frivolous subjects that make little or no difference
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I was here in 2009, left for a while, just popped in and nothing's really changed to be honest other than lots of people I used to know aren't here any more!
But to answer your question, yes, I think the overall Christian community in the Western world has become less informed but also understandably so. It's hard when people become Christians - it's never clean cut and easy to leave behind the teachings of the world. In my opinion, much of the difficulty lies in people's cultural upbringing (syncretism). For example, people who were brought up with the tolerance/love mindset, tend to only focus on teachings that fit that mould. Or people who were brought up with lots of choice and emphasis on their free rights have difficulty grasping, say Reformed theology because they (mistakenly) think that's contrary to their real life experiences. The list goes on and on but hey, that's what growth is about, right? It takes time for people to grow in knowledge.
For myself, I can attest that while I'm blessed to have a little more knowledge than the average (at least that's what I believe!), I lack greatly on the opposite end of the spectrum. I just try not to show it. You did not know me back in 2009 but I wish I could have apologized to some of the people back then. And while I desire the other portion, I don't expect it to magically happen right away.
But a verse does come to mind though - perhaps more as a warning to all of us than anything... Hosea 4:6. In the land, there is an increase of sinful behaviour. But, people don't speak up against it. It's not the lack of finesse, or a kinder/softer way to present truth that destroys people - ultimately, it's the lack of biblical knowledge. And without that knowledge, you don't have the law. And without that law, you wouldn't be able to follow it.
But to answer your question, yes, I think the overall Christian community in the Western world has become less informed but also understandably so. It's hard when people become Christians - it's never clean cut and easy to leave behind the teachings of the world. In my opinion, much of the difficulty lies in people's cultural upbringing (syncretism). For example, people who were brought up with the tolerance/love mindset, tend to only focus on teachings that fit that mould. Or people who were brought up with lots of choice and emphasis on their free rights have difficulty grasping, say Reformed theology because they (mistakenly) think that's contrary to their real life experiences. The list goes on and on but hey, that's what growth is about, right? It takes time for people to grow in knowledge.
For myself, I can attest that while I'm blessed to have a little more knowledge than the average (at least that's what I believe!), I lack greatly on the opposite end of the spectrum. I just try not to show it. You did not know me back in 2009 but I wish I could have apologized to some of the people back then. And while I desire the other portion, I don't expect it to magically happen right away.
But a verse does come to mind though - perhaps more as a warning to all of us than anything... Hosea 4:6. In the land, there is an increase of sinful behaviour. But, people don't speak up against it. It's not the lack of finesse, or a kinder/softer way to present truth that destroys people - ultimately, it's the lack of biblical knowledge. And without that knowledge, you don't have the law. And without that law, you wouldn't be able to follow it.
Y
I agree with Brother DCon, it's a public forum, therefore you can't expect everyone to be on the same plane.
The real culprits are those who come into this place with legalistic doctrines, who use guilt and criticism to entrap other people into their beliefs. All that does is immobilize growing Christians, causing them confusion and fear. There's no joy, no liberty in their speech, and they even go as far as to warn people about "too much grace". No light shines in their posts, it's all religiosity supported by mounds and mounds of scripture to support their lifeless ideologies.
And no matter how many times you point it out to them that Jesus Christ has come that we might have life and that more abundantly, and that Jesus' Atonement washed away guilt and shame, and that Jesus tells us to "only believe" and that He would show us the way to walk, they insist on piling on more mounds of religious dirt.
That there is the problem, brother. Nevertheless, there are more people on this site who exhibit the genuine love and grace and mercy and joy of Jesus Christ than there are religious zealots. Jesus Christ is alive and at work in the members of this site and we are family through His Holy Spirit. We just have to keep reminding one another of that.
The real culprits are those who come into this place with legalistic doctrines, who use guilt and criticism to entrap other people into their beliefs. All that does is immobilize growing Christians, causing them confusion and fear. There's no joy, no liberty in their speech, and they even go as far as to warn people about "too much grace". No light shines in their posts, it's all religiosity supported by mounds and mounds of scripture to support their lifeless ideologies.
And no matter how many times you point it out to them that Jesus Christ has come that we might have life and that more abundantly, and that Jesus' Atonement washed away guilt and shame, and that Jesus tells us to "only believe" and that He would show us the way to walk, they insist on piling on more mounds of religious dirt.
