Posted on 04/10/2015 4:15:28 PM PDT by RnMomof7
from R.C. Sproul Mar 27, 2015 Category: Articles
Emil Brunner, the twentieth-century Swiss theologian and one of the fathers of neoorthodox theology, wrote a little book titled Truth as Encounter. His thesis was that when we study the things of God, we are not studying truth in the abstract. We want to understand theology not merely so that we can make an A on a theology exam. We want to understand the doctrine of God so that we can understand God, so that we can meet the living God in His Word and deepen our personal relationship with Him. But we cannot deepen a relationship with someone if we do not know anything about him. So, the propositions of Scripture are not an end in themselves but a means to an end. However, they are a necessary means to the end. Thus, to say Christianity is not about propositions but about relationships is to establish an extremely dangerous false dichotomy. It is to insult the Spirit of truth, whose propositions they are. These propositions should be our very meat and drink, for they define the Christian life.
Recently I read some letters to the editor of a Christian magazine. One of them disparaged Christian scholars with advanced degrees. The letter writer charged that such men would enjoy digging into word studies of Christs teachings in the ancient languages in order to demonstrate that He did not really say what He seems to say in our English Bibles. Obviously there was a negative attitude toward any serious study of the Word of God. Of course, there are scholars who are like this, who study a word in six different languages and still end up missing its meaning, but that does not mean we must not engage in any serious study of the Word of God lest we end up like these ungodly scholars. Another letter writer expressed the view that people who engage in the study of doctrine are not concerned about the pain people experience in this world. In my experience, however, it is virtually impossible to experience pain and not ask questions about truth. We all want to know the truth about suffering, and specifically, where is God in our pain. That is a theological concern. The answer comes to us from the Scriptures, which reveal the mind of God Himself through the agency of the Holy Spirit, who is called the Spirit of truth. We cannot love God at all if we do not love His truth.
It is very sad to me that in todays sophisticated Western culture, people are more familiar with the twelve signs of the Zodiac than with the twelve tribes of Israel or the twelve Apostles. Our world likes to see itself as sophisticated and technological, but it remains filled with superstition. Christians are not immune to this. We, too, can succumb to the new-age desire for the power to manipulate our environment. We do not have to go as far as accepting the foolish idea that the courses of the stars determine our destinies, our prosperity, our achievements, and our successes. However, it is equally superstitious to equate our feelings and inclinations with the leading of the Holy Spirit. It seems so much more exciting to live with a freewheeling openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than practicing the laborious discipline of mastering His Word. This is exceedingly dangerous ground. If we want to do the will of the Father, we need to study the Word of the Fatherand leave the magic to the astrologers.
“And you attribute the current trend of homosexual leadership in some churches to what?”
People purposefully ignoring their Conscience. Though it may be true that a small number of people are born with a defect and not have a conscience or it has been corrupted by others. “Others” in this case, could very well include churches...
Isn’t it interesting that people from all over the world with many faiths (with the exception of Muslims) pretty much all have the same values? Even isolated groups. Most (not all) have the equivalent to the judeo-christian morals? What do you suppose the link is?
Yep...
So you're kinda anti-Bible, eh???
We are ministering to the people who 'call on the name of Mary to get saved'...You can show all the love you want but without the truth of the gospel and the words of God, you ain't going nowhere...
**Leaving aside your backtracking,**
That from someone that doesn’t even attempt to address the other points I brought forth.
**Benedict was not referring to believe in the Resurrection. He was explaining the theology OF the Resurrection.**
Which I said are quite nicely explained by Jesus, Peter, John, and Paul. Because Benedict explains that in his own choice of words, he’s, in your opinion, a ‘theological Einstein’?
**For four centuries before the written word of God was assembled, the early Church relied on the sacred oral traditions.**
They had the OT, the epistles, and the witness of the four gospels, before the first century A.D. was past history.
**You dont have to take the word of Augustine, Aquinas, Newman and Benedict. In fact their works are so profound in thought that its the stuff for discussion in theological departments of colleges and universities.**
There’s a LOT of ‘stuff’ taught in the colleges and universities that are inaccurate in both the theological, and in the secular.
**Instead, you may go ask your eminent Lutheran and Episcopalian theologians why they converted to the Catholic Church after a lifetime of serious study, scholarship, teaching, and preaching?**
That just proves to me why Jesus chose working class stiffs to mold into preachers and teachers of the Word of God. The calling of highly educated Paul to the ministry was a complete teardown and rebuild job, only keeping his vast knowledge of the Law and Prophets.
