The Devil's Lies Must be Exposed - Do Not Be Deceived

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Soverign Grace

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That might be why God, in His Bible, tells us not to follow men. I keep repeating here that although each of us (the generic, "man") thinks we — and usually, we alone — have the true answer...…. none of us does.
Does a specific verse come to mind Willie? I learn best when I see Scripture being applied. I think that statement sums it up; we all think we're right and pride is crouching at the door. I've seen more and more how lies sneak into every church, every denomination, every person. Sometimes blatant lies, sometimes well-hidden or respectable-sounding lies. I saw this in a Christian who did much evil; she lied about her motives, and I think lies to herself. She got another to go along with her lies (it bolsters the sense of looking right when you're wrong. "See! This person agrees with me so I must be right!" or "I'M the pastor or elder! God put me in this position so my word is sacrosanct!" or "I'M the forum monitor so my judgment stands!" - there is no attempt to get to the truth. I learned that those who are in error attempt to get others to join against you to try to prove that they're right. I held to the truth and lost a relationship over it. A few years went by and the individual who went along with the Christian woman's lies showed up at my house and admitted that the Christian woman did evil. I asked him why he didn't face it at the time and he said: "Well I was afraid she wouldn't bother with me." It showed me how far someone will go to try to live a lie and how lies gain a foothold and a sinner sometimes draws another into their lies. It showed me how someone was willing to live in denial and go along with a lie for ulterior motives - he didn't want to lose a relationship. These become almost like fortresses built around a lie.

I've seen that pastor who hurt one of my children lie to me and himself that I was telling the 11 pastors whose opinion I'd asked for, what I wanted them to hear. Yet the means for him to cross-check was there: I was transparent and gave him a copy of the question I had asked yet he refused to show me anywhere in what I wrote where he thought I was wrong. I gave him their emails and told him that he could contact each pastor and tell them the issue from his POV. He refused. It showed me he didn't want to face his own heart - his own error. Had we gone on face to face and hashed it out, he couldn't stand because he was wrong and knew it. So he dismissed it and refused to go any further. He wanted the lie to stand. He built a fortress around his lie.

I could see how the pastor of the other church took his buddy to "evangelize" some island. They promoted a self-serving lie to get the congregation to pay for their trip to some island. They could have walked out the front door of the church to evangelize.

And worst of all: I've seen it in myself. We all have a tendency to err that must be kept in check. I read that truth has a rugged hill to climb. I see so much why Scripture says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"

So I've seen error in every church and every denomination that wasn't SDA. I liked the story above because it shows that we should withhold judgment at times and see what God may be showing us.

I love the communion with other believers and to see where God takes this. Maybe there are new truths to be discovered.
 

Soverign Grace

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These are the end times. Apostasy abounds.

Some seems so righteous at the beginning but when you dig down you find Wolfs in sheep's clothing.

Cults attack cults and Christianity.

It is a struggle. It is a war. One that will not end until God says enough.

I've studied more than most but run away from anybody to trying to put the label expert on me.

The Bible does say God sends rain on good and evil like. That we can learn from evil.

Bottom line is I can point out the errors of the SDA but I can't force you to understand the dangers in what they teach.
I think this is accurate: we are in a war. I have been attacked relentlessly and didn't know what had happened until afterwards when I looked up symptoms of a spiritual attack. It's hard to walk circumspectly. We are as a solder moving forward with land mines around, with some false brethren and some true: the wheat and the tares side by side. We don't know which one will mislead us or walk with us as Pilgrim's friends. And we have a powerful enemy in the spirit who has an army who attack us at weak points, vulnerable points, through people and any other means. Who lays snares for us. It's a war playing for keeps. This is a deadly war. A painful war.

Each of us must think that we study more than most - but who really can judge this? There is no way to accurately state with certainty that one studies more than another. I believe that you probably study, but so does everyone else. We have to respect that we're talking with a brother who may also have studied as much as we have.

I have not seen any error yet, only that God used one of their booklets to show me that I had been spiritually reborn. He showed me that the things I had been reading and learning were confirmed by Professor Veith. Professor Veith revealed the true nature of the Catholic church - seeing the satanic symbolism was shocking but it's opening up my understanding of Revelations. I still have a long way to go. If you enjoy studying, maybe you can watch one of Professor Veith's videos. Whether you think they're doctrine is off or not, you'll see that they're informative

It's good that you're being alert, but I think that we have to stay alert no matter what denomination or pastor is teaching.

