~This side of the 'glass'~
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(Interesting article that some most likely struggle with)
The Word is not a Book that we wrote about God. The Word is Christ. The Word became flesh and we have been trying our very best to get it into a Book ever since.
Simply put: The Bible is not a book written by God. It’s a book written by us about God. There is a huge difference.
The Bible does not claim to be our hope. It points us to Christ who is our hope.
The Bible does not claim to be our authority. It tells us that Christ is our authority.
The Bible does not claim to be the foundation of our faith. It reveals to us that there is one foundation and this foundation is Christ.
The Bible does not claim to be infallible or inerrant. It shows us that Christ [and Christ alone] is our source of Truth.
There is no life in the Bible. Jesus said so. He warned us that we could search the Scriptures and never find life in those pages. Our only hope is to come to Christ – directly and personally – to find our life hidden in Him alone.
A dead religion of laws and rules bound in a book is only useful to those who want to manipulate and control people using fear.
A living relationship with the One who fills everything in every way is what we’re invited into here and now. But you just might need to close the book long enough to step into that reality and experience the living Christ for yourself.
But, doesn’t the Bible tell us that:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2 Tim. 3:16-17]?
Actually, no it doesn’t say that.
The word “Scripture” is in your English translation. But, if you look at the Greek text you’ll notice something alarming: The word “Scripture” doesn’t appear in that passage.
It’s true.
The word translated “Scripture” in your English Bible is actually the Greek word “Graphis” which is not the word for “Scripture” but the common word for “Writings”.
The text actually says: “All the God-breathed writings are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”
This begs the question, then, “What are the ‘God-breathed writings'”?
The answer is: “Any writing which is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..”
That can be something from the Bible, or from Rumi, or from Buddha, or Brene Brown or Anne Lamott, or anyone whose words inspire you, teach you, correct you and lead you into a deeper connection with God and Christ.
So, for example, if you’re driving down the road and a song comes on the radio that touches you deeply, speaks a profound truth to your soul, that is an “inspired” song. God uses those words and that moment to communicate something life-changing to transform you more into the image of His Son.
This doesn’t mean that God wrote that song.
It doesn’t mean that the song is inerrant or infallible.
But it DOES mean that the Creator of the Universe used those words to speak a profound truth into your heart at just the right moment, to lead you nearer to Himself and bring healing and life to your soul.
That’s inspiration. That’s how God’s Spirit uses anything, and everything, to communicate Truth to us in everyday our life.
This is the Word of God which is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. It’s not a Book. It’s the living Spirit of Christ.
Christ is not bound by any book, or held captive by any religious text.
Neither are you.
(No comments necessary, it says what it says)
(When truth is exposed, or not, it makes for thoughtful observation,
and it being conceivable many struggle either with or without truth)
The Word is not a Book that we wrote about God. The Word is Christ. The Word became flesh and we have been trying our very best to get it into a Book ever since.
Simply put: The Bible is not a book written by God. It’s a book written by us about God. There is a huge difference.
The Bible does not claim to be our hope. It points us to Christ who is our hope.
The Bible does not claim to be our authority. It tells us that Christ is our authority.
The Bible does not claim to be the foundation of our faith. It reveals to us that there is one foundation and this foundation is Christ.
The Bible does not claim to be infallible or inerrant. It shows us that Christ [and Christ alone] is our source of Truth.
There is no life in the Bible. Jesus said so. He warned us that we could search the Scriptures and never find life in those pages. Our only hope is to come to Christ – directly and personally – to find our life hidden in Him alone.
A dead religion of laws and rules bound in a book is only useful to those who want to manipulate and control people using fear.
A living relationship with the One who fills everything in every way is what we’re invited into here and now. But you just might need to close the book long enough to step into that reality and experience the living Christ for yourself.
But, doesn’t the Bible tell us that:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2 Tim. 3:16-17]?
Actually, no it doesn’t say that.
The word “Scripture” is in your English translation. But, if you look at the Greek text you’ll notice something alarming: The word “Scripture” doesn’t appear in that passage.
It’s true.
The word translated “Scripture” in your English Bible is actually the Greek word “Graphis” which is not the word for “Scripture” but the common word for “Writings”.
The text actually says: “All the God-breathed writings are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”
This begs the question, then, “What are the ‘God-breathed writings'”?
The answer is: “Any writing which is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..”
That can be something from the Bible, or from Rumi, or from Buddha, or Brene Brown or Anne Lamott, or anyone whose words inspire you, teach you, correct you and lead you into a deeper connection with God and Christ.
