WHO LEADS YOUR POSTING

Ferris Bueller said:

So, do we let the flesh lead, or the Spirit, in responding to this problem you see in the church today? How are they different? Do you know? Do you use the perceived error of someone else's teaching as an excuse to use the flesh to respond to them and justify it in the name of truth?

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You're absolutely right, you really should say something to the guy in post#47 who's threatening to bloody people's nose.

But we both know you have no plan to do that, now do you?

Exactly my point.

Find somebody else to spar with.

I have poured through the New Testament and the only thing I can say with 100% certainty regarding Jesus' teachings is we must love one another.

1 John 4:7
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

If everyone can agree on this then we have room for dialog. Otherwise we're just crazy people, naked under our barrels, holding poorly spelled signs claiming, "Repent, the end it nigh!"

GEN2REV said:

How bout the doctrine of the Bible?And if they show you Scripture to support their beliefs? Then what's your excuse?

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The High Priests, Saducees, Pharisees, all quoted Moses' doctrine written in the Torah.
In Moses law it says...
A lot of times Jesus would correct their "interpretation" , Ye have heard it said, but I say....

It seems to me most people interpret the bible how they hear it.
Or how it relates to their own personal circumstances.
Some use it against others to prove their own interpretation is right.
The mote in the eye clause.

I believe the bible is a tool that should be used for self-reflection.
And if everyone used this tool on self, then eventually we would all have a common ground.
What I find boring, is arguing about is Jesus man or God, concerns about this law or that law, baptism, circumsion..
should women teach, men have long hair, etc.
All of these things are outward, they are what occurs in the world outside of us, rather than concentrating on how to improve the inner man.
They make for good fodder for arguments.
And all of these things have different interpretations in themselves.
We will never find the perfect man within if we look towards worldly attributes without.

The things that splinter the church the most are those things that pertain unto the world.
Doctrines are teachings. That's what the word doctrine means.
Paul tells us there are different doctrines (teachings) for ministering.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even 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.

The bottom line is to come in unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.
This is the main function of MOM, keeping the family together.
Now picture a big table with a bunch of sons and daughters all coming for dinner.
(That's the biggest thing missing in today's society.. eating together at the dinner table)
Lots of discussions going on. My thoughts go to the series of the Walton's, where all the kids are telling about their day.
The good and the bad. And they argue too. But at the head of the table is John. He is the father of the family and he listens,
he questions, he disciplines, and even rejoices when things go well.
Olivia, the mom.. sometimes she even disagrees with John because she sees it from a mother's perspective. And tries to bring into the conversation, a balance.
Now at the end of the day, Dad's word stands. Because he is the authority of the household.
But decisions are reached on a more reasonable common ground, than just do it because I said so.

I guess my point is, the main function of the church is to keep the family together growing up with a good foundation.
Respectfulness, kidness, being willing to listen and admit when your wrong. Apologizing, and standing beside each other regardless of what transpires during the day.
Don't let the sun go down on your wrath. Make amends. Be a Family.

How one teaching applies to your specific circumstances, may not apply to another.
Just because Johnboy had to cut the wood, didn't mean Mary Ellen didn't have to bake the bread.
Because JimBob got to go fishing, didn't mean Elizabeth didn't have to finish her homework.
Ben had to milk the cow, and Erin had to feed the chickens.

The whole family functioned as one unit. It was unified in it's growth, in it's basic understanding of how a family funtioned.
There are fundamental doctrines in the bible. The golden rule for instance, do unto others as you would have done unto you.
Be quick to forgive rather than quick to be angry.
But these are character building blocks. And not everyone has the same character, but they have the same foundational core.

Some people just like arguing for the sake of arguing.
I enjoy a good wholesome debate without animosity or finger pointing or blame.
Specially name calling, that just causes hurt feelings, it does nothing for unifying the family.

I believe when it comes to doctrines in the bible, the first thing one must do is see if and how it applies to oneself before they demand others to abide by what is written.
If it aint good for the gander, it may not be good for the goose. However it may be perfect for the duck.
I believe the bible is first and foremost a tool to check ones own stature, and follow how we ourselves measure up to it's standard.

I believe this is good doctrine for all. But that's my belief:
Luk 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Just rambling..
Hugs

GEN2REV said:

The Bible wouldn't give us dire warnings about False Teachers if it wasn't a danger to Christians.

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It's a danger to Christians in general. Ultimately, it is not a danger for those in whom the word will grow and remain. Nothing can stop the word from growing and remaining in ground that God knows it will in fact grow and remain in. The devil can't keep ground that will produce the fruit of the kingdom from being preserved and saved at the end of the age. Do you understand what I'm saying? I think you probably don't. And worse, you wont' take the time and give me the courtesy of at least understanding what I'm saying. Show me you will at least understand and consider what I'm saying.

