Saul And The Charismatics...

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.(I Samuel 28:5-7)

I have no problem believing that God sovereignly granted revival in the 1960′s -70′s, renewing faith in the reality of Jesus, introducing church people to Jesus for the first time, and baptizing multitudes from all walks of life, and over the spectrum of denominations in the Holy Ghost. The movement became known as the Charismatic renewal.

… it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:(Acts 2:17-18)

I myself came to Christ at the end of the 1970′s, in a charismatic church. But the critical question of any movement is not one of the beginning, but of the end…how does it end?

Of course in one sense the Charismatic movement never ends, for it didn’t begin in the 1960′s nor at Azusa street, but in Jerusalem. It shall never end, being established by Jesus, clothed in the Holy Spirit and known as the church.

But the charismatic movement as a historical reality, that sovereign move of God of 40 years ago,which turned so many to Jesus and the Spirit in a godless day, has been co-opted by it’s “leaders” and seems to be going the way of King Saul.

Saul seriously disobeyed God at several key points in his life, doing what he “felt” was right, rather than adhering to the Word of God. He wouldn’t go by the Word, but by “feelings”. God called that rebellion and even “witchcraft”,

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.(I Samuel 15:22-23)

One of the problems with the Charismatic movement, was that it was beset with a variety of false teachers. Oral Roberts, with his seed faith, prosperity teaching. New Thought influenced teachers such as Kenneth Hagin and Copeland, who taught that we are all “little gods”, and could create our own reality by our words.

Who can forget the “deliverance movement” which was basically superstitious hysteria, but brought millions into bondage? How about the attempt by some to bring about order, imposing the cultic and oppressive “shepherding movement”?

False teaching imposes a terrible toll, it breaks down the defenses and corrupts the soul. Doctrine, good or bad, is not insignificant, it is of critical importance.

The Prophetic movement heralded by the false Kansas City Prophets and John Wimber, promoted experience over doctrine, and induced millions into “spiritual drunkenness” and gnostic mysticism.

These are just a sampling of the influences which flooded into the wake of millions of people coming to a living faith in Jesus and an awareness of the Holy Spirit. Like an accumulation of toxins in a body they have had an eroding effect on the church.

Time fails me to go into the other excesses such as the unbiblical ecumenism, the Toronto and Pensacola movements, neo apostles and prophets, and spiritual warfare.

The common theme of all of these excesses is that the charismatics have always been strongly urged not to judge! Discernment has been ridiculed and criticized! These things have taken a toll.

At the end of Saul’s life, he went into the occult. God wasn’t speaking to him anymore. Samuel was by now dead, although Saul consistently ignored him whilst alive. Saul had chased David away. killed the priests and found himself in real trouble.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

He who had once purged the land of witches and wizards, now sought out a witch, that he might commune with the now dead Samuel!

Benny Hinn is just one Charismatic leader who has testified of his own necromancy,(communication with the dead). He tells os his frequent visits to Kathryn Kuhlman’s tomb, to get an impartation of “her anointing”!

“One of the strangest experiences I had a few years ago [was] visiting Aimee’s tomb in California. This Thursday I’m on TBN. Friday I am gonna go and visit Kathryn Kuhlman’s tomb. It’s close by Aimee’s in Forest Lawn Cemetery. I’ve been there once already and every so often I like to go and pay my respects ‘cause this great woman of God has touched my life. And that grave, uh, where she’s buried is closed, they built walls around it. You can’t get in without a key and I’m one of the very few people who can get in. But I’ll never forget when I saw Aimee’s tomb. It’s incredibly dramatic. She was such a lady that her tomb has seven-foot angels bowing on each side of her tomb with a gold chain around it. As—as incredible as it is that someone would die with angels bowing on each side of her grave, I felt a terrific anointing when I was there. I actually, I—I, hear this, I trembled when I visited Aimee’s tomb. I was shaking all over. God’s power came all over me. … I believe the anointing has lingered over Aimee’s body. I know this may be shocking to you. … And I’m going to take David [Palmquist] and Kent [Mattox] and Sheryl [Palmquist] this week. They’re gonna come with me. You—you—you gonna feel the anointing at Aimee’s tomb. It’s incredible. And Kathryn’s. It’s amazing. I’ve heard of people healed when they visited that tomb. They were totally healed by God’s power. You say, ‘What a crazy thing.’ Brother, there’s things we’ll never understand. Are you all hearing me?”11Benny Hinn sermon, Double Portion Anointing, Part #3, Orlando Christian Center, Orlando, Fla., April 7, 1991. From the series, Holy Ghost Invasion. TV#309, tape on file.