So, for example, if you’re driving down the road and a song comes on the radio that touches you deeply, speaks a profound truth to your soul, that is an “inspired” song. God uses those words and that moment to communicate something life-changing to transform you more into the image of His Son.
This doesn’t mean that God wrote that song.
It doesn’t mean that the song is inerrant or infallible.
But it DOES mean that the Creator of the Universe used those words to speak a profound truth into your heart at just the right moment, to lead you nearer to Himself and bring healing and life to your soul.
That’s inspiration. That’s how God’s Spirit uses anything, and everything, to communicate Truth to us in everyday our life.
This is the Word of God which is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. It’s not a Book. It’s the living Spirit of Christ.
Christ is not bound by any book, or held captive by any religious text.
Neither are you.
(No comments necessary, it says what it says)
(When truth is exposed, or not, it makes for thoughtful observation,
and it being conceivable many struggle either with or without truth)
'And I still stand by this truth.'
https://christianchat.com/threads/this-side-of-the-glass.182929/post-3905224
https://christianchat.com/threads/this-side-of-the-glass.182929/post-3905224
'In all appearance, neglect of and/or not understanding the intended purpose and function of
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit...has left many struggling with unnecessary foolishness which has
simply left no consciousness or awareness of the Holy Spirit as an active spiritual reality in sharing of God's intended love.'
'Relying on words put forth through worldly perceptions obviously not being inspired through
actions of inspiration through the Holy Spirit...shall most likely be a path of darkness by a heart
of darkness, and the 'light' of the Holy Spirit shall be blocked out...leaving spiritual bankruptcy.'
' I have learned not to be held captive by worldly foolishness that which hinders my spiritual reality of truth.'
'I believe any action of pretense that disassembles the unity of God's
intended believers, shall be considered an act promoted by the doing of
'Satan's' handiwork, and hearts of stone are left with no testimonies to share.'
'Good intentions become invalid when hearts appear vacant of spiritual reality,
leaving worldly notions to prevail. Spiritual maturity cannot be taught, but possible
to acquire with perseverance in the right direction...so long as being inspired by the Holy Spirit.'
'Truth shall most likely be hard to accept when the heart is spiritual deprived.
Spiritual deprivation is forgetfulness of the nature God. What you see around us, this material world,
is the embodiment of one's own forgetfulness. Because some wanted to forget their relationship with God,
they have been given this world in which to live out their forgetfulness.'
'They will remain here until it is remembered that they are actually His servants and recover
the love for Him, the Master. Personal realization of this is called Spiritual Consciousness.'
"Unable to accept truth shall be a troublesome burden that has the
inevitable potential to bring cause of extended mental anguish.
'This often witnessed by arrogant aggressive and confrontational behavior
one against another...accomplishing nothing compatible with God's love,
and/or sharing love of God."
"I respectfully but firmly find it of great necessity to rebuke the intended sinuating language put forth
in a popular forum of much debate which draws interaction of diverse controversy...so be it.
'I honestly feel the misleading language was put forth with good intentions, but so detrimental to truth
that by all accounts to be said that of truth was not clear by any means, in fact so extremely
overshadowed as to be perpetrated by a heart very deprived of any spiritual wellness."
"I pray their spiritual wellness improves."
(~Prov. 19. [5] A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
[9] A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.~)
'Having knowledge of God's INSPIRED wisdom and being aware of the necessity having the gift of the Holy Spirit
within us. The work and/or teachings of Jesus must be firmly acknowledged and understood, His work has been done!
'Jesus having the nature of a spiritual being and without the ability of any physical, materialistic or worldly duties here on earth.
That leaves each individual to do the work of His inspired work so done... and each human shall have a great challenge in an effort
to apply and act upon His principles of life...to know of and hopefully have the fortitude to practice love, goodness, kindness...etc. etc.,
And this should never be insinuated that one needs not to have to even try to accomplish these things as if by magic it just happens...
It does not work as such. And all should be reminded, not to grieve the Holy Spirit...for of God's disappointment surely to be.'
'Christ in us...living with and for Christ in purpose and effort to accomplish His will...here in the now.'
"That is all and I leave the rebuke matter closed."
in a popular forum of much debate which draws interaction of diverse controversy...so be it.
'I honestly feel the misleading language was put forth with good intentions, but so detrimental to truth
that by all accounts to be said that of truth was not clear by any means, in fact so extremely
overshadowed as to be perpetrated by a heart very deprived of any spiritual wellness."