That there is the problem, brother. Nevertheless, there are more people on this site who exhibit the genuine love and grace and mercy and joy of Jesus Christ than there are religious zealots. Jesus Christ is alive and at work in the members of this site and we are family through His Holy Spirit. We just have to keep reminding one another of that.
You have a strong point made in the way you perceive the struggle. As strange as this might sound, good can come from the struggle. Without the testing, even by things which seem unfair, how else would a person learn how to over come the challenge by someone who entraps others with the law? In as much as a person uses law to condemn and is reactionary towards what appears to be weakness, a reactionary response solves little if anything except to consider a better way of thinking. How else could a person know the depth of love, if that person did not experience evil thoughts towards another?
just like in the time of Jesus. the lawless ones attack Jesus and His disciples. still the same.
no(to those mistaken ones) it is not a matter of being made right by the law. duh. this has been repeated ad infinitum, ad nauseum, mostly by Y'ALL crying for milk..... (to soak the steak in?) ...
Jesus and His disciples always pursued and kept the Law of Life in line with all Torah and Scripture. no compromise.
the disciples didn't keep the law perfectly, and Jesus showed what to do if they sinned. He knew and they knew that they weren't saved by keeping the law.
but the desire to keep the law, according to Yahweh's Word, is in the heart of everyone who loves Him.
OT and NT, today, and yesterday, and tomorrow.
a NEW HEART, that loves to honor Yahweh as King, Leader, Creator, Savior, All in All.
not to disrespect HIM by disobeying Him. especially not willfully, wantonly, and pervertedly with a false gospel that is lawless (as perpetrated by many, according to their own posts and by the schools or churches that they say they follow or are in ).....
those who are lawless are lawless. and Yahweh says directly what will happen to them.
those who think they can be saved by keeping the law are also told what happens to them.
those who are saved by grace, born again from above by Yahweh, love to do whatever HE SAYS completely, faithfully, truthfully, honestly, and with full respect for Yahweh and Yahshua.
simple.
notice that sinners who do not repent love to say there's only 2 commandments,
and they can't even keep nor do those ! .... they are rightly scared.....
no(to those mistaken ones) it is not a matter of being made right by the law. duh. this has been repeated ad infinitum, ad nauseum, mostly by Y'ALL crying for milk..... (to soak the steak in?) ...
Jesus and His disciples always pursued and kept the Law of Life in line with all Torah and Scripture. no compromise.
the disciples didn't keep the law perfectly, and Jesus showed what to do if they sinned. He knew and they knew that they weren't saved by keeping the law.
but the desire to keep the law, according to Yahweh's Word, is in the heart of everyone who loves Him.
OT and NT, today, and yesterday, and tomorrow.
a NEW HEART, that loves to honor Yahweh as King, Leader, Creator, Savior, All in All.
not to disrespect HIM by disobeying Him. especially not willfully, wantonly, and pervertedly with a false gospel that is lawless (as perpetrated by many, according to their own posts and by the schools or churches that they say they follow or are in ).....
those who are lawless are lawless. and Yahweh says directly what will happen to them.
those who think they can be saved by keeping the law are also told what happens to them.
those who are saved by grace, born again from above by Yahweh, love to do whatever HE SAYS completely, faithfully, truthfully, honestly, and with full respect for Yahweh and Yahshua.
simple.
notice that sinners who do not repent love to say there's only 2 commandments,
and they can't even keep nor do those ! .... they are rightly scared.....
Yup..... mounds & mounds of scripture. Before people complained that single verses without context were being twisted for their personal gain. NOW they tell us mounds & mounds of scripture are being used to "support their lifeless ideologies", while the naysayers use no scripture at all, or resort to twisting single scriptures without context to promote their "ideologies".
Let's not forget too that most of these "mounds of scripture" are literally interpreted, making it nearly impossible to twist.
Let's not forget too that most of these "mounds of scripture" are literally interpreted, making it nearly impossible to twist.
Very true. One doesn't need to be a Bible scholar to see the difference between attackers & defenders. They don't even need to be saved at all to read & determine who's being rude & nasty. Just follow the trail of name-calling & slanderous remarks. You don't need to have a degree in psychology to see who's getting together & circling their prey. A wolf acts like a wolf, not a sheep.