Familiarity with the Word of God would deliver Hinn’s followers, for God says He hates the sin of necromancy. Isaiah tells us that those who seek anything from the dead have no light in them,

When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn(Isaiah 8:9-12)

The flavor of the day in Charismatic circles is Bethel church in Redding California, headed by a Word Faith, Prophetic movement, pastor , Bill Johnson. At His Bethel School of ministry, he teaches students to “honor the Generals of revival”, that is leaders such as Smith Wigglesworth, Aimee Semple Mcpherson, Evan Roberts, and others.

“Honoring” them to Johnson means compiling a vast collection of their books and artifacts,and opening a “generals library” for charismatics to visit. But like Hinn, Johnson also believes in visiting their tombs, and literally “soaking” the “anointing” by being in the presence of their graves.

Those who discern are seeing countless other evidences that like Saul, the Charismatic movement has gone into the occult, for false prophecy, dream interpretation, necromancy,spiritual drunkenness are all characteristics, not of christian spirituality but “the delusion”, a revival of deceiving spirits that Paul warned about, as a consequence of rejection of the Word of God.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.( 2 Thess 2:8-12)

Given that I observe NO EVIDENCE that the goal in these exchanges is mutual understanding in a spirit of mutual Christian caring and unity, I think I’ll no longer bother much about the areas where I AGREE.

Let folks maintain their death grips on their sugar blinkies of bitterness and resentment until they realize doing so is poisonous to the soul and Christian walk.

On the contrary, there is 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. and 1 Corinthians 12:27-3127 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

There is no verse which says that it's a heavenly language as opposed to a normal earthly language or that it's a prayer language which someone is more effective or powerful than praying in one's native tongue.

I don’t find that remotely ACCURATE to the Scripture.

1 Corinthians 14

Intelligibility in Worship
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

“. . . does not speak to people but to God.”

Since when was speaking to God NOT considered prayer? I bet that’s news to God! Since when was speaking a language understood only in Heaven, NOT a "Heavenly language?"

As to more powerful . . . it depends . . . I think HEART-FELT AND FAITH-FILLED = power in prayer—whether in tongues or not in tongues.

However, when I’ve run out of words to say in English but still feel an inner press to pray—that there’s more to accomplish in prayer—tongues is the ONLY option—other than literally merely groaning. Thankfully, I HAVE FOUND that praying in tongues CAN be more powerful than my just prior prayers in English.

MANY TIMES a heavier anointing to do spiritual warfare; to pray for the specifics involved HAS come upon me WHILE praying in tongues—though I didn’t start out in such a heavy anointing when I started praying in tongues.

Those who have not had such an experience are not likely to understand or agree with it. Given that I HAVE had such an experience, it would be foolish for me to deny the reality of it.

And, many times, as I’ve prayed quietly in tongues under my breath, Holy Spirit has brought insights, solutions, prophetic understanding of what the underlying problems involved were etc. Do I get those when I’m not praying in tongues? Certainly. However, they’ve tended to come more quickly and more reliably when I’ve been praying in tongues.

Paul clearly indicated God’s attitude on tongues here:

I COR 14:
5 I wish you could all speak in tongues,

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.

Denial of that the fact of those points from God’s perspective does NOT change God’s perspective.

Sigh.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God . . .

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Do you also hold to verse 16 which says? 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. because it IS part of the same passage.

