Who Does Our Thinking for Us?

[resurrection33]

I get uncomfortable when someone says he believes this or that because that is what someone in a place of authority told him to believe. Frequently, people in places of authority don’t know what they are talking about. Remember the problems Jesus had with the religious leaders of his day?

It is our responsibility to read the teachings of Jesus, which are found in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and obey him. Once we become adults, we don’t need anybody to tell us how to do that. Right?

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Joh 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.

But most who profess Christ have never done this first:

Jas 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and overflowing of evil, receive in meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Most professing Christians in these forums think they are sitting under good, sound teachings, and have no clue what thier beloved shepherd teaches. they put more trust and faith in lying words than the truh of the gospel!

Woe to the worthless shepherd!​

Zec 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! The sword shall be on his arm and on his right eye; his arm shall be completely dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.​

Here we see a great warning to the worthless shepherds of today as compared to biblical times. In my brief times in and out of the church system I can now look back and clearly see how the shepherds of today abandon(leave, forsake) their flock by what they teach as truth!

They teach a foreign gospel Paul called a different gospel, but the worthless shepherds call it truth, the word calls it the spirit of error, but the worthless shepherds call it the spirit of truth, and John said whoever doesn’t not abide in the doctrine of Christ, is void of God. Strong warning that many will scoff at today!

Today the shepherds are more like hired hands or hirelings as the scriptures clearly portray. They are selling the gullible masses a product that leaves them in bondage to the flesh, and blind to the truth!

Jeremiah 23:1 "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.

Not only are the shepherds of today abandoning the flock by teaching them they can sin and still inherit eternal life, but they are also destroying the sheep as they come to feed on the bread of life, but instead get a mouthful of hay and stubble with no nourishment, let alone any power to free them from the bondages of sin, and the lies they gladly support every week.

The shepherd’s get paid vacations from the congregation, and some get special gifts with fancy parties, as the dead flock praises him for his grand charismatic presentation of the package deal, where you come into the kingdom still a fornicator, thief, adulterer, drunkard, and as proven by many e-mail responses a child molester, who doesn’t have to repent, as God will gladly take him in!

Folks this is utter blasphemy. I urge you to wake up and challenge your beloved pastors and elders; to be sure they haven’t abandoned the truth, thus abandoning their responsibility to warn their flock of the upcoming danger!

So next time you go to your church to listen to your pastor, make sure he has not abandoned the way, the truth and the life, which comes from a strong warning to the lukewarm masses who sit there with no concern what so ever if their beloved shepherd is telling them the truth, which would evacuate the building. Or are they just tickling their ears with a good message. But the underlying base of it all is sinking sand, built on original sin, substitution, OSAS, plus many more layers, upon layers of errors, that abandon the true cry of John the Baptist, when He boldly called all men everywhere to repent, then go and produce works or deeds worthy of their repentance, he called them a brood of vipers, James called them adulterer’s, and adulteresses, as well as Jesus calling them hirelings who scatters the flock when danger comes, or some brave soul corners him on his false saved in sin message!

Joh 10:12 But he who is a hireling and not the shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. And the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep.
Joh 10:13 The hireling flees, because he is a hireling and does not care for the sheep.


We all are responsible to work out our own salvation with great fear and trembling, to test every spirit, to hold fast to the truth, to keep the word pure, as well as ourselves, countless warnings to depart from all iniquity, let not even a hint of immorality be in your life, seek first His kingdom and righteousness, to do what is right, obey, guard your heart, put on the full armor of God to withstand the wiles and temptations of the devil, and most of all we are responsible to repent, stop sinning, and seek the mercy of God apart from what the hireling shepherds are telling you.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Tommy

 

[Geometar]

I get uncomfortable when someone says he believes this or that because that is what someone in a place of authority told him to believe. Frequently, people in places of authority don’t know what they are talking about. Remember the problems Jesus had with the religious leaders of his day?

It is our responsibility to read the teachings of Jesus, which are found in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and obey him. Once we become adults, we don’t need anybody to tell us how to do that. Right?

