpretation. Among both groups, there are huge divisions. On the rationalist side, each group asserts that it is properly interpreting Scripture and teaching it correctly and all the other groups are wrong. Among those who seek God for revelation, you would expect unity. Yet there are obviously some who think that they’re receiving revelation when they aren’t. If they were all receiving revelation, then they would all be teaching the same things.
We can eliminate those who are depending on the fallen human mind rather than depending on God. There’s a philosophy known as “rationalism.” In this philosophy, it’s believed that the human mind can manufacture knowledge without the benefit of either revelation or observation. There isn’t any evidence to show that rationalism works, but there’s a lot of evidence to show that it doesn’t work. In fact, logic requires a true premise that proves a conclusion true. Sound logic cannot be based on any assumptions at all. It’s impossible to prove a premise true unless that premise is Divine revelation. Rationalizing a premise is irrational. Using assumptions to establish a premise is irrational. When you go to prove a premise, how would you do it? You would need another premise. How would you prove that premise? With another premise you can’t prove? You can understand the problem. The human mind is hopelessly weak without Divine revelation. There seems to be no awareness of the problem among those who are looking at their own worldviews and not at Scripture at all. They add to Scripture and diminish Scripture with each statement, yet, they think they are merely paraphrasing Scripture or even quoting it.
Most theologies don’t even consider the possibility of asking God what He thinks and waiting for His answer. Even with Divine revelation, the mind is only able to receive it and submit to it. And, even with Divine revelation, we can be fooled by our own carnal minds that disguise our own ideas and makes them appear to us as coming from God. Most don’t consider that even what He does, in fact, reveal is partial, and He wants to reveal greater depth of understanding. Adding to this problem, throughout time there have been false teachers and false prophets. Today, this is still a problem, and much of it is driven by money, power, or prestige.
Does God have a pattern for receiving the correct interpretation that He has revealed through Scripture? Yes. God has a pattern in Scripture to keep the revelation pure. God speaks through Scripture about His pattern for His Church. Just as God doesn’t want His pattern for marriage perverted, He doesn’t want His pattern for the Church perverted. The situation isn’t hopeless. God is restoring. He will complete the process.
Search the Scripture. Ask God to show you how the government of the Church is supposed to work. What are the offices that are set to receive the interpretation of Scripture with authority? How are they set into office? Do they call themselves? Are they set by the will of mankind or popular vote? Can humanity self-generate these offices and this order, or must God move to instigate this. There are many who are claiming authority today. If there is any authority, and you seek God and wait on God, He will direct you in finding this pattern and He will direct you to some level of authority and order.