If you or I are ground that the word will grow in when exposed to the word, no force in heaven or earth can, utlimately, stop that from happening. Not even Freegrace theology. That's why you don't have to resort to insults and bullying to teach what you and I consider to be the truth of God.

GEN2REV said:

If you're perfectly ok with people going around purposely lying about The Lord God Almighty and His Truth and leading weaker, less educated in God's Word, Christians astray to possibly be lost, then go right ahead pretending they're not a threat and living the False 'Don't worry be happy!' charade of a Christian dogma.

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Don't twist what I said. I'm not okay with it. I just know it can't, ultimately, stop the word of God growing in land that it will in fact grow and remain in. That's why I don't have to sin to force God's salvation agenda. God's agenda will be done. Not maybe. Not sometimes. Not if it's not stopped. It will be done. Everlasting salvation will occur for every person who, when exposed to the word of God, will take it to heart and hold fast to it. The Christian who is led astray and lost, ultimately, is not ground that God knew would receive and retain the word of God. If they were, God would see to it that the potential of that soil would be realized. That's why we don't have to resort to sin when we see the devil's schemes and false doctrines seemingly winning.

GEN2REV said:

Those of us who understand the dangers, and the TRUE threat, of the many wolves that stalk our brethren at every turn, will handle the more difficult task of taking them on head-on and (whether you like it or not) disrupting their evil schemes.

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I do that, too. False doctrines rob land that will support the word of God of the temporal pleasures and blessings of God, not the eternal pleasures and blessings of God in salvation itself. I am concerned that the church does not walk in the abundant life Jesus died to give them. I am not concerned that people who would have otherwise been saved were not saved because of false doctrines, because that can't happen. The work of Christ is to deliver those who will believe, and believe to the very end, from behind the bars of hades, and that work can in no way be hindered by those bars.

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a person who didn't get saved, but who would have otherwise been saved had it not been for the interference of the enemy. Any land that God knows will in fact receive and retain the word of God will in fact do just that. Nothing can stop that from happening. That's why you don't have to sin in on-line forums to accomplish the work of God.

GEN2REV said:

You're absolutely right, you really should say something to the guy in post#47 who's threatening to bloody people's nose.

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He's not threatening to do that to them. He's explaining how that happens when he goes toe to toe with them. I would counsel him to just let people recognize that on their own that that happens. If that's what's really happening, they'll see it.

LearningToLetGo said:

I have poured through the New Testament and the only thing I can say with 100% certainty regarding Jesus' teachings is we must love one another.

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I came to this exact realization myself.
For all the naysayers and critics of Christianity in and out of the church, this is the one central truth that is highest of them all and which is most clear in scripture. If a person can't understand anything else, they can know this and practice it and they will be at peace with God. They will know what they need to know.

LearningToLetGo said:

I have poured through the New Testament and the only thing I can say with 100% certainty regarding Jesus' teachings is we must love one another.

1 John 4:7
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

If everyone can agree on this then we have room for dialog. Otherwise we're just crazy people, naked under our barrels, holding poorly spelled signs claiming, "Repent, the end it nigh!"

Click to expand...

Amen!!!

Unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ is exactly there. And one other place, that we trust Jesus. Trust Jesus and love others.

Much love!

LearningToLetGo said:

1 John 4:7
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

If everyone can agree on this then we have room for dialog. Otherwise we're just crazy people, naked under our barrels, holding poorly spelled signs claiming, "Repent, the end it nigh!"

Click to expand...

If I had not grown to this place in my walk with God I would not have arrived at the understanding of election/predestination that I hold right now, which I think is the truth, of course, lol. Instead of disrespectfully blindly and deafly resisting everyone who thought about these things differently I listened to them and it led me to some profound insights into the matter. It seems the truth almost always lies somewhere in between the extremes. By listening and considering arguments on both sides of controversial issues you end up with the parts of truth in both extremes and arrive at the truth that lies in the middle. But as long as we instantly and disrespectfully write off those who don't think like us that'll never happen for us and we'll just remain a part of the problem.

GEN2REV said:

Enjoy your party.

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Hmmmmmm.......God makes Promises....I Just happen to BELIEVE them....I thought that was what Faith was....I thought that “ The RIGHTEOUS shall * LIVE* by Faith “, and that is what I do.....you think I am going to Hell for this......interesting....

GEN2REV said:

You're more than welcome to select another User to converse with now.

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Of course I am! This is a public forum. I will continue to respond to your posts, too, possibly. It depends on if I want what I say contrasted with what you say. Or, if by some chance I actually agree with what you say.