Maybe u started this thread as question on our conversation.I will try to give u good answer.

How We should read the Bible

Prayerfully and reverently, for in each word there is another drop of eternal truth, and all the words together make up the boundless ocean of the Eternal Truth. The Bible is not a book, but life; because its words are spiritual life (John 6:63). Therefore its words can be comprehended if we study them with the spirit of its spirit, and with the life of its life. It is a book that must be read with life — by putting it into practice. One should first live it, and then understand it. Here the words of the Savior apply: “Whoever, is willing to do it — will understand that this teaching is from God” (John 7:17). Do it so that you may understand it. This is the fundamental rule of Orthodox exegesis. At first one usually reads the Bible quickly, and then more and more slowly, until finally he will begin to read not even word by word, because in each word he is discovering an everlasting truth and an ineffable mystery. Everyday read at least one chapter from the Old and the New Testament; but side by side with this put a virtue from each into practice. Practice it until it becomes a habit to you. Let us say, for instance, that the first virtue is forgiveness of insults. Let this be your daily obligation. And along with it pray to the Lord: “O gentle Lord, grant me love towards those who insult me!” And when you have made this virtue into a habit, each of the other virtues after it will be easier for you, and so on until the final one. The main thing is to read the Bible as much as possible. What the mind does not understand, the heart will feel; and if neither the mind understands nor the heart feels, read it over again, because by reading it you are sowing God’s words in your soul. And there they will not perish, but will gradually and imperceptibly pass into the nature of your soul; and there will happen to you what the Savior said about the man who “Casts seed on the ground, and sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, while the man does not know it” (Mark 4:26-27). The main thing is: sow, and it is God Who causes and allows what is sown to grow (1 Cor. 3:6). But do not rush success, lest you become like a man who sows today, but tomorrow already wants to reap.

 

[resurrection33]

Maybe u started this thread as question on our conversation.I will try to give u good answer.

How We should read the Bible

Prayerfully and reverently, for in each word there is another drop of eternal truth, and all the words together make up the boundless ocean of the Eternal Truth. The Bible is not a book, but life; because its words are spiritual life (John 6:63). Therefore its words can be comprehended if we study them with the spirit of its spirit, and with the life of its life. It is a book that must be read with life — by putting it into practice. One should first live it, and then understand it. Here the words of the Savior apply: “Whoever, is willing to do it — will understand that this teaching is from God” (John 7:17). Do it so that you may understand it. This is the fundamental rule of Orthodox exegesis. At first one usually reads the Bible quickly, and then more and more slowly, until finally he will begin to read not even word by word, because in each word he is discovering an everlasting truth and an ineffable mystery. Everyday read at least one chapter from the Old and the New Testament; but side by side with this put a virtue from each into practice. Practice it until it becomes a habit to you. Let us say, for instance, that the first virtue is forgiveness of insults. Let this be your daily obligation. And along with it pray to the Lord: “O gentle Lord, grant me love towards those who insult me!” And when you have made this virtue into a habit, each of the other virtues after it will be easier for you, and so on until the final one. The main thing is to read the Bible as much as possible. What the mind does not understand, the heart will feel; and if neither the mind understands nor the heart feels, read it over again, because by reading it you are sowing God’s words in your soul. And there they will not perish, but will gradually and imperceptibly pass into the nature of your soul; and there will happen to you what the Savior said about the man who “Casts seed on the ground, and sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, while the man does not know it” (Mark 4:26-27). The main thing is: sow, and it is God Who causes and allows what is sown to grow (1 Cor. 3:6). But do not rush success, lest you become like a man who sows today, but tomorrow already wants to reap.

Yes, it was our discussion in the other thread that inspired me to start this thread.

Follow Jesus. Don’t follow people. You can do that.

 

[crossnote]

I get uncomfortable when someone says he believes this or that because that is what someone in a place of authority told him to believe. Frequently, people in places of authority don’t know what they are talking about. Remember the problems Jesus had with the religious leaders of his day?