"I pray their spiritual wellness improves."
(~Prov. 19. [5] A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
[9] A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.~)
'Having knowledge of God's INSPIRED wisdom and being aware of the necessity having the gift of the Holy Spirit
within us. The work and/or teachings of Jesus must be firmly acknowledged and understood, His work has been done!
'Jesus having the nature of a spiritual being and without the ability of any physical, materialistic or worldly duties here on earth.
That leaves each individual to do the work of His inspired work so done... and each human shall have a great challenge in an effort
to apply and act upon His principles of life...to know of and hopefully have the fortitude to practice love, goodness, kindness...etc. etc.,
And this should never be insinuated that one needs not to have to even try to accomplish these things as if by magic it just happens...
It does not work as such. And all should be reminded, not to grieve the Holy Spirit...for of God's disappointment surely to be.'
'Christ in us...living with and for Christ in purpose and effort to accomplish His will...here in the now.'
"That is all and I leave the rebuke matter closed."
"I am unable to do the learning for anyone. I have and do share things I have learned
since my renewed and reformed way of life began over two decades ago. Being witnessed are endless questions
pertaining to God and different life disturbances. Personally I believe any and all scripture shall
be left upon each individual, and surely any doubts, or troublesome disturbances are attended to
somewhere within the confines of the entirety of the Bible. And it is out of my jurisdiction of making any
attempt to interpret scripture in and of my thinking that it is going to be of any relevance to anyone's personal life...
most likely it would be minimal."
'Point being, I have learned the absolute necessity of not trying to incorporate worldly 'thinking' with
the spiritually inspired readings, as the mixture very easily becomes more worldly as the nature of
the man mind will prevail...human nature differs from spiritual nature...cause and effect are never separated.'
'I find harmony being the essence of hopefully coming to and learning my life has become more orderly
and manageable by striving to focus on the inspired wisdom of the teachings of Jesus Christ and
the inspired principles of life...this I know to be a full time endeavor, but all things are more clear with a spiritual
enlightenment which helps to be aligned with reality...here in the now.'
since my renewed and reformed way of life began over two decades ago. Being witnessed are endless questions
pertaining to God and different life disturbances. Personally I believe any and all scripture shall
be left upon each individual, and surely any doubts, or troublesome disturbances are attended to
somewhere within the confines of the entirety of the Bible. And it is out of my jurisdiction of making any
attempt to interpret scripture in and of my thinking that it is going to be of any relevance to anyone's personal life...
most likely it would be minimal."
'Point being, I have learned the absolute necessity of not trying to incorporate worldly 'thinking' with
the spiritually inspired readings, as the mixture very easily becomes more worldly as the nature of
the man mind will prevail...human nature differs from spiritual nature...cause and effect are never separated.'
'I find harmony being the essence of hopefully coming to and learning my life has become more orderly
and manageable by striving to focus on the inspired wisdom of the teachings of Jesus Christ and
the inspired principles of life...this I know to be a full time endeavor, but all things are more clear with a spiritual
enlightenment which helps to be aligned with reality...here in the now.'
"Prayer being a part of my daily life, and I stand by this as an essential practice that
surely helps me to focus on the conduct of my life...here in the now."
'This being my personal quiet time of reflections of coming to remembrance of the spiritually
inspired 'principles of life' needed to be my guidance in the ability to rightfully and hopefully
confront the day at hand. It is my time of spiritual awareness of my life in the hands of the
unseen spirit of God. I have learned this requires practice, self discipline and perseverance...each day.
'And it being of no necessity to publicly share my personal concerns. Though I share prayers publicly
simply in hopes of encouragement and support of troublesome lives in the need of such.'
'I believe "entertainment prayers" (ANY event of gathering) are surely made with good intentions, rather
for self recognition, out of respect or being felt to be appropriate...most likely the spirit of God being a fleeting
moment, if even that.'
'Materialistic and entertainment prayers being witnessed across an array of social media outlets for
selfish and self centered agendas...to gain followers, surely for an ego trip!
'I believe prayer to be an integral ingredient and to maintain a spiritual awareness in life to be of
profound significance...here in the now. No more...no less!
https://christianchat.com/threads/historical-gospel.183659/post-3872495
'A profound reading of which is due as a reminder and has come to pass ...here in the now.'
'A profound reading of which is due as a reminder and has come to pass ...here in the now.'