I enjoy rich conversing with other believers and seeing where God leads and what new truths He's going to show.
 
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CoreIssue

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A Church Divided Over Leaders
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,a]">[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasb]">[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Romans 16:17-18 New International Version (NIV)
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

There is a difference in having a different opinion about what the Bible teaches and trying to make such things salvation issues or things we should Never divide over.

The very definition of denominationalism is division.

But there are lines not to be crossed. Salvation is by grace and faith and repentance, not by works.

God is Trinity. Teaching anything else is teaching another God than what the Bible has.

Modalism is wrong. Jesus is not Michael the Archangel.Both are different gods.

Understand the difference between salvation and sanctification issues. They are very different in importance and meaning.

While rapture issues are not salvation issues it is not hard to see they have a huge impact on sanctification and spirituality.

As the Bible says, listen to all, test all against Bible then keep what is sound and throw the rest away.

We all struggle with sin in our lives. There is no such thing as total sanctification.

The first step into overcoming sin is to acknowledge this truth.

We can either build each other up Or tear each other down.

Turning a blind eye to error is destructive.

Doing as the Bible says, correcting error lovingly is the harder road but the right road.

Of course some people take a baseball bat to get them to see their problems.

Satan loves those who only see God as a loving God without seeing the fact he is more so a just God.

He loves everyone but that will stop him from putting the majority humanity in the lake of fire.
 
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Soverign Grace

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I don't know what others have to say but I'm going to keep moving forward and reading, studying, and exercising discernment no matter where God leads me. I don't know enough about the SDA doctrine to discuss it. I only know that God used them to open up my understanding at a time when I really needed guidance. Right now I'm trying to find a way to really follow God's leading. In the end, it's up to each believer to take in all the facts, study the Word, and decide what church they want to belong to or what teachers that they believe are solid. I think it's appropriate to speak up when one believer thinks another is being deceived, but we are told to do it with love; in the right spirit. It's probably good to keep in mind that we are in different stages in our walk with God, and to remember that we are dealing with other believers who also have a measure of discernment, either greater or lesser than our own at the moment. "Come let us reason together" might be a good spirit. Let's look together at this and see what we come up with.
 

amadeus

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A Church Divided Over Leaders
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,a]">[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasb]">[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Romans 16:17-18 New International Version (NIV)
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

There is a difference in having a different opinion about what the Bible teaches and trying to make such things salvation issues or things we should Never divide over.
One problem with this is that each of us has an idea about what are salvation issues and what are not. Should we use your list of salvation issues or mine or someone else's?

The very definition of denominationalism is division.
And your solution to this problem of division is what? I would say the solution is for everyone to surrender completely to God. I would guess that would not work for everyone here... because many of them, if not all, would insist that certain things are absolute and cannot be surrendered.

But there are lines not to be crossed. Salvation is by grace and faith and repentance, not by works.
This issue alone would split into not less than two groups. I have seen it argued on this forum and many other forums for many years. Who can draw the line that would be acceptable to all of us. Should the referee come from the works side or from the non-works side? LOL. and yet it really is not a laughing matter, is it?

God is Trinity. Teaching anything else is teaching another God than what the Bible has.

Modalism is wrong. Jesus is not Michael the Archangel.Both are different gods.
Well just get everyone here to agree to your terms and we will have begun the end of denominationalism. Oh, but is that not what the people did at that first tower of Babel [Genesis chapter 11]? Just being unified one with another among men doesn't mean we are necessarily unified with God and His Son, does it?

Understand the difference between salvation and sanctification issues. They are very different in importance and meaning.
Hmmm!?!? And who here is able to explain even what the issues are [if they are issues] and where the dividing lines should be drawn? You, me, or some other guy here? I am sure more than one here might be willing to serve as the final arbitrator. Do you suppose we will all agree to abide by his rulings without exception?

While rapture issues are not salvation issues it is not hard to see they have a huge impact on sanctification and spirituality.
Do they? Not to me.
As the Bible says, listen to all, test all against Bible then keep what is sound and throw the rest away.
Why should we trust in the Bible alone, without the direction of the Holy Spirit? If we agree that the Holy Spirit must direct, how will we agree as to what constitutes evidence of the Holy Spirit's decision on any given point?

