aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
You're right, I do not understand. I have no power to change how you feel. I wish you well.
blessings
The Christian Church?
- Thread starter Thankful 1
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You're right, I do not understand. I have no power to change how you feel. I wish you well.
blessings
I'm not taking anything away from what you wrote...merely continuing the list.
That is nice, but I asked for scripture that tells us what you wrote is of God. Other wise it seems you are trying to give man’s instructions to God’s Church.
A quote from Hammerstone “See God is the ultimate source of everything - on that we agree. However, God, in his infinite wisdom did not give us a religion that we have to blindly feel our way along with. We don't have faith in a vacuum. The New Testament (and the Old Testament for that matter) is full of groups of people with teachers, preachers, evangelizers, etc. whom God uses to spread His word. Life is not all about us, it's all about Him and our commission as Christians is to take that to other people.
Christianity is an extremely social religion. God gives us this because we can be taught by others from God. Different experiences, hardships, victories, etc will shape each person differently. No person knows the entire Bible no matter how much they read and pray for understanding because God doesn't only work 1 on 1 with people. He works in all things, teaching and other Christians withstanding. “
First you say:” God, in his infinite wisdom did not give us a religion that we have to blindly feel our way along with”
You are right that is why Jesus gave us himself and the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us.
You also say:” is full of groups of people with teachers, preachers, evangelizers, etc” Again I agree, but after a person receives the Holy Spirit he or she no longer needs to be taught about God from man.
Christianity is an extremely social religion. God gives us this because we can be taught by others from God. Different experiences, hardships, victories, etc will shape each person differently. No person knows the entire Bible no matter how much they read and pray for understanding because God doesn't only work 1 on 1 with people. He works in all things, teaching and other Christians withstanding. “
First you say:” God, in his infinite wisdom did not give us a religion that we have to blindly feel our way along with”
You are right that is why Jesus gave us himself and the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us.
You also say:” is full of groups of people with teachers, preachers, evangelizers, etc” Again I agree, but after a person receives the Holy Spirit he or she no longer needs to be taught about God from man.
When you say "receives the Holy Spirit" are you referring to spiritual birth of a believer or the baptism of HolySpirit?
Before I answer your question you need to define what is your understanding of Spiritual birth, and baptizem of the Holy Spirt.
I will be glad to answer your question when it is clear what I am answering.
By the way will you use scripture to confirm your understanding?
A Christian is one who esteems others higher than himself/herself
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
A Christian is taught not only directly through the Spirit but also through the other members of His Body through mutual edification unto a perfect man.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
A Christian is open to correction and seeks counsel and accountabiblity from others.
1Co 16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
I don’t know what Harold said, but I am sure he did not say: No matter who tells you anything about God, be it a priest, bishop, or anyone you are to ask Jesus if it is right or wrong.
All I was asking, was for you clarify your statement about "receiving the Holy Spirit".
(Philippians 2:1-11) “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance,
He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Yes Paul says this, but he seems to be sharing how one is to be in association with others in one’s community. If that is not so then how do you understand: (1 Corinthians 12:27-30) “Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them?”
(1 Corinthians 4:19-21) “but I will be visiting you soon, the Lord willing, and then I shall want to know not what these self-important people have to say, but what they can do, since the kingdom of God is not just words, it is power. It is for you to decide: do I come with a stick in my hand or in a spirit of love and goodwill?
Now lets look at your quote from Corinthians.
1Co 16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
That look as if we are supposed to submit ourselves to others, but when one looks a little more he or she sees a different picture.
(1 Corinthians 16:15-16) “with love. I urge you, brothers--you know that the household of Stephanas is the first fruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy ones be subordinate to such people and to everyone who works and toils with them.”
Now one sees that Paul was giving instructions to submit to one group of people to another.
Now I do personally believe one is to submit to his or her Church. That is if the Church is of God.
Then you quote Ephesians 5:21
Again Paul is telling us how to get along with on another, but you notice Paul is not going to submit to anyone who does not agree with the gospel.
(Galatians 1:7-9) “Galatians I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
(Ephesians 5: 21-26) “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,”
I hate to say this, but I've got to.
That is a blatant disregard for God's Truth in His Word. Why? Because The Old Testament Books CONTAIN the prophecy of The Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!
A true teacher called by God can preach The Gospel of Jesus Christ from just about any Book of the whole Bible, including The Old Testament Books, even starting in Genesis!!!
Moreover, The Old Testament Books are quoted so often in The New Testament that any attempt at disregarding the Old Testament Books is an outright declaration of ignorance for a Christian.
The Holy Spirit would NEVER have blatant disregard for The Old Testament Scripture. But 'another spirit' would.
Here is an article that list the 4 Tragic Shifts of the Church: http://www.searchingtogether.org/articles/4tragic.htm
Thank you this article confirms what I have been researching and what I have been saying for years. Constantine the Great did more harm to God’s Church then anyone I have heard of. The Christian people were pacifists until Constantine needed people for his army, and used Christians to fill that need.
How is this consistent?
Thankful 1 wrote:
"I am not a student of the written Word."
My response was to someone who responded to YOUR comments about the Holy Spirit.
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