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culture, faith, grace versus legalism, insanitybytes, love, mercy, opinion, truth
Sometimes we get all tangled up in rules and instructions, something I often call legalism, this cut and dry, one size fits all, cookie cutter kind of faith. I shall spare you the links to some discussions that portray a classic example of why this is so very wrong. Suffice it to say that the reason this flat, two dimensional approach to faith can be such a problem is because we have reading comprehension issues, we have human flaws and defects, and we often try to bend scripture until it says what we want it to say.
The internet can be an interesting place, you can find people trying to bend the precise same bit of scripture into a message on how women must never speak, ever…. or into a passage that is thought to somehow justify homosexuality. The very same words!! This has thrown me for a loop a few times, messed with my head. I had a nice chat with a not so nice man that skillfully used scripture to advocate for both pornography and polygamy. Yeah, I know not a “real Christian,” except he is a leader in a church, he is a popular blogger.
I don’t say these things to make people feel bad or to portray Christians in a negative light, although some people think I do, which than begs the question, do you really think people do not see these things already? Do I reveal great secrets here? Do you believe no-one has been watching? Of course they have. Nearly everyone outside of faith or the church itself has a story to tell about why they no longer believe. And no, these are not all made up stories.
Many people have been victims of the plastic and unspiritual, of assorted forms of legalism, of outright abuse. Few ever claim to find fault in Jesus Christ Himself, but rather in His followers. I hear that, I see it, I own it, too. I am so sorry for those who have suffered from assorted lug nuttery at the hands of those who often profess to be following Jesus Christ. That truly breaks my heart.
I see why some of those TV pastors focus on grace so much, people like Joseph Prince, because it is not the legalism, the rules, that are lacking in the modern world, but rather the grace. The message of the cross, the part where the Holy Spirit shows up to read scripture to you, the love and redemption of Christ. People can be so tightly invested in their external rules and regulations, they miss the entire message. Scripture is not just a flat list of rules on a page, it is alive, the Living Word of God, not a book of instructions like an IKEA furniture manual.
I have to say, while Jesus Christ may have come to fulfill the law, rather than to abolish it, some miss the part where He actually fulfilled the law. He achieved victory. It is finished. For some people to believe that being a Christian is all about reasoning out a set of rules down here, is just depressing. Grace is one of those things that resides within you, that drives your desire to be pleasing, that compels you to not want to grieve or disappoint. You don’t even really need a list of rules, because The Word resides within you, Christ leads you, Christ guides you.
Let me tell you, God has no problem pulling our versions of “the rules” right out from under us, either. We do not always know what we think we know about “the rules.”
I have been so blessed, and it never felt that way at the time, but oh so blessed, because I did not have the church, other people, or scripture. I simply had to lean into Jesus Christ, to trust Him and Him alone, and to have faith that if I messed up, if I got it wrong, the blood of that Lamb is so powerful, it can cover every error, past, present and future. The Word was written on the tablet of my heart….before I even read scripture. What an astounding miracle that is.
Grace frightens some people. People in a state of grace might break the rules! They are rather shameless! What if that crazy woman goes off the deep-end and starts doing things I disapprove of? To which I can only say, why do we insist on believing we are more qualified to lead people than Jesus Christ Himself? Does the Holy Spirit not reside within? Is He not far more powerful and convicting that a list of rules and various human forms of disapproval we can mesh out?
Let me tell you, grace is scary, downright terrifying actually, it demands personal responsibility. I’d actually prefer a list of rules myself, so I can use those rules to justify myself. It’s far more comforting to point to a legalistic, reason based list of instructions and say, “See I’m not doing too bad, I measure up pretty well among the other humans,” rather than to face God Himself, naked and exposed, truthful. Leaning fully into grace leads to things like, “I’ve kept your commandments Lord, I haven’t killed anyone,” and the Lord says, “Yes, but you have had murder in your own heart, you have wanted to kill a few souls, metaphorically at least. Now go show mercy to those who murder.”
Grace, the Blood of the Lamb, provides the safety that allows for the conviction, that leads to the Truth. The truth spoken in love.
