In the world we live in today there are many different interpretations of the Bible. Is there more than one Interpretation? Many people in their converse will make statements like, "You can have your interpretation, and I’ll have mine," or, "We should agree to disagree." Our Society is very Pluralistic in there Philosophy on Religion.

"Pluralism simply means that various differing, even conflicting, views are permitted to co-exist." (Dave Miller, Piloting the Strait, Tennessee, Sain Publications, 1996, P.157.)

John 7:17 Says, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

This statement is adamant in the fact that there is only one doctrine by stating "the doctrine." The word doctrine means, to teach, or to give instruction. It also makes clear that if a person desires to obey, the Will of Christ, then the person must know " the doctrine." Also, since their is one doctrine, we can rationally conclude that pluralism is false. We cannot have our own interpretation of scripture, and we shouldn’t agree to disagree, but in all cases go to "thus saith the Lord" to retrieve our answers.

First of all, we must understand the three basic fundamental propositions of biblical interpretation.

(1) God is (2) The Bible is the Word of God (3) God has given us the Bible as a road map through life.

Can Theism be proven? This is the questioned that for years has been asked. Why can one person believe and the other deny. You have three types of Philosophies. Theism, Agnosticism, and Atheism. The theist affirms that there is a God. The Agnostic affirms that no one can no if there is a God. And the Atheist affirms that there is no God.

Whether a person is atheistic, a believer, or agnostic, he or she must be rational. The law of Rationality says that a person must justify his or her conclusion with adequate evidences. It would not be logical to believe in a planet called Ziggy that supports life because there is no evidence. This scenario may seemed far fetched but it is relevant to the subject at hand. We as Christians believe in God because we have evidence to support the proposition.

Stanley E. Sayers writes in his book "For this Cause".

"The Modern day Atheist advocates that faith in an unseen God is foolish and as such retards human progress, but his is for him to prove, not simply claim. Ye on the other hand that individual who realizes that all reality is not limited to the Physical takes a position far advanced above that taken by the Atheist."

The Question is, how do we see God.

I. We can see God in Nature, Human Nature, In the moral laws governing one mans respect over another’s, and through the Bible.

We can see through these passages that God has revealed himself through Nature. This is called General Revelation. To the man who is honest enough to look at the facts and set aside all prior prejudices, he is able to rationally believe in a God. Faith in God is both Logical and necessary

II. Should we Question God, and the Bible.

(Acts 26:24 KJV) And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. The word Sober here refers to Reasoning. Paul came to the Conclusion that Jesus was the Messiah by Reasoning it out.

(1 Pet 3:15 KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: We should always be willing to give a defense for the existence of God, why we believe and what we base our facts upon to support the word of God.

II. It is reasonable to propose that intelligence (God), was first and not matter.

A. If something exist, then something must have first existed.

B. Everything operates on the principle of Cause and effect.

An Effect is one who’s character and being are determined by a Preceding event who’s existence is external to itself. A cause is one who’s character and being must be determined by factors within itself. The universe in which we live is definitely an effect of some cause. The unbeliever can call it an accident but he cannot deny that it is an effect of some cause.

In the universe there is both mind and matter. It is not logical to suppose that both are cause and both are effect, and both have always existed side by side. One has obviously brought the other into existence. It is reasonable to believe mind acted upon matter. Mind being the cause and matter the effect. You can not reverse them.

1. The nest does not create the bird to sit in it.

2. The airplane does not create the pilot to steer it.

3. The house does not create the family to live in it.

4. A book always has an Author.

Nature suggest design, it is design. In order for design to be, there must be a designer. If there is mathematical decision in nature, there must have been a Mathematician. If nature suggest architectural structure, then there must have been an Architect. If beauty and art, an Artist. Nature definitely exhibits a great designer and creator, the cause of it all.

IV. With all of the evidence that is laid before us, and we know there is a God, and who God truly is, it is necessary to have faith in him.

Faith is according to Heb. 11:1, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Our faith is a product of the word of God. We come to the Knowledge of God through the word. We first must rely on sufficient and conclusive compelling evidences that the Bible is exactly what it claims to be. The infallible, the inerrant, and the all-sufficient word of the living God. Things in Heb. 11:1 Is Heaven.

We have faith that there is a Heaven, our hope is our longing to obtain heaven.

