Proofing doctrines.

[jiggyfly]

Acts 17:10-12
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did some of the prominent Greek women and many men.

I think the biggest challenge to being a true disciple of Christ is the willingness to be adjusted in our thinking. The Christian religious institution has a number of denominational belief systems within it that vary and some even conflict. Yet there are few who share the same attitude as the noble Bereans and test the preaching and teaching against the scriptures to see if it is true. I have found that many choose a denomination or doctrine that they are comfortable with and will defend it at all costs and yet won't proof it with the scriptures.

Religious paradigm is the most effective foe to spiritual understanding that one can encounter. How many times have we responded like Peter in Acts 10 and said, " far be it from me Lord"? When the scriptures challenge our beliefs we need to adjust our thinking to cooperate rather than adjust the meaning of the scripture to cooperate with our beliefs.

There's a saying that most christians read what they believe rather than believe what they read.

 

[Gracealone]

Very often you see the truth to that.

Everything we hear needs to be be brought in line with scripture.
All of scripture.
Also all our experiences.
If they don't line up with the written word, then they are subject to doubt.
There are no contradictions in the word, so if a teaching seems to have one, better take a closer look, and align it to all the other scripture.
For no scripture is of private interpretation.
Meaning taken aside by itself. :thumbs_up

 

[jiggyfly]

Very often you see the truth to that.

Everything we hear needs to be be brought in line with scripture.
All of scripture.
Also all our experiences.
If they don't line up with the written word, then they are subject to doubt.
There are no contradictions in the word, so if a teaching seems to have one, better take a closer look, and align it to all the other scripture.
For no scripture is of private interpretation.
Meaning taken aside by itself. :thumbs_up

Amen Gracealone, I know my own walk with Jesus has been an example of this very thing. There have been many church doctrines and religious traditions of which Jesus has had to purge me and I know there are some still. I don't hold to many of the church doctrines and traditions that I grew up in and I haven't participated in any kind of religious liturgy in several years. Today many christians probably consider me a heretic and they are right, I don't conform to their religious beliefs. But none of that matters to me anymore, I am in pursuit of Christ.

 

[Gracealone]

In this day,and age that is a good idea, for many churches are going politically correct, as they say.
To do that you have to go against many, if not all, of Gods precepts, and teachings.
This past year there have been two churches in this area that announced they would now be politically correct.

I would not be a part of such a church.

If you don't have the word of God,and believe it is inspired by God, what do you have to preach?
Nothing more than the world has........Nothing!

They are white washed walls, and nothing more.

 

[Boanerges]

Acts 17:10-12
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did some of the prominent Greek women and many men.

I think the biggest challenge to being a true disciple of Christ is the willingness to be adjusted in our thinking. The Christian religious institution has a number of denominational belief systems within it that vary and some even conflict. Yet there are few who share the same attitude as the noble Bereans and test the preaching and teaching against the scriptures to see if it is true. I have found that many choose a denomination or doctrine that they are comfortable with and will defend it at all costs and yet won't proof it with the scriptures.

Religious paradigm is the most effective foe to spiritual understanding that one can encounter. How many times have we responded like Peter in Acts 10 and said, " far be it from me Lord"? When the scriptures challenge our beliefs we need to adjust our thinking to cooperate rather than adjust the meaning of the scripture to cooperate with our beliefs.

There's a saying that most christians read what they believe rather than believe what they read.

Amen x 10 my friend! God's Word is the standard by which all is judged.

 

[jiggyfly]

Just as the error concerning salvation doctrines there are many more examples within the religious system. Some teach obedience to the tithe and yet say that drinking alcohol is a sin. We have some family that belong to pentecostal holiness church and the members have to vow to tithe and not to drink any kind of alcohol. It is sad because it shows their leader is not well studied in the scriptures.

Years ago when I was involved in FGBMFI, I used to meet with a group of pastors every week for prayer. I heard a pastor confess that he didn't believe that the tithe was mandatory but he taught obedience to the tithe to his chruch congregation because the church would close without the money.

I was at a baptist church once several years ago and the pastor was preachin on Acts 2, I thought wow, this should be good. He preached on one verse.
Acts 2:44
*

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

His definition was "basically this means that you (members of his church) will begin to have the same likes and dislikes that I have since I am the pastor here." The congregation clapped and said "Amen".

My experiences with many those who participate in the christian religious institution has been that they can quote scripture in KJV but they can't give you an accurate explaination in their own words.

I also find that many christians are not willing to even proof what they already believe and this is a sign of religious bondage. We say with our mouths that we are open to correction but in many cases our actions testify against us. I believe that the scriptures are the most misunderstood and mistranslated writings and God is the most misrepresented person in the history of mankind.