We all struggle with sin in our lives. There is no such thing as total sanctification.
If you mean by sanctification, perfection, I already disagree!

The first step into overcoming sin is to acknowledge this truth.
I disagree!

We can either build each other up Or tear each other down.
I agree!
Turning a blind eye to error is destructive.
While this may be true, how would you determine whose eye is blind? How would I determine it?
Doing as the Bible says, correcting error lovingly is the harder road but the right road.
First you must know what is error. Second you must be able to love. Third you must know that God wants you to apply the correction. Is there also a Fourth?
Of course some people take a baseball bat to get them to see their problems.
If a person really had problems in need of correction, I do not believe, the use of a baseball bat or arm twisting would be God's way to handle the situation.

Satan loves those who only see God as a loving God without seeing the fact he is more so a just God.
Who is this satan character that we should even consider any opinion or "love" that he may have?

He loves everyone but that will stop him from putting the majority humanity in the lake of fire.
.
And those who are already dead and have never had Life need to be burned up, why?
 

Helen

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I only know that God used them to open up my understanding at a time when I really needed guidance. Right now I'm trying to find a way to really follow God's leading.

Just continue to stay open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I appreciate Braklite very much , but just because "God used his words" to open your eyes doesn't mean that you 'camp there'.
In my own story God used Herbert Armstrong of all people, and his "British Israel"
writings to 'get my attention '. I didn't camp there...I waited on God to open His word up to me and speak to me from His word.
We aren't called to "Find a doctrine" we are called to follow Christ.
He is more than willing to lead you. :)

God will speak in many ways to us...lets not forget Baalam's Donkey! lol
If we walk every day with one ear tuned to His lovely Spirit...He will speak , step by step.

Many blessings...Helen
 

farouk

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Just continue to stay open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I appreciate Braklite very much , but just because "God used his words" to open your eyes doesn't mean that you 'camp there'.
In my own story God used Herbert Armstrong and his "British Israel"
writings to 'get my attention '. I didn't camp there...I waited on God to open His word up to me and speak to me from His word.
We aren't called to "Find a doctrine" we are called to follow Christ.
He is more than willing to lead you. :)

God will speak in many ways to us...lets not forget Baalam's Donkey! lol
If we walk every day with one ear tuned to His lovely Spirit...He will speak , step by step.

Many blessings...Helen
So you eventually moved on from H Armstrong?
 

Helen

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So you eventually moved on from H Armstrong?

Yes, I was 22 and seeking ...I was given some of his stuff to read...it just set me seeking more.
I did write to his organization...at that point I found that they had no real advice for me on how to really know God Himself.
God was then faithful to send a real man of God across my path. :)
 
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farouk

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Yes, I was 22 and seeking ...I was given some of his stuff to read...it just set me seeking more.
I did write to his organization...at that point I found that they had no real advice for me on how to really know God Himself.
God was then faithful to send a real man of God across my path. :)
God is pleased to lead seekers more fully into His Word, for the glory of His beloved Son and His work at the Cross! :)
 
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Soverign Grace

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Just continue to stay open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I appreciate Braklite very much , but just because "God used his words" to open your eyes doesn't mean that you 'camp there'.
In my own story God used Herbert Armstrong of all people, and his "British Israel"
writings to 'get my attention '. I didn't camp there...I waited on God to open His word up to me and speak to me from His word.
We aren't called to "Find a doctrine" we are called to follow Christ.
He is more than willing to lead you. :)

God will speak in many ways to us...lets not forget Baalam's Donkey! lol
If we walk every day with one ear tuned to His lovely Spirit...He will speak , step by step.

Many blessings...Helen
Yes but neither am I going to dismiss someone's religion as being a cult. That would be dishonoring to God, who graciously used another believer to help me understand His Word and it would be kicking a gift horse in the mouth of the Christian who took his time to help another believer on their path - I liken it to those that accompanied Pilgrim. Would you join in ridiculing one's denomination so that that one then keeps silent? That would be a tragedy. Wouldn't it be better to say that you don't agree with some of their doctrine - just like you may not agree with some of the doctrine of an Assembly of God church? Listening to teaching doesn't make me a SDA and it doesn't not make me lean towards being a SDA. I've seen error in every church denomination we attended. And some of the leadership in one wounded without conscience - even to turning my family off to attending any church for awhile. One of my children that was hurt has refused to ever attend an independent bible church again and was actually pushed towards attending a Catholic church - what I had come out of. That was a tragedy. Even if those pastors had nailed every doctrine down correctly, they did Satan's work. So who does the better work? Who are you going to hang the label of cult on to scare people away? As a mature believer who has suffered through many battles, if I were to steer a younger believer I'd steer them towards a loving SDA church more than a judgmental Independent Bible Church even if I knew that their doctrine was off by a few things - which I don't know that. The former would at least draw them towards God and not away. How dare we dismiss another's faith or choice of denomination.