God Is. This very fact gives us sufficient evidence that a God who is the creator of everything, one that is omnipresent, omnipotent, one that is caring, loving, just, compassionate, and fair, would reveal his plan, and thoughts to his creation. He has chosen different Mediums through the ages to do so, but he kept a harmony in every word.

The Lord has always required a form of worship from His children. In the Patriarchic Age the father of the family would do the sacrificing for the entire household. The Sabbath, however, was not observed until the deliverance of Israel from bondage. The Israelites were delivered from a 450 year state of bondage and were commanded in the Decalogue. When the Church was established God authorized Christians to worship on the first day of the week.

There has always been a pattern set forth by GOD for proper worship. God, in the very beginning, set down the conditions for men to share in undefiled fellowship. He instructed Adam and Even to work, multiply, tend to the garden and not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God expected them to do everything that was authorized. Notice also that there is no mention of them doing anything God didn’t authorize. After man sinned, he no longer could enjoy a close, personal fellowship with God. God chose the medium of sacrifice to institute His scene of redemption, and made it an obligation for worship. Man could not fellowship with God until his sins were covered. Atonement is essential for individuals to face God. The terminology used throughout the Old Testament to identify God’s pattern was "according to".

1. Noah did "according to" all God commanded him (Gen. 6:22).

2. Israel did "according to" all the words of Moses (Ex. 12:35).

3. Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying..."According to" all that I have commanded

thee...(Ex. 31:1).

4. The Passover was kept "according to" all God commanded (Num. 9:5-12).

5. Moses spake unto all the children of Israel, "according to" all that Jehovah had

given him in commandment unto him (Deut. 1:3).

God, during the Mosaic Age, chose Moses as a medium to express His law and perfect

pattern.

1. Ex. 33:11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

He gave Moses the ten commandments along with the 613 laws.

After the Israelites entered into Canaan they desired more.

The Israelites were tired of the theocracy they were blessed with and like the nations around them, desired a king, although Samuel warned against it.

God chose the kings as a medium to express His pattern.

God also gave the pattern for the Temple.

1Ch 28:12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

Just as God had a Pattern in the old Testament the New Testament expects Christians to follow the Pattern. (Rom. 16:26) Moses prophesied we should follow Christ according to what he said. (Acts 3:22) Jesus said if you love me obey my commandments. We must obey or be destroyed. (Acts 3:22) The Judgment of God will be according to his Gospel.

Like the Sabbath in the Old Testament God has set forth a day for Christians to, in a colligate effort, worship him. The first day of the week is the Lords Day.

1. It was the day of Resurrection (Jno. 20:1-8)

2. Jesus met with his disciples on this day (Jno. 20:19)

3. Church was established and the spirit came on this day. (Acts 2:1-4)

4. The Churches of the New Testament worshiped on that day. (Acts 20:7)

a. Came to break bread.

b. Gave an offering.

There is a pattern given by God for worship.

1. Lords Supper. (Acts 20:7)

2. Singing. (Col. 3:16)

3. Prayer. (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:1-8)

4. Fellowship and Laying by in store according to prosperity. (1 Cor. 16:1-3;

(Acts 2:42)

We cannot deviate from the pattern in which God laid. We cannot add to the Pattern (Deut. 4:2; Pro. 30:6; Rev. 22:19) Nadab and Abihu added to worship and they were destroyed. God will reward us if we obey his pattern. Paul spoke of a crown of righteousness for all who love his appearing.

If hermeneutics is the Science of interpretation then we must follow the pattern set for in the Bible.

Bibliography

Basinger, David/ Husker, William/Peterson, Michael/Reichenbach, Bruce; Reason and Religious Belief, Oxford University Press, New York, 1991

.

Reaver, Roy C., Ascertaining Bible Authority, Foundation Publishing House, Austin TX, 1987.

Dulles, Avery, Models of Revelation, Orbis Books, New York, 1992.

Dugen, D.R., Hermeneutics, Gospel Light Publishing Co., Arkansas

Gaebelein, Frank E., The Pattern of God’s Truth, Moody Press, Chicago, 1968.

McQuilken, J. Robertson, Understanding and Applying the Bible, Moody Press, Chicago, 1979.

Miller, Dave, Piloting the Strait, Sain Publications, TN., 1996.

Music, Goebel, Behold the Pattern, Austin McGary and Co., FL., 1993.

Wainwright, William J., Philosophy of Religion, Wadworth Publishing Co., Calif. 1988.

Virkler, Henry, Hermeneutics, Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation, Baker Book House, Mich. 1981.