When people don’t know grace we tend to hide, just like Adam and Eve did. We fear truth and so we wrap ourselves in deception. Then we actually try to lean into that old and ancient trick of the serpent, did God really say… I could post a good thousand links right now, absolute garbage trying to tell people, did God really say..
If Jesus Christ is within you, you will know what God said. You can ask Him yourself! And if your “truth” is not firmly rooted in love and grace, you will just be talking nonsense, plastic, unspiritual nonsense…..or allowing yourself to be ruled by the voices of others talking nonsense.
Grace does not cause one to say, “now that I have grace, I am free to steal.” Grace causes one to show mercy towards the thief on the cross, to come to understand that we are all the thief on the cross. Give me a set of rules and I’ll show you how to break them, but give me grace and I’ll tell you why I follow Him.
Grace actually does not make us so open minded our brains fall out, nor does it make us so merciful and forgiving we always lay down before those who would persecute us, but it does pave the way for the Lord of all Common Sense to come into our lives with a laundry list specially tailored to each one of us and our circumstances, with His cleansing blood that can redeem us, transform us into who and what He designed us to be.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
See, there's this thing called biology... 
https://bythebloodofthelamb.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/the-biggest-sign-of-jesus-return-you-will-never-guess-it/
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“nor does it make us so merciful and forgiving we always lay down before those who would persecute us”
Except…that’s kinda what Jesus did, didn’t he? “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” We have to first determine God’s will, not our will. No, we’re not supposed to take abuse, but we are supposed to forgive and pray for our persecutors. How else will they be saved?
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“How else will they be saved?”
Well, I think God saves those He wants to save, not us. There was a thief on the cross who asked for mercy, but there was another man too, who did not. That is a harsh truth to confront, but some do not chose salvation.
Sure, pray for your enemies, love those who would persecute you, forgive 70 times 70, but I think some of us misinterpret this, use it as an excuse to surrender all powers of discernment, sometimes even to justify sin. So we now live in a world where Christians say things like, “all religions are equal, there are many paths to the Father, who am I to judge?”
It says “don’t you know you’ll judge the angels someday?” If we can’t even judge our enemies here on earth, what makes us think we’ll ever be qualified to judge the angels?
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“Well, I think God saves those He wants to save, not us.” Exactly. The Bible also says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (judge) the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
If Jesus wasn’t here to judge or condemn, what makes us think we’re qualified to judge or condemn now?
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To “condemn” and to “judge” are two entirely different words. Am I judged? Oh yes! Am I condemned? No, mercifully forgiven.
We are all judged and found guilty. Christ did not come to condemn us, however, He came to offer us salvation.
The thing is, if we miss the part about being judged, we miss the part about needing mercy.
We are qualified to judge others, to judge sin, to discern right from wrong. Not just qualified, but commanded to do so. To not do so, is to not discern, which than becomes a deception because our own fear of being perceived as judgemental takes precedence over speaking the truth to people. It’s not loving for example, to tell a drunk driver, “awesome, go have a good time, who am I to judge?”
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Jesus says in John 12:47, “If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
And he tells us several times not to judge. (Matthew 7:1-2 (Luke 6:37), Matthew 12:7). No, I believe the opposite; we’re commanded not to judge. Yes, we need to listen to the Spirit to discern right from wrong FOR OUR actions, not the actions of others. When we do that, we usurp the job of God and Jesus, who will do that upon his return.
Why would you use the example of judging a drunk driver? No, it’s not your job to tell him yes or no. First, we already have a law in place about that. Second, it’s our job to look at the log in our own eye – what have you done, how have you sinned to cause another hurt, or caused another to stumble? We are not anyone’s judge or juror. It we take that role upon ourselves, then we open our lives for anyone to adjudicate everything in our own lives.
I’m far from perfect; I prefer to be judged by God only when the time comes.
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“It we take that role upon ourselves, then we open our lives for anyone to adjudicate everything in our own lives.”
Yes, we sure do, which is why it is wise to make sure we are in right standing with God ourselves and to recognize that it is His favor we seek and not necessarily the favor of people.
To judge does not necessarily mean to condemn. I can judge that drunk driver, that does not mean I condemn them. It means I love them enough to not want them to get killed.
We are called to be our brother’s keeper to some degree. To turn our back upon that responsibility isn’t right.