Finally, after a number of years, she is trying other churches. I would appreciate others' prayers that my children find good churches. The path is fraught with many spiritual battles and finding your way through false and deceived teachers and hypocritical church leaders.

Because I've seen haughtiness and severe pride in a Presbyterian church, does that mean that I'll write off all Presbyterian churches? Because I saw people rolling around in the aisles, does that mean I'll write off all Assembly of God churches lending to too much emotionalism and call them all cults? No - because I've been around the block - more times than I'd care to remember, and I've seen what is in each denomination. There is good and bad and everything in between. Personally I'd steer more away from a church where pride reigned such as what was in the Independent Bible Church, then a church that had a few doctrines wrong. Because in the end, which does the most evil and which does the most good? And by that I mean good such as drawing people to Christ and helping them grow spiritually and helping them recognize spiritual attacks when they come.

Isaiah 32:6 6 "For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water."

Which denomination left the hungry empty and the thirsty without water? I've been in an Independent Bible church that left my family empty and without water - and turning away from church. I met a SDA who took his time to share what he had learned when I was seeking that opened up truths about the end times that I had been seeking answers to. Who did the Lord's work?

As far as I could tell that Independent Bible church had every doctrine that I knew correct, but yet they didn't follow basic Scriptural warnings about pride.

"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13

Who did the greater or lesser evil?

"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. - Matthew 12:34-35

I would go so far as to call that doctrinally correct Independent Bible church a brood of vipers - that's how it felt. I didn't feel like we were in a church. I felt like I was among wolves or vipers all around - and they all fell in line under the deluded pastor and church leaders. We weren't being built up, loved, warned about Satan's snares. We had authoritarian church leaders who looked down their long aristocratic noses and told us that THEY were the church leaders. That God put THEM in their positions. That no issue was open to discussion because THEY were placed in those positions by God Himself.

May God have mercy on their souls because the same measure they used will be used against them.

Revelations 3:17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Those church leaders had their noses so far in the air that they couldn't smell their own stench. They couldn't see that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

They could have broken me and my faith. I could have chosen to go along with their skewed beliefs and "submitted." While I know this is in the bible I also know that "rightly handling the Word of Truth" is in the bible. I knew in depths of my being that they were wrong. They held all the power - it was their church. Even people who I'd had over to eat at our house shunned me - whose house we had been over to. All but one - they exhibited true Christianity - but they weren't firmly entrenched in that church yet and I hope they never allow themselves to be. All because I stood up for what I believed in. All because I chose to think for myself. They didn't think that a lowly person who held no church "position" could have had power in prayer enough to keep the church pastor from sleeping. No. They must have reasoned that it was of the devil. Yes that's it!

Only it wasn't. I prayed to God. And God answered my prayer.

Those church leaders may have held all the power in their little corner of the world but that doesn't mean that I have to stay in their little corner of the world. The message: Either conform to church leadership or you'll be snubbed and given the cold shoulder and made to feel unwelcome here.

You may pull your submit card on me and you may have everybody against me but my God I'm going to get up swinging. I learned to stand alone for what I knew to be the truth. Nobody gets a pass on hurting my family and pulling some hypocritical bull. That's not of God. None of it was. Christ said he came to bring the sword. Those church leaders couldn't see the ugliness of their own hearts. A few years later the pastor was out.

