<<< We are to believe the Bible at face value, but what if our perspective is wrong? >>>

I have asked that question of myself many, many times over the years, and I have come to see that there is a faulty assumption behind it: that is, that understanding "truth" and understanding the Bible were the same thing.

Maybe that strikes you odd coming from someone who so clearly holds to the teachings of the Bible. It would have appeared so to me at one time ... and still does every now and again, believe me. :)

But we know "truth" for one reason and one reason only, and that is because Christ has become wisdom to us. We know Christ, who IS the truth. "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, AND YOU ALL KNOW. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, BUT BECAUSE YOU DO KNOW IT, and because no lie is of the truth." 1 John 2:20&21

And knowing the truth, we can still make a pretty big mess out of what has been written ABOUT the truth, huh? :)

Now, it might appear as if this doesn't answer your question, but I can say, in fact, that THIS is the truth that has set us free, and as we grow in confidence in Christ, who is the truth we may find ourselves not so much in bondage to the worries of misunderstanding the Bible.

For as I think that my true freedom in Christ rests upon my accurate interpretation of the scriptures I will subconsciously force the words to fit my perspective instead of seeing it for what is actually there. Oh, I may become quite accurate through practice, but so were the Pharisees who didn't recognize the life when they stood right in front of him.

If I am resting in confidence that I have ALREADY been set free by Christ I will begin to discover that the Bible is all about HIM and is not information ABOUT him.

I would rather listen to a brother who butchers the context of a passage and yet speaks clearly of the gospel of freedom than to listen to one who is meticulously accurate and yet turns the life of the word he studies into a legal document. Of course, I would PREFER to hear it accurately presented in the manner in which it was written so that the life of Christ that is uncovered in the study is clearly spoken.

I know, I know, ridiculously long answer to a very short question! :)

Jim