Sunday, June 2, 2013

Concerning the disputes on matters pertaining to faith, and the notion of the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit



Why are there disputes on issues concerning matters of faith amongst the international Christian body when the doctrine of Christianity features the notion of the existence of an omniscient Holy Spirit that guides individual believers to the appraisal of truths pertaining to matters of faith? Does this necessarily connote that one believer or the other is lacking in certain access in his communication with the Holy Spirit, thereby leading to the divergence of perspectives? And indeed, there are some believers in various sects or denominations who would stake their position on matters of theology as the correct one by virtue of its culmination by divine guidance from God or the Holy Spirit, and dismiss other school of thoughts on the matter with impunity.

Again, I have seen cases where a believer asks a question on Christian matters that confounds him, and he is replied by another that he should asks God about it, which will resolve all uncertainties to the matter.

My common sense tells me that the matters of interpretation of scripture and on perspectives given to matters of faith, is as much a human endeavor which bears from itself divergences of thoughts, as much as such human inquiries are made into other domains of knowledge like the sciences. But I could see myself being countered by the objection that the Holy Spirit is a resource from which all disputes can be resolved equitably, and that my way of thinking about interpretation of scripture estranges the concept of divine guidance in matters of faith.

I guess I shall not deny divine guidance when it comes to forming one’s own view of matters pertaining to faith or biblical interpretation. But I would also be careful about claiming for myself, or claims by others asserting divine guidance onto the matter, as imputing an incontrovertibility of truth to the perspective on the matter.

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