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“To judge does not necessarily mean to condemn.” I think stepping into the judge role presumes the condemnation.
See, I think we go back to Old Covenant thinking when we go there. Let’s see if I can explain my thinking.
When we continue to emphasize judgment and sin, we place grace and salvation on a back burner. In Old Covenant times, sin separated us from God. John the Baptist was the transition between the Old and the New. Jesus fulfilled the Law and declared it finished on the cross. Now, in the New Covenant, God has stated he wants all of creation saved; nothing can separate us from God, and the emphasis is on loving God, loving our neighbors, loving one another and loving our enemies – Christ’s commandments. Some think this makes us weak; on the contrary, expansive, unconditional love is one of the most difficult things we can do. But if we surrender our own feelings and agendas and depend upon His Spirit in us, we can do all things in Christ.
Does this make any sense at all?
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Yes, it makes sense. And I certainly agree with you here, “When we continue to emphasize judgment and sin, we place grace and salvation on a back burner.”
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I love having these conversations with you. Hey, we outta exchange Skype ids. Whaddya think? 😮
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I enjoy these conversations too! I’m not a big skyper, however. I have too many interruptions in my life to have a proper conversation 😉
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Well, we’ll keep typing away, then.
Love you.
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Hey Susan, nice to see you here.
Just some quick thoughts and don’t want to ruffle I promise. Yes, Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save. Absolutely. But recall that he doesn’t condemn…because we are already condemned. He came to save us from that, because New Covenant or no, our sin still separates us from Him. Jesus came to bridge that separation. It is certainly available to all, but is only efficacious to those who believe. God desires that all be saved, but not all will.
The comment was made that when we over emphasize sin and judgment, grace and love get put on the back burner. That is so very, very true sadly. On the other hand when we overemphasize grace and love, then sin and judgment get placed on the back burner. All these things coexist, none cancel the others.
God pines for us to all love Him and exercise belief in the atoning work of His Son on the cross of Calvary, but not all will.
Much love here I promise
Wally
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I totally get the love, Wally, honest. But see, the statement, “we are already condemned,” isn’t true anymore. We were condemned – past tense. Jesus took all that away. God no longer remembers our sins – so why do we continue to do so? Why do we continue to place them in the forefront? “There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.”
True, not all will choose to believe, not all will choose to believe they are loved unconditionally. It doesn’t deny they are, or that there is forever the opportunity for them to be embraced by the Father.
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Hi Susan. Well I’m not with you here really. Scripture does teach belief is a requisite for salvation and that opportunity only exists while our hearts still beat. As much as He wants it….some will not be with Him eternally. That is a hard truth that we owe to people. If we get this wrong people will suffer for it.
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Oh, I agree with you about belief, but He loves whether or not we believe. And He does want to save all of creation. Re: not being with Him eternally – yes, that’s a choice, but Rev 21:25 tells us the New Heaven’s “gates will never be shut by day – and there will be no night there.”
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Susan. Look in really don’t want to debate so I won’t. But to tie that passage to an open offer of salvation for eternty is a very far reach. That is referring to what those in that city will experience. Those not there will not. We are very remiss if we teach people the offer of salvation extends forever because it does not. Scripture bears that out and any other conclusion is only our own and is not what we should do.
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We’ll just have to disagree to disagree, Wally.
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🙂
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https://bythebloodofthelamb.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/warningthe-mark-of-the-beast-will-be-mandatory-by-2017/
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Speaking of Skype I got new laptop so now I can if I ever not work till the end of time
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IB, not sure where this will land but I’m responding in agreement with you on judgement.
[I actually wrote a post on this but never published it]… the quickest way to shut down any conversation with a Christian is to say “judge not”.
Of course we are to judge! We are to judge righteously as the measure by which we judge others is the exact measure we should also employ in judging ourselves… that’s all the verse means/says – (judge not lest you are judged by the same standard.
“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life!”
Judge away!- just make sure you judge righteously.
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Hi Susan,
IB: “nor does it make us so merciful and forgiving we always lay down before those who would persecute us”
Susan: Except…that’s kinda what Jesus did, didn’t he? “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing…”
I agree with IB here. Many times when they sought to kill Jesus, He stayed away from the area; He certainly did not give Himself over to them to have them do as they please with Him.