Matthew 23:23-31 King James Version (KJV)
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
~~~
I don't want a doctrinally correct church that is full of wicked pride. Those church leaders "omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

I hope you continue to practice whatever faith you see as true Brakelite - never buckle to any crowd, and never stop sharing because you're going to help others who are seeking answers like me. We have to follow the truth wherever that leads us.

Give me a church or Christian who ~might~ be doctrinally off but who exhibits the greater things of the Christian faith: love, compassion, tenderness - all the traits that Christ exhibited.
 
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Soverign Grace

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One problem with this is that each of us has an idea about what are salvation issues and what are not. Should we use your list of salvation issues or mine or someone else's?


And your solution to this problem of division is what? I would say the solution is for everyone to surrender completely to God. I would guess that would not work for everyone here... because many of them, if not all, would insist that certain things are absolute and cannot be surrendered.


This issue alone would split into not less than two groups. I have seen it argued on this forum and many other forums for many years. Who can draw the line that would be acceptable to all of us. Should the referee come from the works side or from the non-works side? LOL. and yet it really is not a laughing matter, is it?


Well just get everyone here to agree to your terms and we will have begun the end of denominationalism. Oh, but is that not what the people did at that first tower of Babel [Genesis chapter 11]? Just being unified one with another among men doesn't mean we are necessarily unified with God and His Son, does it?


Hmmm!?!? And who here is able to explain even what the issues are [if they are issues] and where the dividing lines should be drawn? You, me, or some other guy here? I am sure more than one here might be willing to serve as the final arbitrator. Do you suppose we will all agree to abide by his rulings without exception?


Do they? Not to me.

Why should we trust in the Bible alone, without the direction of the Holy Spirit? If we agree that the Holy Spirit must direct, how will we agree as to what constitutes evidence of the Holy Spirit's decision on any given point?


If you mean by sanctification, perfection, I already disagree!


I disagree!


I agree!

While this may be true, how would you determine whose eye is blind? How would I determine it?

First you must know what is error. Second you must be able to love. Third you must know that God wants you to apply the correction. Is there also a Fourth?

If a person really had problems in need of correction, I do not believe, the use of a baseball bat or arm twisting would be God's way to handle the situation.


Who is this satan character that we should even consider any opinion or "love" that he may have?

.
And those who are already dead and have never had Life need to be burned up, why?
There is a lot of wisdom in this. Who are we going to judge something by - and who of us is going to be the judge?
While I don't agree with other things, such as judging another's choice of church, Core Issue did have a point that can be important: You can't just teach the love of God as some preachers do because it's misleading. Anyone who has felt the discipline of God should know this. "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in hisgoodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."[/QUOTE]
 
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Helen

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Give me a church or Christian who ~might~ be doctrinally off but who exhibits the greater things of the Christian faith: love, compassion, tenderness - all the traits that Christ exhibited.

Amen to that!

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I sure was not 'coming against' SDA , Brakelite , or anyone, cult , doctrine, denomination, or whatever else!!

What I was getting concerned about ( maybe wrongly) was your seeming desire to find the 'right denomination' with the right doctrine.

But it looks like I needn't have worried by your last paragraph here, which I quoted above.
No one will ever find the right denomination with all the 'correct doctrine'. There is no such thing...heresy will always be with us, and some in every group or denomination. We see through a glass darkly..that which is Perfect has not yet come.

19 "For there must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. "

God looks after His own..and His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. That has always been His intent. Yet we will always need each other...that is why He has set us within His Body. ...every joint has a part to play.
 

Soverign Grace

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Amen to that!

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I sure was not 'coming against' SDA , Brakelite , or anyone, cult , doctrine, denomination, or whatever else!!

What I was getting concerned about ( maybe wrongly) was your seeming desire to find the 'right denomination' with the right doctrine.

But it looks like I needn't have worried by your last paragraph here, which I quoted above.
No one will ever find the right denomination with all the 'correct doctrine'. There is no such thing...heresy will always be with us, and some in every group or denomination. We see through a glass darkly..that which is Perfect has not yet come.

19 "For there must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. "

God looks after His own..and His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. That has always been His intent. Yet we will always need each other...that is why He has set us within His Body. ...every joint has a part to play.