I think MOST folks hereon know that I believe every word in the whole Bible—including every sentence in Mark 16. It will be interesting to see if the recently discovered first century copy of Mark includes those verses. I accept them as God’s Word regardless. I’m not into picking and choosing which verses are comfortable and convenient for me.

I find it a rather weak support to hang such major doctrines on for these few reasons along with the teachings of other places in Scripture, particularly the instructions concerning the gifts (tongues) by Paul in 1 Corinthians.

Ahhhhhh sooooo . . . unless God hammers something 3-5 times, it shouldn’t be considered God’s Word requiring obedience? Maybe I’m beginning to see part of the problem. Again:

Is it your impression that demons and demonic demonstrations have been on vacation the last 2000 years?

Is it your impression that Christians have been expected to battle demonic forces IN THEIR FLESH?

Is it your impression that Christians are called to wage war with principalities & powers in high places spiritually neutered with their portion of Holy Spirit's miraculous potency in the closet or 'gone fishing?'

That's definitely NOT my Biblical understanding by a great long shot.

And that's DEFINITELY NOT BEEN MY EXPERIENCE either. It has frequently taken all the praying in tongues, praying for healing; praying for supernatural assistance of various types etc. to do whatever God was calling me to do in various situations.

My understanding of Scripture is that tongues are for believers in some respects/contexts and unbelievers in others.

PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR
NORMAL CHURCH
MEETING & CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
IN THE CHURCH AGE
ARE IN
I COR 12-14:

New Living Translation (©2007)
So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

That sounds like for unbelievers, period, I assume many would think. Not so fast. Stay tuned.

I Cor 13:
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
.

Folks who point to I Cor 13 as a rationalization for Cessationism must not have their thinking caps on. For their shabby argument to hold a drop of water, they’d have to consider that INCOMPLETE KNOWLEDGE HAS ALSO ALREADY PASSED AWAY. . . . that we fully know GOD AND EACH OTHER 100% thoroughly and completely. Cue laughing gif.

1 Corinthians 14

Intelligibility in Worship
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

.

Hmmmmmmm Is Paul contradicting himself? Not at all.

He’s merely noting that when one is speaking to God only—e.g. when praying in tongues—ONLY GOD UNDERSTANDS. “No one” else understands—which SHOULD take care of the nonsense that tongues CAN ONLY BE known languages of earth.

So, one verse is emphasizing one type of tongue AND INTERPRETATION and/or a known language in front of unbelievers.

And the other verse is emphasizing a different operation of tongues praying alone to God.

I Cor 14:
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves {NOT UNBELIEVERS},

Here we see a verse again emphasizing tongues edifying one’s self—a BELIEVER.

but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

Here we see again . . . clearly . . . for those with eyes to see and ears to hear—PAUL EQUATES the gift of prophecy prophesying in a group with the gifts of tongues AND INTERPRETATION in a group. This passage seems to emphasize tongues and interpretation as well as prophecy edifying both believers and unbelievers.

Sooooo when does tongues help an unbeliever? WHEN there’s interpretation and the unbeliever’s ‘mail is read.’ It also happens when an unbeliever hears a tongues that is his own language and he knows that the speaker does not know his language. This happened with a friend of mine in 3 different Native American tribes on one trip. She just thought she was praying quietly in tongues. Turns out, according to old timers who came up to her afterwards, in each case, she was presenting a summary of the Gospel story in the more ancient and more formal version of each tribal language.

Evidently she should have told the unsaved hearers to ignore the Gospel she’d just shared with them because she was a woman and speaking in tongues. /sarc

Dr Walter Martin—not normally given to applauding such things . . . was touched by a case involving his throat Dr. The Dr had received a message in tongues and interpretation by a couple in a house church prayer meeting about the DR becoming a missionary to Armenia, I think it was. Everything the message in tongues and interpretation shared was true or came true over the following months, to the letter . . . and gave the Dr the confidence to follow his leading to become a powerful missionary to Armenia.

Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

Again—what is the purpose of the tongues—prayer alone to God or ministry to others and the group? Behave accordingly. God uses each accordingly.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

That should silence the folks who seemingly mindlessly claim that ALL TONGUES MUST INVOLVED KNOWN LANGUAGES AND INTERPRETATION. Paul just noted that HIS MIND WAS UNFRUITFUL. IT is his spirit that is being built up, edified by Holy Spirit’s conveying the meaning to God via a sequence of sounds Paul does not know as a language.

15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[d] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. {BOY IS THAT AN INCONVENIENT VERSE for cessationists! Sigh} 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
{OF COURSE. As explained above}
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:
“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”[e]
{INDEED. When they won’t listen to relatively plain Scripture, don’t expect them to listen to sound teaching!}
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

See my explanations above. They should be clear enough for those earnestly seeking God’s clarity on such matters.

At this time, they are not necessary for the body of Christ.

REALLY? Who said? The Bible doesn’t say that.

Logic doesn’t say that.

Mankind hasn’t changed.
Satan hasn’t Changed
God hasn’t changed!

Given the lawlessness and massive demonic forces unleashed uniquely in the END TIMES, THE GIFTS OF HOLY SPIRIT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED FAR MORE NOW THAN EVER IN HISTORY—INCLUDING IN THE ACTS 2 ERA.

All our blessings and inheritances are in the heavenlies. Not on things on this earth.

Where’d you get that notion? Not from Scripture! It’s not in there.

Scripture teaches we are to walk IN HIS SPIRIT, IN HIS BLOOD, IN HIS ABUNDANT LIFE, IN HIS HEALING, IN HIS EMPOWERING, IN HIS SUPERNATURAL GUIDANCE, IN HIS SUPERNATURAL PROVISION . . . SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE—IN THE NAME OF JESUS—GET UP AND WALK . . . THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE . . .

!NOW!

That Scripture does NOT SAY “shall follow them that believe after they get to Heaven.”

Who needs such in heaven??? Sigh.
There’s no need for healing there!
There’s no need for supernatural provision there.
There’s no need for a banquet in the presence of our enemies there.
There’s no need for supernatural guidance there.

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

Spirituality is not measured by word-of-knowledge as you have presented it.
It is measured by the knowledge of The Word. (Heb. 5:11-14)

It is clear that the descriptions listed are not examples of"word-of-knowledge" gifts.

Breaking down your examples tells me that:

- Examples 1 and 2 rely on discernment of spirits, another gift in the list.
- Example 3 is a combination of a natural gift (practical diagnosis based on experience)to identify a root/block; and a presumptuous approach to knowing The God's inscrutible Will -- of claiming healing on demand, in ones selection of time and mode, and against The God's allowing of sickness according to His purposes.

(One ought not to presume to heal sicknesses thinking that ones prayer will cause healing. You ought not pray for instant healing when/if you don't understand whether: (a) God intends the individual's soul and body to be parted; (b) God is using the sickness/mishap toward chastisement until the individual capitulates; or (c) it is simply an event that The God will use to show and develop compassion through experiencing the common ailments.)

- Example 4 is claiming access through prophetic revelation (also nonexistent today), combined with expecting discernment of foreknown plans apart from intelligent analysis. That sounds like just intuition, a hunch, not a spiritual gift.

Furthermore, Examples 5 and 6 require ESP, reading someone's mind -- which only The God can accomplish -- and foretelling. Neither are spirit faculties available to regenerated believer-disciples today. Don't be intimidated into believing that one can receive explicit information of future events. This is not in operation today.

***********

It is important to point out here that none of the examples present a definition of the term "word-of-knowledge" nor do they even illuminate one's understanding, from examples in the Bible, of what an application of the gift "word-of-knowledge" looks like. In essence, they apparently are worthless, simply being drawn from someone's imagination--fabricated and unbiblical--to prop up bad doctrinal suppositions.