Also, it’s one thing to forgive someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing… what about the ones who do know exactly what they’re doing.
Jesus said: forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing.
Our forgiveness of others have nothing to do with their salvation. Every person’s salvation is assured through them receiving by faith what Christ Jesus so graciously gave.
We forgive because we know He’s forgiven us of so much! That’s an outflow of dwelling in the kingdom.
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If Jesus wasn’t here to judge or condemn, what makes us think we’re qualified to judge or condemn now?
I’d agree with you if what you wrote were actually true and complete as it concerns the whole counsel and testimony of Messiah.
If Messiah didn’t engage with sin and folly in both descriptive and prescriptive means, then let’s use one BASIC scenario: the woman at the well?
So I (Pedat) was hanging out at InsanityBytes desk all the time and trying to get her to go to lunch and then Pedat and InsanityBytes start spending time outside of work, and next thing Pedat and InsanityBytes starting a-hugging and a-kissing and then next thing you know we’re having sex and then InsanityBytes leaves her husband and then marries Pedat…
…and Pedat’s brother in Christ says “Pedat, you oughta KNOW better! You’re a low down dirty scoundrel, and you’re a piss poor example of a godly man. If that man showed up at your house and punched your lights out, I’d say you had it coming”.
I’m telling YOU, Susan Irene Fox, that my brother had every right to say what he said to me, and, as I’m not going to unpack all the scriptures in defense of my brother, I’m going to disagree with you.
There is Grace…and there is “cheap” grace. You all are conflating the two.
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Well first off Pedat, they’ll be no hugging and kissing from me with one so bitter. His grace may be sufficient, but mine is not.
Other than that I totally agree with what you’ve said. We are to judge in love however, to speak truth in love. Many do not, many just speak judgement, forgetting all about truth and love.
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I’m hardly bitter. And I would never touch a married man’s wife. it’s not appropriate. It was an example.
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I know it was an example and I know too that you never would for realz.
As to the bitterness however, you are completely forgiven, but I have read your words, and your words about me and they have been bitter, but well received among the other bitter ones.
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Oh InsantiyBytes, get over it…I’m not bitter towards you at all.
I subbed your blog and I dig a lot of stuff you write and I love you. I just think you’re goofy sometimes with your campaign against “red pills”, but it doesn’t change who is truly in charge of everything.
My words are my words, and they can make people bristle, but never will I hate you. That would be dumb.
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InsanityBytes..
Did you not read what I wrote above?
You’re such a big doo-doo head! LOL
EQUANIMITY.
The synoptic gospels all say the same thing about offense: (Matthew 18:9, Mark 9:4-7, Mark 9:43)
If your eye/foot/hand, or whatever causes you to stumble, and distracts you from the more pertinent things of Yahweh our Elohim, then you need to get to cutting and plucking and chopping, or you need to get over it.
And the fact that you brought Dalrock’s name up here is Lashon Hara. He has nothing to do with this discussion, not to mention the fact that you are bearing false witness against him. (“so scary that they should never speak”) You really need to knock it off, sister!
I agree. What’s your point? My point was that you have to actually study.
The Bible reads; “study to show yourself approved” (2 Timothy 2:5) and “the law of the Yahweh is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7)
You have to hide the Word in your heart first. Why? Because the purpose of the Bible is to reveal the Messiah to us, since we were not with Him when He was living.
Here is what he said in John 14: 23-25:
If you love Him, you’ll do what he says, and if you do what he says, the Father will love you, and then THEY will come to you and TOGETHER live inside you
If you don’t love him you won’t do what he says, and since if you won’t hear his words, you also aren’t hearing the Father’s because that’s who sent him to speak to you. He’s being prophetic, because he knows his fate, but still wants us to know the Fathers WORDS. How?
The Holy Spirit, that’s how.
Yeshua is gone, he can’t speak to us in person, but through His Words (The Bible).
The Bible are the Words of Yahweh delivered by his agents, of whom was foremost is Yeshua.
The Holy Spirit comforts us as we read the Word.
We don’t evaluate or b (discern) the Word. We are to heed it and live it.