It is our responsibility to read the teachings of Jesus, which are found in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and obey him. Once we become adults, we don’t need anybody to tell us how to do that. Right?

A red letter guy I see. well I am going to practice what you just preached and not listen to you. Paul was an apotle to the gentiles. I am a gentile, so should I nix Paul and follow resurrection33's instructions?

 

[resurrection33]

A red letter guy I see. well I am going to practice what you just preached and not listen to you. Paul was an apotle to the gentiles. I am a gentile, so should I nix Paul and follow resurrection33's instructions?

It is true that I believe Jesus was infallible:

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. Matt 23:8 RSV

 

[resurrection33]

A red letter guy I see. well I am going to practice what you just preached and not listen to you. Paul was an apotle to the gentiles. I am a gentile, so should I nix Paul and follow resurrection33's instructions?

Jesus says he is the only teacher:

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. Matt 23:8 RSV

 

[resurrection33]

A red letter guy I see. well I am going to practice what you just preached and not listen to you. Paul was an apotle to the gentiles. I am a gentile, so should I nix Paul and follow resurrection33's instructions?

Jesus said he is the only teacher (Matt 23:8). Is it wrong for me to remind you of that?

 

[crossnote]

Jesus said he is the only teacher (Matt 23:8). Is it wrong for me to remind you of that?

so why do you listen to Matthew ,Mark,Luke and John? Do you not believe Luke's account of Paul speaking with the Lord in the Book of Acts and the visions he had?

 

[resurrection33]

so why do you listen to Matthew ,Mark,Luke and John? Do you not believe Luke's account of Paul speaking with the Lord in the Book of Acts and the visions he had?

I listen to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John because I think the Bible is an accurate account of the events it documents, and therefore I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ found in those four books. And therefore I also believe Luke’s account of Paul speaking with the Lord.

But my point is that we shouldn’t let pastors and bishops do our thinking for us. We can get into a lot of trouble that way.

 

[crossnote]

fine as long as you believe the teachings of Jesus are found in Paul as well.

 

[Tintin]

Tommy, I'm sick of your rub. How do you know what the majority of Christians on this board believe? Do you know them personally? Have you bothered to get to know them? Can you read minds? Or are you just content to post Bible verses?

 

[Cobus]

Very interesting question.... Who does our thinking for us..... Well take Paul... When Paul was Saul, HE DID HIS OWN THINKING AND DID WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. But!!!! When God decided to use Paul as the VESSEL.... A Vessel is just a comtainer, and whoever packs that container with thoughts, that container would propably then do what thoughts is put in HIS MIND....

Who packed the container with what when God named him PAUL? God put HIS SPIRIT in Paul, and that Spirit has the mind and thoughts of GOD! So I would say Saul did the thinking of Saul and pharisee, but Paul did the thinking of GOD and Gospel!

God said we would be renewed in our knowledge (Col 3:10).... I believe the thoughts would change from FLESHLY and EARTHLY, to Spiritually and GODLY! Pure thoughts and a Pure Heart. Not even the mind can sin when the Spirit of God is within! Not even a sinning thought.... What an awesome God we serve.... He truly makes EVERYTHING NEW.... Greatest God and others do not even exist.

 

[Rock022]

The bible tells us that the wisdom is passed from man to man. Why do you doubt the power if Jesus. I do not believe blindly, I study the scriptures just like you do.
I ask my self: Why must I believe this way?
instead of asking my self: How can I disprove this?

Acts 8
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Man should guide me, not I pray the HS guide me. There are other passages that say that the Holy Spirit guides us, but this passage can not be any more clear as to the scriptures. How can I take this out of content? Bible only is a man made believe, it is not in the bible any where.

 

[zone]

The bible tells us that the wisdom is passed from man to man. Why do you doubt the power if Jesus. I do not believe blindly, I study the scriptures just like you do.
I ask my self: Why must I believe this way?
instead of asking my self: How can I disprove this?