Having a Bible like mine, one sees in the New Testament that the direct quotations directly from the Old Testament are shown in a different typeface, so the reader can immediately observe how often these were employed. Both Jesus and all the apostles used this "word-of-knowledge" throughout their ministries by which revealed mysteries to form NT doctrine and foundations. Now that all the former OT mysteries were revealed through "word-of-knowledge" the Holy Ghost had no reason for the further use of it; hence it was discontinued when "That which is Perfectly Complete," the discernment of the Canon of The Bible, had arrived and was settled.

From that point the spiritual emphasis shifted from using charismata in the completion of The Bible, to the current employment of the Spiritual Gift of The Perfectly Completed Bible in advancing the Work of His Kingdom! Guidance by His Voice emanating from His Holy Word is not only available to all, but needed daily by all for the Filling of The Holy Spirit in one's daily walk.

Here are some definitions of what word-of-knowledge was, as a spiritual gift, not natural talent, according to reliable commentators:

- Matthew Henry:

To another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; that is, say some, the knowledge of mysteries (1Co_2:13): wrapped up in the prophecies, types, and histories of the Old Testament: say others, a skill and readiness to give advice and counsel in perplexed cases.

- Jamieson Faussett Brown (abbreviated)

word of knowledge — ready utterance supernaturally imparted of truths ALREADY REVEALED ... Wisdom or revelation belonged to the “prophets”; knowledge, to the “teachers.” ... Knowledge relates to things that are to be done. ... wisdom is not, like knowledge, said to “pass away” (1Co_13:8)

- Adam Clarke:

By the doctrine of knowledge we may understand either a knowledge of the types, etc., in the Old Testament; or what are termed mysteries; the calling of the Gentiles, the recalling of the Jews, the mystery of iniquity, of the beast, etc., and especially the mystical sense or meaning of the Old Testament, with all its types, rites, ceremonies, etc., etc

+++

The implementation of word-of-knowledge was the knowledge of The Word, to reveal the mysteries that were hidden in the Old Testament, but revealed in the New Testament through the inspiration of New Testament writings of men thoroughly steeped in the inspired writings of the Old Testament. Once revealed, these mysteries were explained to all by The Holy Spirit, and once done, we have everything that The God wished us to have for faith and practice. Therefore, the mission of this spiritual gift was over. Everything that it was required to do has been done, and according to 13:8, its use was stopped. It is not in the current panoply of Spiritual tools.

What part of this is not understood and accepted, except by those wanting instant Bible solutions without proceeding in Bible training??

********

If one wishes to use the Bible spiritually and wisely, it is good to remember that the Bible without The Spirit is powerless; The Spirit without the Bible is mute; and that a text, taken out of context, and misused, is a pretext -- usually to expound a lie. Look at what Satan did in the Temptation -- he misquoted and misapplied Scripture, and was firmly admonished. It's been said that the most dangerous source of earthly evil is a devil with the Bible in his hand.

Be warned, all.

The Corinthian church had serious schisms which both books addressed--persistent carnal divisions and bickering--a deep-seated spiritual error, perpetuated by undiscipled and ignorant members of the gathering. Divisionism and puffing up of self destroys unity of mind and purpose that The Christ wishes for His Church to have at all times!(John 17).

But in Corinth it was necessary for these heresies to be trotted out and dealt with, that those in the company which were approved be clearly identified. (1 Cor. 11:16-19)

And so we have seen throughout this topic a great deal of misuse of The Word by apparently undiscipled commenter(s) who seemingly cannot recognize or meet accepted expositional standards, or will not accept Bible truths that are carefully presented. Pastorbillrandles in this topic brought attention to this critical topic of exposing examples of legitimate and illegitimate handling of The Word. Perhaps its a good time to proceed more cautiously since the hidden issues have been brought to light, and some recommended corrections have been proposed.

With that in view, let me suggest to review 1 Cor. 3:1-4, eh?

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

Pray for your pastors, teachers, and disciplers that they and you may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever (2 Pet. 3:18). Pray for more disciples and unity in The Faith. Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.(Mt. 7:14)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.