He comforts us (not condemns us) in our earnest reading and study of the Word. This is why Yeshua got so angry with the Pharisees. They were either making stuff up or leaving stuff out to suit their purposes.
Proverbs 30:5-6
Sister, you have a myriad of feelings and thoughts, and those are causing you to stumble. If you have the nerve to call these brothers liars then you better be sure you’re using the Word, line upon line, precept upon precept, to refute them.
People who talk about their Personal Jesus, but not about His Word(s), are hardly trustworthy. If we don’t know that Yeshua came not to being peace (Matthew 10:34), but a sword – isn’t studying the Bible.
Our Messiah had to a lot to say about a lot of things. Whether we like it or not, and not all of them were designed to make us feel good, but neither were they to make us feel bad. But to make us conform to His image, not OURS.
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“If you have the nerve to call these brothers liars then you better be sure you’re using the Word, line upon line, precept upon precept, to refute them.”
I have the nerve and I have done precisely that, many times. A better question would be, why don’t you have that nerve yourself?
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Hey you’re the one who’s constantly bitching and moaning about “red pills”, not me. I find nothing to refute.
Second only to the Oracles of Yahweh, I find them to be a good part of any nutritious breakfast.
So we will stick to our red pills and you keep taking you doo-doo head pills.
Love you bye!
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“I find nothing to refute.”
Which does totally validate what I have said about the dangers of the plastic and unspiritual.
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I think this version of legalism starts with, “The Bible says this, I applied it this way, it worked for me so now, I’ll go tell everyone else how they should apply this truth.” The last part is where it goes haywire because scripture is spirituallya discerned and applied. We have to read it for ourselves, pray, and ask God directly, how to obey it. Our example isn’t one another, it’s Jesus. Bad religion, legalism, cults…all boil down to people looking to people for answers rather than looking to Jesus, the only source of eternal life.
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Yes, I agree, that can be part of it. “I used scripture and here’s how it worked for me, so everyone else should now apply this truth.” But legalism, cultishness, all that garbage takes it one step farther, “if you don’t do it exactly as I say, I will hold you in contempt and condemnation.” Rather then speaking truth in love, they speak pride in arrogance and ego.
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Controllers and manipulators use whatever is in their reach to gain power over others. What at one time in my life, made me susceptible to them though was my own neglected child’s need for structure and rules. What I found was another form of abuse. Controllers and abusers are very good at spotting that need in broken people. I’m thankful for Jesus in my life. He brought me through all of that and broke the power abusive controllers had over me in my life. God is good even when churchianity stinks.
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http://keywiki.org/Frances_Fox_Piven
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Yes, she’s definitely one of those mad controllers…
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Scripture isn’t “spiritually discerned”. It’s STUDIED and SEARCHED and meditated upon. The Holy Spirit is what comforts you when the rough parts offend. And the Holy Spirit is going to bear witness to the Word, even if we don’t like it.
The only thing that we are to “discern” are Spirits. It’s actually a spiritual gift, given by the Father…it’s called “the gift of discerning of spirits” and found in the passage from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
I think THAT’S where the so-called legalism comes from. Some of the pharisees added to the word of Yahweh to suit their own purposes. If they had stuck to what it read and did that – and that only – and stayed in their lane as it concerned others, then Messiah wouldn’t have been so hard on them.
Practicing and teaching lawlessness was a big no-no according to the Apostles, Elders, and our Messiah. People who are called and have Apostolic or Prophetic preaching and teaching as their gift are always considered judgmental and mean and such. Love is a choice, and action word…not a solitary feeling, because emotions are fleeting and deceptive. The scriptures are clear on things like this:
Proverbs 27:5 Better is open rebuke than secret love, 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.
Psalm 141:5 If a righteous man strike me, it is kindness.
Proverbs 20:30 Blows and wounds scrub away, and beating purge the innermost being.
In fact, Christians aren’t taught about Lashon Hara, but Messianics are. Lashon hara is done regularly by most human beings. This blog, the red-pill blogs…all do it. Christians, Heathens… all do it.
However, it also reads:
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are the powers of the tongue
What is needed in our walk is balance. Equanimity is something Rabbi teaches. It’s a lifelong endeavor, kinda like learning Hebrew.
But there are times, places and seasons for everything…according to Ecclesiastes 3.
