Do we suspect that there are Christian churches out there, teaching the Bible, that believe that it is not true ? Isn't that kind of the point of a church that uses the Bible for religious teachings ?

 

What I mean by that statement is that the churches I have attended believe that if it is in the Bible, then it happened. Not just a story to teach a lesson, no symbols...if the Bible says it, it happened. Adam and Eve were real people , the ark was real and every species of animal on Earth was aboard... not just a story... it really happened. Whether the preachers actually believed that or not, who knows? However, literal interpretation is what was preached. That's what I meant.

What I mean by that statement is that the churches I have attended believe that if it is in the Bible, then it happened. Not just a story to teach a lesson, no symbols...if the Bible says it, it happened. Adam and Eve were real people , the ark was real and every species of animal on Earth was aboard... not just a story... it really happened. Whether the preachers actually believed that or not, who knows? However, literal interpretation is what was preached. That's what I meant.

 

So you grew up Baptist...

Dispensationalism (I.e. Rapture) is not from a literal interpretation. It is a systematic model using proof text approaches to build an eschatological model. It is relatively new in history among Biblical studies and is much more received among American Conservative followers than most mainstream faiths in the US and world wide.

 

dispensation is a way of ordering things—an administration, a system, or a management. In theology, a dispensation is the divine administration of a period of time; each dispensation is a divinely appointed age. Dispensationalism is a theological system that recognizes these ages ordained by God to order the affairs of the world. Dispensationalism has two primary distinctives: 1) a consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy, and 2) a view of the uniqueness of Israel as separate from the church in God’s program. Classical dispensationalism identifies seven dispensations in God’s plan for humanity.

 

Dispensationalists hold to a literal interpretation of the Bible as the best hermeneutic. The literal interpretation gives each word the meaning it would commonly have in everyday usage. Allowances are made for symbols, figures of speech, and types, of course. It is understood that even symbols and figurative sayings have literal meanings behind them. So, for example, when the Bible speaks of “a thousand years” in Revelation 20, dispensationalists interpret it as a literal period of 1,000 years (the dispensation of the Kingdom), since there is no compelling reason to interpret it otherwise.

So you grew up Baptist...

 

Yes I did. Southern Baptist. Loved it. Sunday School, Training Union, Bible School, RA's , Bible Camp. Great times....

So you grew up Baptist...

 

Actually not all Baptists believe that everything is to be interpreted literally.

dispensation is a way of ordering things—an administration, a system, or a management. In theology, a dispensation is the divine administration of a period of time; each dispensation is a divinely appointed age. Dispensationalism is a theological system that recognizes these ages ordained by God to order the affairs of the world. Dispensationalism has two primary distinctives: 1) a consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy, and 2) a view of the uniqueness of Israel as separate from the church in God’s program. Classical dispensationalism identifies seven dispensations in God’s plan for humanity.

 

Dispensationalists hold to a literal interpretation of the Bible as the best hermeneutic. The literal interpretation gives each word the meaning it would commonly have in everyday usage. Allowances are made for symbols, figures of speech, and types, of course. It is understood that even symbols and figurative sayings have literal meanings behind them. So, for example, when the Bible speaks of “a thousand years” in Revelation 20, dispensationalists interpret it as a literal period of 1,000 years (the dispensation of the Kingdom), since there is no compelling reason to interpret it otherwise.

 

But even Dispensationalism interprets texts to fit their schedule and view. They interpret animals as kingdom representatives on earth. I hate to point it out but not all Baptists espouse the same hermeneutic.

But even Dispensationalism interprets texts to fit their schedule and view. They interpret animals as kingdom representatives on earth. I hate to point it out but not all Baptists espouse the same hermeneutic.

 

Oh, believe me, I know that. From literalists to a very loose interpretation. Baptists are all over the map on many issues. I've known many Baptists that speak in tongues and even some that handle snakes. Most all Baptists, however, like Cracker Barrel.