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When Man Acts Like God

The Heart Behind Biblical Interpretation, Doctrine and Division

When Man Acts Like God examines a question that reaches beyond biblical interpretation alone: what happens when the human heart approaches the Word of God? Why can two believers read the same Scripture, believe in the same God, follow the same Christ, and yet arrive at very different conclusions? How does an interpretation become doctrine, how does doctrine become practice, and how can those differences eventually contribute to division within the body of Christ? This book looks closely at the human heart behind these processes. It considers the ways personal understanding, tradition, experience, knowledge, pride, self-interest, and the desire to be right can influence how we receive and handle Scripture. This is not a call to abandon study, doctrine, theology, or careful interpretation. It is a call to examine the heart that approaches them. Written from the perspective of a believer who has had to examine his own assumptions, confront his own mistakes, and learn the difficult place of surrender, When Man Acts Like God calls Christians to return continually to the Word of God with humility, honesty, and a willingness to be corrected. Before we ask what Scripture means, perhaps we must first ask a more uncomfortable question: What kind of heart am I bringing to Scripture?