BloodBought 1953 said:

Hmmmmmm.......God makes Promises....I Just happen to BELIEVE them....I thought that was what Faith was....I thought that “ The RIGHTEOUS shall * LIVE* by Faith “, and that is what I do.....you think I am going to Hell for this......interesting....

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If you believe in a "If I believe hard enough" - Word of Faith Cult Doctrine that teaches that you can manifest what you "believe" in, then yes.

You are lost.

That is not what the Bible teaches. And, let's not forget, the Bible is "GOD'S WORD"; it is the mind of God.

There is no arguing/debating against it.

There is only one path to Salvation and it is laid out in 'the fullness' of God's Word.

marks said:

Amen!!!

Unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ is exactly there. And one other place, that we trust Jesus. Trust Jesus and love others.

Much love!

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True, of course, and what you say lines up exactly with the TWO COMMANDS that Jesus left us with and that were revealed by John......1John 3:23 “ And This is His Commandment , That we should BELEVE on the name of His Son , Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, just like He Commanded us to do.”
Jesus knew that if we concentrated on these two things, everything else of importance would take care of itself.....

For those that insist upon “ laws” to keep, even though “ Christ is the END of the Law for all of those that BELIEVE “ you can try the only one that Jesus gave us in this Wondrous Age Of Grace—— it’s called “ The Law of Christ” —-“Take on the Burdens Of others” ......( Gal6:2)

Either "what Jesus did", or, "what you do", or, "what Jesus did + what you do". Simple choices. Four times in the Bible, the Just shall live by faith. This is contrasted to, "He who does these things shall live by them", that is, what you do.

Much love!

Ferris Bueller said:

It's a danger to Christians in general. Ultimately, it is not a danger for those in whom the word will grow and remain. Nothing can stop the word from growing and remaining in ground that God knows it will in fact grow and remain in. The devil can't keep ground that will produce the fruit of the kingdom from being preserved and saved at the end of the age. Do you understand what I'm saying? I think you probably don't. And worse, you wont' take the time and give me the courtesy of at least understanding what I'm saying. Show me you will at least understand and consider what I'm saying.

If you or I are ground that the word will grow in when exposed to the word, no force in heaven or earth can, utlimately, stop that from happening. Not even Freegrace theology. That's why you don't have to resort to insults and bullying to teach what you and I consider to be the truth of God.

Click to expand...

OSAS promotion.

Irrelevant to the thread.

Ferris Bueller said:

Don't twist what I said. I'm not okay with it. I just know it can't, ultimately, stop the word of God growing in land that it will in fact grow and remain in. That's why I don't have to sin to force God's salvation agenda. God's agenda will be done. Not maybe. Not sometimes. Not if it's not stopped. It will be done. Everlasting salvation will occur for every person who, when exposed to the word of God, will take it to heart and hold fast to it. The Christian who is led astray and lost, ultimately, is not ground that God knew would receive and retain the word of God. If they were, God would see to it that the potential of that soil would be realized. That's why we don't have to resort to sin when we see the devil's schemes and false doctrines seemingly winning.

Click to expand...

OSAS promotion.

Irrelevant to the thread.

Ferris Bueller said:

I do that, too. False doctrines rob land that will support the word of God of the temporal pleasures and blessings of God, not the eternal pleasures and blessings of God in salvation itself. I am concerned that the church does not walk in the abundant life Jesus died to give them. I am not concerned that people who would have otherwise been saved were not saved because of false doctrines, because that can't happen. The work of Christ is to deliver those who will believe, and believe to the very end, from behind the bars of hades, and that work can in no way be hindered by those bars.

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a person who didn't get saved, but who would have otherwise been saved had it not been for the interference of the enemy. Any land that God knows will in fact receive and retain the word of God will in fact do just that. Nothing can stop that from happening. That's why you don't have to sin in on-line forums to accomplish the work of God.

Click to expand...

OSAS promotion.

Irrelevant to the thread.

For the record, you're allowed here to put all these almost identical sentiment posts within the same post. What you're doing by making 10 of the same post is disrespectful to the OP.

Ferris Bueller said:

He's not threatening to do that to them. He's explaining how that happens when he goes toe to toe with them. I would counsel him to just let people recognize that on their own that that happens. If that's what's really happening, they'll see it.

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Then counsel HIM and stop mucking up this thread with as many worthless posts as you can shell out.

How many posts back now did you say anything relevant to the thread or useful to anybody reading along?

You're trolling and goading. Wasting people's time.

Ferris Bueller said:

Of course I am! This is a public forum. I will continue to respond to your posts, too, possibly. It depends on if I want what I say contrasted with what you say. Or, if by some chance I actually agree with what you say.

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Completely unnecessary response.

Irrelevant to the thread.