Spiritual truth can only come one way, from the Holy Spirit. Those who in their hearts rely on him to learn, will learn, those who do not rely on him to learn will not. So I guess we could say. Do people rely less on the Holy Spirit than they did in the past? I would say the emphasis is far less on the Spirit today than it was in biblical times.
Scripture completely confirms that the Word and the Spirit work together, and One cannot be emphasized over the Other. Here are some examples.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Obviously prophecy is the written word. In the same way, the Bereans went to the written scripture available at the time in history to confirm Paul's teaching, and then we can conclude that the Hoy Spirit was involved in this understanding of truth.
Acts 17:10-12
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
There are many more scripture references to confirm this, along with our own personal experiences as we see the truth in the Bible and it is confirmed by the Spirit. We also need to consider that one Spiritual gift is the discerning of spirits (plural) and only one spirit is pure and true. This spiritual gift is developed by confirming truth from the Word. Jesus told His disciples clearly why the Spirit from the Father would be sent. It was to bring back to remembrance what the Word had taught. (Jesus is the Word) So the Word comes first confirmed by the Spirit, and the Spirit is confirmed by the Word.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Obviously prophecy is the written word. In the same way, the Bereans went to the written scripture available at the time in history to confirm Paul's teaching, and then we can conclude that the Hoy Spirit was involved in this understanding of truth.
Acts 17:10-12
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
There are many more scripture references to confirm this, along with our own personal experiences as we see the truth in the Bible and it is confirmed by the Spirit. We also need to consider that one Spiritual gift is the discerning of spirits (plural) and only one spirit is pure and true. This spiritual gift is developed by confirming truth from the Word. Jesus told His disciples clearly why the Spirit from the Father would be sent. It was to bring back to remembrance what the Word had taught. (Jesus is the Word) So the Word comes first confirmed by the Spirit, and the Spirit is confirmed by the Word.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
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Spiritual growth and understanding is a never ending process as long as we are in this mortal body. All you said rings true. You mentioned that there have been "lots of people I used to know aren't here any more." You're right. Many stop contributions to the site because of discouragement. I quit attending for a time because there were many people who I respected for their understanding of the Word, who were banned. During that time I also thought that I was labeled to be banned because of my understanding of scripture. That was/is discouraging. Let truth prevail!!
B
Keeping this in context coming from the lips of Christ...
Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD (Matt 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deut 8:3). There is not a word that comes forth from God's mouth that is frivolous and to say there is would be to say that all scripture is not given by inspiration of God. There are over 7,800 promises in 32,000 verses of scripture (1 in 4) and if that be true think of the many issues of life that God has to cover concerning our humanity and the way we live out our life on earth in every detail. To one person a detail may be frivolous but to another that same detail is extremely important because of lack or because of the weakness of their flesh. We, as believers, are to give of our supply where others lack and we receive of the same (Eph 4:16, Phil 4:9, 2 Cor 9:8-12) so that the body can be edified and built up. We actually are to bestow more abundant honor on those who seem less honorable or are uncomely so that the body can be tempered together (2 Cor 12:22-25).
Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD (Matt 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deut 8:3). There is not a word that comes forth from God's mouth that is frivolous and to say there is would be to say that all scripture is not given by inspiration of God. There are over 7,800 promises in 32,000 verses of scripture (1 in 4) and if that be true think of the many issues of life that God has to cover concerning our humanity and the way we live out our life on earth in every detail. To one person a detail may be frivolous but to another that same detail is extremely important because of lack or because of the weakness of their flesh. We, as believers, are to give of our supply where others lack and we receive of the same (Eph 4:16, Phil 4:9, 2 Cor 9:8-12) so that the body can be edified and built up. We actually are to bestow more abundant honor on those who seem less honorable or are uncomely so that the body can be tempered together (2 Cor 12:22-25).
Well if everyone just learned not to respond to an attack against them this forum would be a better place
It's simple ahaa
It's simple
ahaa
Well said!! Now all we have to do is check your profile page & read all your posts to see how many times you did these very things! Or we could just reread what you just said above in the context you meant! Well said indeed!