Acts 8
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Man should guide me, not I pray the HS guide me. There are other passages that say that the Holy Spirit guides us, but this passage can not be any more clear as to the scriptures. How can I take this out of content? Bible only is a man made believe, it is not in the bible any where.

i wanted to like this post.

but because of this i can not:

"Bible only is a man made believe, it is not in the bible any where."

you quoting Acts 8 to disprove sola scriptura is kinda dishonest.
why didn't you post the whole passage where philip begins and ends with what is written of Jesus?
yes, men teach men...but the Spirit is Who opens hearts. He uses the Holy Scriptures.
and the scriptures are God-breathed.

 

[Rock022]

i wanted to like this post.

but because of this i can not:

"Bible only is a man made believe, it is not in the bible any where."

you quoting Acts 8 to disprove sola scriptura is kinda dishonest.
why didn't you post the whole passage where philip begins and ends with what is written of Jesus?
yes, men teach men...but the Spirit is Who opens hearts. He uses the Holy Scriptures.
and the scriptures are God-breathed.

The point I was trying to make is that people do not trust others when it comes to their salvation and cling to their understanding of the bible only. It is understandable that people do not trust. But I as my self who is more powerful satan, men or God. So when God said he will be with his church for ever he meant be with His church. Not divide the church latter, go to every individual and make them believe different.

Many people say the reformation happened for a reason, I agree. The church is now more divided than ever.

 

[Rock022]

i wanted to like this post.

but because of this i can not:

"Bible only is a man made believe, it is not in the bible any where."

you quoting Acts 8 to disprove sola scriptura is kinda dishonest.
why didn't you post the whole passage where philip begins and ends with what is written of Jesus?
yes, men teach men...but the Spirit is Who opens hearts. He uses the Holy Scriptures.
and the scriptures are God-breathed.

By the way, where does it say in ACTS 8 what is written of Jesus? or you quoted another book and chapter?

 

[jimmydiggs]

The point I was trying to make is that people do not trust others when it comes to their salvation and cling to their understanding of the bible only. It is understandable that people do not trust. But I as my self who is more powerful satan, men or God. So when God said he will be with his church for ever he meant be with His church. Not divide the church latter, go to every individual and make them believe different.

Many people say the reformation happened for a reason, I agree. The church is now more divided than ever.

I dunno about that... while I don't agree with many of my brothers and sisters, we are still brothers and sisters. Pretty united if you ask me.

If you want to complain about divisions, I think you should start with examining your own church. It's got plenty of it's own, and had started plenty of it's own.

 

[zone]

By the way, where does it say in ACTS 8 what is written of Jesus? or you quoted another book and chapter?

Rock....the ethiopian only had the OT, right?
he was on his way to Jerusalem.

philip the evangelist was sent to him to open his eyes to WHO was being spoken of in Isaiah.
^ scripture.

since the NT was still being revealed, the Apostles and the early disciples were supernaturally empowered to know and teach the Wonderful Works of God (Acts 2).

whatever philip taught the ethiopian concerning Jesus is now recorded for us in scripture. if he taught the man anything that isn't recorded for us, we don't need it. and if he taught him anything that isn't recorded, how do you know your church possesses those very things he taught which aren't recorded?

Acts 8 doesn't say anything about philip teaching the man to snip locks of hair or gesticulate or genuflect, or kiss icons or anything. i'm not against any of that unless it's taking the place of SOLA SCRIPTURA (which it is...so i have to be against it....don't you see?)

if your church or group uses rituals to remind you of the true gospel, great. personally i don't understand why, since there's nothing in the NT which says any such rituals have any Power of God unto salvation or training or equipping or anything else.
zone.

 

[Rock022]

I can attend any mass in the world and continue where I had left of from the week before. Every one in there should believe the same way. Our walks in faith are different, some understand more than others, while some just go trough the motions. But the church is not divided. When we go ask four guidance from our leaders in faith, it follows the same believe. If it does not we have to report it. Do all pastors believe the same way? I am making a general statement here. Not all pastors are bad.

Ask your self this can I attend any church and have the same believes and continue the scriptures?