Quote Originally Posted by jsn9333
I see what you're saying. The *actual* meaning does not change... people just change their interpretations of the particular verse in question. And I agree to a certain extent. There are verses that have a range of interpretation... in other words reasonable people can disagree. However, in my opinion, there are also many verses that are sufficiently clear enough to lead the reader to the truth. The way I see it is that the Bible is not the answer to all of life's questions. It is the guidebook to help us find the One who does hold the answers. (That being said, I think it also answer very man questions quite directly.)
Here's what I don't get, though. Shouldn't every verse in the Bible be unequivocal about the things that it does speak? I understand that one book can't hold the answer to every question one can ask, but of the questions that it does answer, every answer should be clear and concise.

Quote Originally Posted by jsn9333
Of this particular verse, the way most students of the Bible see it is similar to the way we see the verse where Christ says, "Pray for anything in my name and you will receive it." The number of people who have prayed for a new Ferrari, not gotten it, and then dismissed the entirety of the Bible is probably pretty big! But that isn't at all what Christ was saying if you read the context and try to gain understanding from other Scriptures talking about the same concept. Other verses refer to people not getting what they ask for, because they ask for it for themselves and not for the purpose of glorifying God in their lives and helping others. So, given that, we learn "in my name" probably doesn't mean to simply utter the name of Christ, but it means to ask with Christ's purposes and goals and everything he stood for... to ask with "His Name" in mind and heart. So the meaning does not "change", rather the first interpretation was just wrong, and the second one is the meaning that is supported by other verses so it is probably the right one. Any unbeliever who gets frustrated by that verse is really just frustrated that it takes time, hard work, study, and experience to gain a firm understanding of many Biblical concepts. And that can be frustrating in today's age of "instant gratification".

So, regarding the verse about moving mountains, I don't think the excuses as to why we don't see mountains move all the time are really all that extreme. I mean, number one, Christ is likely making an analogy to some extent, to make a point. He teaches about his practical goals for Christians many times in the Bible, but never says his goal for Christians is to move mountains even though they perhaps could. Just because, "nothing will be impossible," doesn't mean one with that kind of faith would feel led to do everything possible (like moving mountains). For instance, Christ obviously had faith enough to do "supernatural" things. But he didn't waste time moving mountains around for fun or even for "good" purposes. So that in and of itself shows someone with strong enough faith, even though they in theory "can" move mountains, might still not necessarily be led by God to do it.

Or perhaps none of us who believe have even have enough faith to do it... or perhaps the reasons you gave above are the correct interpretations...

You are totally right that there can be multiple interpretations, and I understand how frustrating that can be. But at some point, I just decided to get as much as I can from the Bible by studying it over a long period of time, and leave some questions unanswered. I think anyone is able to come up with a reasonable understanding of God by studying the Bible. I know I feel that I have.

It takes a few things
1) An at least semi-open heart (if you're goal is to just find potential contradictions then you'll find plenty and just throw the whole thing out as a lie)

2) Time. Probably at least a year of reading through it 15-20 minutes a day, preferably with some sort of a study guide.
I've read the Bible many times in my childhood, and regularly read verses with my grandma and her side of the family, and I thoroughly enjoy it

In my mind, and there is also a verse in the Bible that tells me this, is that if any word in the Bible is a lie (or untrue) then the rest should be made so as well. So as soon as I see an inconstancy, I should disregard it. I still read it for reasons other than finding God, but I'm not reading it "just to find those inconsistencies". I read it so that I can share some of my family's time, because the Bible is their life.

What I can't, and I am unwilling to do, is live my life by the Bible when there are certain aspects that just don't make sense to me. Also, unfortunately I question anyone that does, not because I want to attack their faith, or that I believe their stupid, or anything of the sort. I just find it hard to believe that faith in Jesus is the only way into the kingdom.

Jesus really only had two 'commandments', Love thy God and Love thy Neighbour. I've got #2 down pat, but I am unwilling to believe that God would punish me for not believing in Him, and that I should be tortured for eternity because I have either been given, or acquired a mind that doesn't allow me to comprehend His words as truth. It doesn't seem fair to me, and because of this unfairness, I cannot and will not believe.

If God came to me and told me that His word was true, and even personally gave me a Bible with His autograph, I'd be very disheartened, because I know that i can't save everyone, and no matter how good they are, they're going to be tortured for eternity, just because I know something that they don't.