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Thank you both so much for including me in your sidebar and for sharing all of your insights!

Truly, I’m one of the last ones on the forum to be involved in assessing the councils or counsels of men because as I often state I eschew all of the doctrines and traditions of mortals, whether the Pope, Calvin, Arminius, Billy Graham, Joseph Smith, etc. (Mark 7:7)

It is nothing personal to any of them – nor do I question their sincerity or judge them. I do enjoy reading their views every bit as much as I enjoy reading yours!

But I will only consider a view seriously if:

(a) all of the fruits of the Spirit are in evidence in the speaker (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control) (Matt 7,Gal 5) and

(b) whatever is said passes the Berean test against Scripture, (Acts 17) and

IOW, when it comes to Truth, I rely solely on the revelations of God the Father which are:

The Person of Jesus Christ, (John 14, John 1, Col 1) and

The indwelling Holy Spirit, (John 14-16, Romans 8) and

Scriptures as authenticated by the indwelling Spirit (not man) and

The voice of the Creation. (Psalms 19, Romans 1:20)

Moreover, that Truth is the standard wherein any further knowledge I happen to accrue in life is weighed and kept or dismissed - whether sensory perception, logic, views of other mortals, my own musings, etc.

So I am somewhat a "stick in the mud" when it comes to doctrine and tradition. LOL!

Truly, it took me a long time to arrive at this point, “working out my own salvation.” (Phl 2:12) Nevertheless, this is where I am and cannot be moved until I weigh anchor and go home:

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. – 1 John 2:27-29

As hosepipe is wont to say, Christ didn't come to start a religion but a family.

IOW, when it comes to Truth, I rely solely on the revelations of God the Father which are:

The Person of Jesus Christ, (John 14, John 1, Col 1) and
The indwelling Holy Spirit, (John 14-16, Romans 8) and

Scriptures as authenticated by the indwelling Spirit (not man) and

The voice of the Creation. (Psalms 19, Romans 1:20)

Moreover, that Truth is the standard wherein any further knowledge I happen to accrue in life is weighed and kept or dismissed - whether sensory perception, logic, views of other mortals, my own musings, etc.
So I am somewhat a "stick in the mud" when it comes to doctrine and tradition. LOL!

Truly, it took me a long time to arrive at this point, “working out my own salvation.” (Phl 2:12) Nevertheless, this is where I am and cannot be moved until I weigh anchor and go home:

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. – 1 John 2:27-29

As hosepipe is wont to say, Christ didn't come to start a religion but a family.
= = =

Exceedingly wise, Biblical, anointed and correct as usual . . . imho.