Brother, I'm saying the same thing you said about the Pharisees, they had the truth, in the OT, but didn't understand it. You think we are somehow beyond that? Nobody's going to fool us about what the NT means, right? We are human just like them, and we can fall into the same trap. They spoke 'the truth' in the sense that they quoted it, but then if Jesus is the truth, and they spoke against him, that HAD to be a lie! So they did lie, because they only understood the word of God as a bunch of facts and rules, rather than understand the nature of it. It can be so with us also.
Well yes, I do think we are beyond the Pharisees, and even beyond the Apostles in some cases. We have something they don't -- the completed Word of God in the Bible. The Pharisees had the OT, as did the Apostles, and they were busy writing the NT as they went. Paul said that he [and his generation] saw through a glass, darkly, and prophesized that something perfect was coming and that which was in part would be done away with. We can discuss if that means the completed Bible or not, but I partly believe it is.
We are human, just like them, and while I believe we have more, that makes it more dangerous for us. We DO have more truth, but the Bible says it would be better for us if we didn't know it, than to know it and not follow it.
Firstly, I apologize if I have not made myself clear about the 'contradictions' issue. Firstly, may I direct you
here, if you want to know what I really meant (post #13). First I want to say, I did not express myself well, if you read that post you will see this is what I meant; no, there are no contradictions, but seeming contradictions. They do indeed cause tension. Sorry for not using a good word, but read my post honestly, I did not mean it ill, and already stated clearly I did not believe the Bible had error. Forgive me...
I read that post (number 13) and did comment on it. I am speaking in general, not directly to you Prentis. It bugs me that more haven't made the admission you did. It's one thing to say, "I see contradictions" or "This seems like a contradiction to me", yet another to say, "The Bible has contradictions". The first is admitting you don't understand; the latter is claiming you do understand and is saying the Bible has error.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I too don't understand everything the Bible says and I see contradictions, by my own understanding. But it isn't the Bible's fault I don't understand it when those things come up.
So again, I was speaking in general... I was speaking to those that claim there ARE contradictions. Yet, some of them that claim this have admitted they haven't even read the whole Bible.
I agree, and I do not condemn the people in those 'churches'. Only the way in which the church walks goes against the commandements of Christ. Christ says that those who are great in the church cannot lord it over the others, yet the leaders take all decisions. Paul says that when we come together, a prophet ought to speak, and the others judge. We have one pastor speak, everyone else sit and be quiet. All in the church are supposed to function in their gifts, yet in the 'church' there is one person or group bringing music, and one person bringing a message. Paul says that when we come together, each ought to bring something, one a song, another a teaching, another a psalm. We have one man bring one teaching, and the rest are supposed to just listen.
What we call 'the church' is not functioning as the church and not being the pillar and ground of the truth. In Christ there is unity, but the devil seeks to divide. The church is all divided up.
Christ has not called us to this 'playing church'. He has called us to true fellowship, with him and the Father, and thus with the brothers who also have fellowship with him, each person functioning in their gift and walking according to freedom in the Spirit, that he may lead. We've got agendas and schedules for sunday meetings, the Spirit is stiffled from the get go!
Let me put it this way... I may make errors in typing sometimes... But one thing I'm careful about -- especially in cases like this -- is to make a difference in "church" and "Church". What's the difference? The capital "C". There is only one "Church". There's a lot of "churches". Understand the difference?
Exactly, in other words, the Pharisees did have truth, but they didn't. It depends what you mean by it. They had factual truth, but no true understanding. The same is true in the mainstream church today.
I'll go with that.... And state it's worse today in all churches, but not the "Church".