 

[Coconut]

Religious paradigm is the most effective foe to spiritual understanding that one can encounter.

I agree, because if we are not willing to challenge ourselves, and what is the 'norm' for us in our spiritual rituals and practices... the life giving - life changing message of the Word is hindered by our lack of willingness to experience it by doing what the Word says.

Heb 9:14 GNB Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.

I recall several years ago, our son decided he was going to go on an extended fast to cleanse his body. He had read about the health benefits of fasting so much, (namely from FreedomYou.com) he finally became persuaded enough to try it.

After a couple of weeks, I remember asking him how he felt, and he said "I have never felt so ALIVE, I didnt know it was possible to feel this good!" This experience turned him into a absolute sold out health nut! The kid who was once a junk food addict, lost all desire for junk food and began to crave foods that have life giving substance...God- created garden and plant foods, not foods concocted in a kitchen...no exaggeration in the least...to this day he eats this way, and it shows!

I told that little story because I think it has a spiritual application, and I could probably stop right here, because some of you already got it How do we convince someone to give up religious feasting,
something that seems to satisfy and nourish us spiritually, but has no real life giving substance, when they have never really 'tasted and seen the LORD is GOOD!' They read the word, and because they have never experienced the true freedom and life He offers, they read about this life and freedom, with dull minds and dull hearts. I`m here to tell you, I have tasted, (in case it doesnt show :embarasse) and it turned me into an absolute sold out God nut! (jiggy is surely laughing out loud now)

How do you get from there to here? You get alone with God, you begin to seek His face, and you do it until...until what? Well you`ll know when you`ve finally found the LIFE your soul desires...

2Co 3:11 For if there was glory in that which lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts forever!
2Co 3:12 Because we have this hope, we are very bold.
2Co 3:13 We are not like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear.
2Co 3:14 Their minds, indeed, were closed; and to this very day their minds are covered with the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant. The veil is removed only when a person is joined to Christ.
2Co 3:15 Even today, whenever they read the Law of Moses, the veil still covers their minds.
2Co 3:16 But it can be removed, as the scripture says about Moses: "His veil was removed when he turned to the Lord."
2Co 3:17 Now, "the Lord" in this passage is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

Praise God, glory to GOD!

 

[jiggyfly]

Posted by Coconut; I told that little story because I think it has a spiritual application, and I could probably stop right here, because some of you already got it How do we convince someone to give up religious feasting,
something that seems to satisfy and nourish us spiritually, but has no real life giving substance, when they have never really 'tasted and seen the LORD is GOOD!' They read the word, and because they have never experienced the true freedom and life He offers, they read about this life and freedom, with dull minds and dull hearts.

Amen Coconut, to know about the Lord is not the same as knowing the Lord. One is what I call a religious fantasy and the other is a spiritual reality. Any knowledge of God void of any true experience with Him is falling way short of His intent toward us. The whole purpose of the scriptures is to draw us into having an experience with Him.

 

[Swordman]

I heard a pastor confess that he didn't believe that the tithe was mandatory but he taught obedience to the tithe to his chruch congregation because the church would close without the money.

So, money was the defining authority as to whether he taught the TRUTH versus falsehoods?

I'd say it was high time that dude left and got a REAL job.

I was at a baptist church once several years ago and the pastor was preachin on Acts 2, I thought wow, this should be good. He preached on one verse. Acts 2:44

*

His definition was "basically this means that you (members of his church) will begin to have the same likes and dislikes that I have since I am the pastor here." The congregation clapped and said "Amen".

That sounds strangely reminiscent of Hitler, doesn't it?

I also find that many christians are not willing to even proof what they already believe and this is a sign of religious bondage.

You got that right. I'm dealing with a christian feminazi (talk about an oxymoron) on another forum board who appeals to cultural norms above the authority of scripture in her arguments in favor of feministic theology.

 

[ushalk]

we should always test the teaching with the word. not the scripture itself that is read directly from the bible. rather the meaning that is taught concerning the meaning. it is a lot like the word seed of faith. many teach this as being money rather than the truth of christ in hopes that the person being told will come to christ. this is not a meaning found in the word of god anywhere. yet it is taught as though it is.

 

[Swordman]

we should always test the teaching with the word. not the scripture itself that is read directly from the bible. rather the meaning that is taught concerning the meaning.

One must be very careful about invoking what ALL of scripture has to say on a topic, because when ALL of scripture is brought to bear against the numerous, socially engineered theologies many hold dear, the screams and shouts of, "Foul play," begin to thunder across the threads.