Chasing Rainbows

[aspen]

Is Christianity a quest for purity? "I will only go to church if the scriptures are perfectly taught". I will only associate with likeminded people or in otherwords, 'real Christians'. "I will be vigilliant about rooting out what is wrong about leaders, church, exegesis, hermenutics, blah, blah, blah". Is this what Christ had in mind for His people?

Wrong! Jesus taught in the very Temple, He criticised! His message was to love one another, not to chase perfection in vain. Looking for perfection before you trust or act is equivilant to burying your treasure.......

 

[Madad21]

I dont think you'll get much argument in the general sense.
We may be seen as individuals to Christ but we are also called to play our part within the body (church). I think a lot of perfectionism comes from isolation or selective fellowship causing thought processes to become ridged, where ones source of theology comes from ones own limited reasoning.
We all excel at some things but lack horribly in others, naturally this leaves us not only dependent in study for our understanding but just as importantly on each other.
In the case of someone who isolates themselves or looks for selective like-minded companionship this means that they can not be strengthened in areas where they lack, and because of the bias they tend to favor a type of accepted ignorance, kinda like collateral damage. "I dont understand you so you must be wrong"

But I think its smart to be cautious and the best thing about the indwelling Spirit is the inherited Spiritually ignited common sense we all receive. Since I have had Christ in my life I have become better equipped to sense good from bad, but each has been in the form of a lesson learnt, otherwise whats the point of wisdom without experience.

This passage was given to me just the other day after a lengthy prayer I had the night before concerning my own fears and anxiety's with my own walk
(Philippians 1:13) "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

What a beautiful reassurance this is, God does truly hold us in the palm of his hand. fear not.

 

[shturt678s]

Thank you my brothers for caring!

Long ago, one prof. couldn't stand me as his student where I was under my G.I. Bill and him. I seen others wash out in tears because of him. Forgive me Lord, I sinfully hated him also at the time even as a Christian. Every day I told myself I'm going to know more than him for the Truth surpassing even him. Not boasting, fact. After graduation, he told me that there was nothing more he could do for me as I was one of a very few that even surpassed him with my ending dissertation, or words to this effect. My point, as our Lord says, nothing comes back in the negative...I learned more from him than all the other profs. combined although at the time I didn't know it, plus our Lord took away that sinful hate...thank you Jesus. My end point:

Jn.8:51, "...If anyone shall guard my word, death he shall not at all see forever." (my rendition) The picture here is that of keeping an eye on the precious Word, so that it is not tempered with, but is kept inviolate. The English "to keep" has too much the suggestion of only retaining unfortunately. Guarding the Word against perversions.

Old Jack,

btw I wouldn't be too ambitious to actually guard His Word or accept the former interpretation as being valid due to you'll have a whole host of demons following you around harassing, let alone your own brothers mostly off this forum not very happy with you.to say the least.....count the cost first.

Good to see you back Madad...Thank you Jesus!

 

[Madad21]

Good to see you back Madad...Thank you Jesus!

Thank you I shall be in and out but I will always be around and am always encouraged to see you here!!.



Sorry I meant (Phill 1:6) in my above reply. :wacko:

 

[shturt678s]

Thank you I shall be in and out but I will always be around and am always encouraged to see you here!!.



Sorry I meant (Phill 1:6) in my above reply. :wacko:

Amen! Finally can get into the Word a little more later this morning....hit a few threads in the mean time to keep my ol' heart pumping.

Old Jack

Old Jack