The Holy Spirit comforts us in knowing that we are rightly applying the Word of Yahweh no matter what time, place, or season in our life. Sometimes we are, sometimes we aren’t.
But the first step is to actually STUDY and try to KNOW His Word. Too many people bear false witness on Messiah by saying things he did not or NEVER would say, according to the Law and Prophets. If you don’t know the Bible, then you don’t know Messiah. Period.
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I’m glad you have me all figured out. I’ve been working on that for about six decades and I’m still working on it…God knows my heart better than I do so, I listen to Him. Scripture is spiritually discerned because it and the Law are of the Spirit. I agree with the scriptures you posted even if I don’t feel loved by the way you seem to intend to aim them at me. I don’t do debate. I’m not trying to ‘win’ anything. I trust God to straighten me out and you. Be blessed.
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I was just sharing information.
I did not “intend” to “aim” them at you in any way. I just wanted you to read them…and maybe ponder them later.
We are all learning. None of us have arrived.
Seeya.
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Awesome, you can now go explain that to Dalrock who is busy spiritually discerning that the bible says women are so scary they should never speak. Next week, how the bible teaches us women have no souls…
Men can study, research, meditate, reason, and still get it all wrong. Astoundingly wrong! That is why we need the Holy Spirit.
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Powerful message! I agree with all that you have written here. Especially the part about grace. Thanks for sharing.
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“Do not judge or you too will be judged.” (Matt.7:1-2)
I also have no desire to usurp the job of God, besides the fact I am ridiculously under qualified! I admit because of His perfection, holiness and Sovereignty, in some ways I would rather face the judgement from human imperfection than the Judge of perfect holiness. I think of Job’s encounter with the holiest of holies, it sure changed his perspective on all he endured with those 3 friends of his.
Pretty sure most people have faced judgement of their fellow man or woman somewhere in this journey of life, yet given we will all face that Day when “every knee will bow…”, my prayer is that this is motive enough for each of us “sinners saved by grace” to love one another in ways that honor our Father with an eternal aim always in sight.
I, like IB, am grateful for the outrageous mercy and grace Christ has shown me. This (seemingly endless!) process of sanctification continues its work in me. Yet the context of the text referred to in Matthew 7 seems that what is being condemned by Jesus is their heart attitude which looked down on the character and actions of the others, prejudice which usually leads to hasty and unlovely judgments of others. “The heart’s not right” as a dear friend often says.
Yet John 7:24 that warns us not to judge “according to appearance, but to judge correctly, but with righteous judgement,” which infers we are to judge “the fruits” of a brother or sister’s actions, words or behaviors, not their heart.
The beauty of the Body of Christ is that we, the “nothing but dust” dearly loved children of God need one other. My weaknesses are at times as dangerous as my strengths. It is the love of my brothers and sisters in the faith that have helped one me see that which I could not see in myself. Of course the challenge is that there are those who “speak their mind,” with a heart not in harmony with our Father’s heart of love. Truth can be truth but there is timing for it, and sometimes it is not to be spoken at all. Some of the most effective works of the Holy Spirit I have done through prayer. When I react or response to what someone says something to me that comes across like a “judgement,” I ask myself the question: “Lord, is this true? If so, You have work yet still to do! If not, give me wisdom how I am to respond, if at all. ”
My prayer is that we would all remain watchful and vigilant as the Lord grants us presence of mind so we do encourage, exhort, address and speak to one another in ways that bring comfort, instruction, admonishment where needed out of our love for our brothers and sisters, so that they are strengthened, refreshed and encouraged.
Thanks again IB!
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Favorite parts: “The message of the cross, the part where the Holy Spirit shows up to read scripture to you, the love and redemption of Christ… Grace is one of those things that resides within you, that drives your desire to be pleasing, that compels you to not want to grieve or disappoint. You don’t even really need a list of rules, because The Word resides within you, Christ leads you, Christ guides you.” Amen, IB!
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thank you 😉
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You’re welcome Sister!
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“some miss the part where He actually fulfilled the law. He achieved victory. It is finished.” So many good moments in this post but this might’ve been my favorite. In my conversations with believers I find we are so tentative about letting the cross draw the finish line for the old covenant. We often blur the old & new covenants & by blurring we make both worthless. Paul is clear in Galatians 5 that we have to choose one covenant or the other. Otherwise we violate both!