I think that says it all - there is no "right" denomination - wherever there are people there is going to be man and his flesh entering in - and doctrinal error or misinterpretation of Scripture. You're lucky if you can find a place that gets a fair amount of things right. I do think there are some things that are so off base as to be avoided: such as the mixing of Christianity and non-christian beliefs such as what Rick Warren is supposedly doing - Chrislam. There are also the blab it and grab it preachers that rook people out of money so they can live like kings - like Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, etc. I watched a video where this woman with cancer sent so much money to Copeland's ministry thinking it was going to help her get well. Her daughter was angry at her mother's money going to his huge mansion, private airplanes, with his own runway next to his mansion. How they can take from desperate people show's what is in their heart. I was sorely misled by many of them early on.

We do need each other. I'm trying to keep in mind that others have discernment too and I saw that all through this conversation - it's encouraging to me and I love when believers really come together like this and give their input - every single person has something to share as we are all parts of the body. I like rich debate as long as no one is hurt. I've been hurt in churches and by other believers and I don't want to do that to anyone else or be a party to it. If anything we should build one another up because we have enough with an enemy and his minions who are out to destroy each one of us.
 
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Helen

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I think that says it all - there is no "right" denomination - wherever there are people there is going to be man and his flesh entering in - and doctrinal error or misinterpretation of Scripture. You're lucky if you can find a place that gets a fair amount of things right. I do think there are some things that are so off base as to be avoided: such as the mixing of Christianity and non-christian beliefs such as what Rick Warren is supposedly doing - Chrislam. There are also the blab it and grab it preachers that rook people out of money so they can live like kings - like Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, etc. I watched a video where this woman with cancer sent so much money to Copeland's ministry thinking it was going to help her get well. Her daughter was angry at her mother's money going to his huge mansion, private airplanes, with his own runway next to his mansion. How they can take from desperate people show's what is in their heart. I was sorely misled by many of them early on.

We do need each other. I'm trying to keep in mind that others have discernment too and I saw that all through this conversation - it's encouraging to me and I love when believers really come together like this and give their input - every single person has something to share as we are all parts of the body. I like rich debate as long as no one is hurt. I've been hurt in churches and by other believers and I don't want to do that to anyone else or be a party to it. If anything we should build one another up because we have enough with an enemy and his minions who are out to destroy each one of us.

We agree 100% on that! :)

Yes, it seem that some have always reaped wealth on the back of others.

It makes us wonder what Alexander the Coppersmith had actually done to Paul in making much harm for him .
"“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:”

And the man called Simon in acts 8
"To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God."
< > And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money
."


They will have to "give and answer"...wow unto them.

...we can but keep on keeping on and looking to the Lord.
Bless you.
 
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Enoch111

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It makes us wonder what Alexander the Coppersmith had actually done to Paul in making much harm for him .
It was Paul who had pronounced judgment on Hymenaeus and Alexander after they made shipwreck of their faith. Alexander then retaliated in some manner and did Paul great harm.

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Tim 1:19,20)
 
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Helen

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Thanks for the clarification @Enoch111
I can't say that I have ever 'really ' understood the verse.
Paul talks in one book about receiving a guy back into fellowship unless it was too much for him to cope with in being separated .
And here he is doing a number on them.

But, as Paul was a man of the HEARING ear...he did nothing without being led by the Spirit.
I am still aiming at have such a clear ear as Paul had. ( not that would have wanted his life, or the price he was willing to pay , for Jesus and the Church! ) I am not a very brave soul.
 

Soverign Grace

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We agree 100% on that! :)

Yes, it seem that some have always reaped wealth on the back of others.

It makes us wonder what Alexander the Coppersmith had actually done to Paul in making much harm for him .
"“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:”

And the man called Simon in acts 8
"To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God."
< > And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money
."


They will have to "give and answer"...wow unto them.

...we can but keep on keeping on and looking to the Lord.
Bless you.

The health and wealth preachers really do damage because I know how badly they misled me before I developed any discernment.

Paul faced the peril of false brethren. There's a difference when a moment or two of worldliness breaks through in a Christian - I've seen it even in myself. It's when the intent is malevolent or extremely selfish or prideful when I see it as crossing the line.

I wish I had never had to go through that issue at the Independent Bible church and I wish to God my daughter never had to go through it. But God must have had a reason for it. We started attending a Baptist church and have been there for a number of years. My husband became the head trustee for awhile. So our move there was good for the church too because my husband is in construction and helped the church a great deal.
It's funny. I couldn't put my finger on it but I think my spirit sensed something off in the Independent church, even before we had that happen. I wish I had paid better attention to my uneasiness there. I just didn't like it there. But every time I go into the Baptist church I have a sense of God and the feeling that I'm at home. I don't know why God let us wander in the wilderness before finding this church but maybe someday He'll tell me:)
 
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