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IB, will you be kind enough to provide the link to the post where Dalrock says women are so scary they shouldn’t speak and that they have no souls? He’s got so many articles it can be difficult to find where he says such things.
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No, I will not. I have already written perhaps a dozen posts in response to Dalrock. If reading his blog and the evil expressed in his comments is not enough to show people there’s a real problem over there, I can’t help you.
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Sigh. Well said IB. I couldn’t have put it any better (we’re going to have to agree to disagree on a few details but they do not affect the message or presentation). I have a problem – a very typical problem and perhaps one that does not require an answer. We have spoken before about rational (bends to logic and reason), irrational (non-sensical, wrong thinking) and non-rational (major motivators like Love, Faith, Grace etc, that are critical and right but cannot be described with logic). There is no link (that I can find) between the rational and the non-rational. I can happily sit on either side of the divide and understand how non-rational can be the motivator and Faith. Those who pride themselves on being rational cannot get there – I’m not sure there even is a pathway. No matter how hard I argue and how many examples I give or how internally consistent non-rationality is, I cannot find a way to express my thoughts in a manner that those who are rational can even understand, let alone believe.
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“Those who pride themselves on being rational cannot get there – I’m not sure there even is a pathway. ”
Interesting, Paul. There is one pathway I know of, but unfortunately it usually requires a complete collapse of the psyche. People must be so broken, they no longer trust the rational side of themselves. You can see this happen sometimes in people who have strokes, delusions, or traumatic brain injuries. It’s not all as horrifying as it sounds, I know a couple of women who claim the stroke they had was the best thing that ever happened to them, because once the reasoning part of their brain was damaged, the other part took over and they began to perceive things with an entirely new set of eyes.
It is also nearly impossible to speak of spiritual matters with the unspiritual, so that can throw a wrench in things too.
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Good post, and interesting conversations in the comments. Here’s my two cents: a few verses after “Judge not…” (Matthew 7:1) Jesus talks about being wary of false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and he says “by their fruits you will know them.” Some kinds of judgment are open to his people; in fact, we are to exhort one another and to warn sinners, which implies one kind of judgment. In fact, if we offer blanket forgiveness and God’s love without any warning of sin and God’s judgment, we are casing pearls before swine. We can judge what we can see and hear–the actions of a person, the words a person says, the faith that person confesses. We cannot judge the heart of a person; only God sees that. I can warn a sinner of the penalty for sin, but I cannot discern whether or not that person is eternally condemned. Only God knows that. “Grace is scary,” as you say, because it transforms lives. The beauty of God’s grace and forgiveness is also that it transforms lives. God wishes for every human life to be transformed by his grace, and he wants us to wish for that as well. J.
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FALSE TEACHERS AND THOSE THAT KILL AND DESTROY:
http://sentinelblog.com/2016/03/09/why-did-the-senate-ag-committee-just-vote-to-take-away-our-food-rights/
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“I had a nice chat with a not so nice man that skillfully used scripture to advocate for both pornography and polygamy. Yeah, I know not a “real Christian,” except he is a leader in a church, he is a popular blogger.”
Hah.. like BGR, who actually made me believe, for a time, that there was nothing wrong with pornography (as long as you were watching married couples!!) or polygamy.
Word?
I think it takes great purity, faith and intelligence to actually read the Scripture and uncover God’s truth. Not every one is capable of that. Most people simply read what they want, and put their own morality into the Bible. It’s a shame, because every word of the Bible is powerful, fair and just – and could heal people like BGR, Dalrock and etc. if only they read it with the intention of actually learning from Jesus and the apostles, rather than just using it and twisting it for their own agenda.
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Yes,just like BGR. There are hundreds of people trying to make scripture say what they want it to say. Probably more than hundreds. The best way to defend our self is to read scripture for our own selves, to pray, and to ask the Holy Spirit to explain it to us. Then you find a group of believers to study with.
It really is a shame, isn’t it? There is such wisdom in the bible, such healing that can happen. Sometimes I think the hardest part is that people must let go of what they think they know and allow The Word to work.
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