As I have said, the phrase ‘God the Son’ was NEVER used by Jesus Christ nor his apostles. Of the almost 50 examples of the using of the phrase ‘the Son of God’, not only did Jesus Christ say that of himself, but his disciples, Martha, Satan and his demons, and various others.
If your church organization is so correct in it’s claim of preserving the Word of God, then why don’t they observe the description set forth by the Word, instead of modifying it, to harmonize with their Godhead opinion, and ‘mother of God’ fantasy?
When Jesus calmed the storm (Matt. 14:22-33), ALL those in the ship “worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”
Two chapters later (Matt. 16:16) Peter, one of those in the ship earlier, witnessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Any (so-called) successor to Peter is NOT going to modify the defining of Jesus Christ.
You cannot know Jesus apart from His Word. It is the Bread of Life! (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4) The Living Word and the Holy Spirit work in tandem, revealing the Word to your spirit. If you study the Bible as purely an academic pursuit, focusing on theological opinion and religious reasoning, you end up with much of the religious confusion of the last 2,000 years. Ignore the Word and attempt to be “spiritual, but not religious,” you end up in another religious ditch of mysticism. If you combine both, you are really in trouble.
Too many people these days seem to think that the test of truth and faith is emotions, feelings, impressions, visions, etc.
All those things have their place but they need to be grounded in the word and measured by it and no matter what you experience, and how glamorous it is, if it doesn’t line up with Scripture, it needs to be tossed.
Except that people who have their experiences know what they know and there’s no talking to them.
This may mean nothing to you but:
MEDJUGORJE anyone?
Oh and btw, knock it off, you're making entirely too much sense today.
Oh and btw, knock it off, you're making entirely too much sense today.
Sorry. I'll try to do better from now on.
I wouldn't want to upset the whole dynamic of the RF, now would I? ;)
Consider yourself among the blessed then.
I wouldn't want to upset the whole dynamic of the RF, now would I? ;)
Trumpets, seals, bowls, comity in the RF...
Absolutely, the enemy wants to keep you carnal, or natural, relying on your emotions, senses, and intellect, but definitely not your spirit. He wants to keep you away from Revelation and God’s Wisdom, which come from God’s Eternal Word.
Religion is all about entertaining the senses and getting an emotional response. Its doing things man’s way instead of God’s Way, which is always by faith in His Word. Its what got Eve in trouble, Cain, and continues in churches today.
How did this discussion get all cockeyed. Even most Mary hailers from what I have seen understand the object is to get a message to the Lord, and the Lord understands that too (omniscience is not stupid). Not saying this is the best way, it hurts God’s heart not to be trusted to not need heaven’s political wangling, but I’m pointing out where the arguments seem to be going, that you have to have this or that or the other perfect formula to connect with the most knowing being in existence. We have to look pretty silly to God sometimes.
You argument addressed on its own level is “all about” (actually I hate blanketisms, but you can see how it feels) discounting an entire dimension of spiritual life.
I did not really understand your point. Maybe autocorrect was the culprit? Let me explain from Scripture.
John 4:21-24 (AMP)
21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither [merely] in this mountain nor [merely] in Jerusalem.
22 You [Samaritans] do not know what you are worshiping [you worship what you do not comprehend]. We do know what we are worshiping [we worship what we have knowledge of and understand], for [after all] salvation comes from [among] the Jews.
23 A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.
24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).
The Body of Christ has been made spiritually alive and seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2) And blessed with all spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1) There is a spiritual intimacy available to all who Believe His Word. Believers have a higher calling, the ordinances and elements of the world have no place in the Body of Christ.
Colossians 2:6-10 (AMP)
6 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.
7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).
9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].
10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the GodheadFather, Son and Holy Spiritand reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
Colossians 2 is a powerful message of liberty from religious bondage. Colossians 3 continues this revelation.
Colossians 3:1-4 (AMP)
1 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
Colossians 3:15-17 (AMP)
15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
16 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
Believers are living from the inside out. The spiritual man, the real you, regains its rightful position lost in the fall when Adam and Eve died spiritually. You don’t have to rely only on your senses, or intellect, but you can now receive the Wisdom of God and Revelation from Him. You can worship Him as He wants - in spirit and Truth. Love flows naturally because your focus is on God who IS LOVE. And whatever God has called you to do is no longer work, its LIFE.
Philippians 1:11 (AMP)
11 May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].
Philippians 2:13 (AMP)
13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Philippians 3:3 (AMP)
3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances
Ephesians 5:8-9 (AMP)
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
Good fruit comes from a good root. A good root comes from incorruptible seed, and continual nourishment of the Word.
God seems to be pretty adamant about correct doctrine...So how imperfect can the formula be and still be legitimate???
When someone prays to Mary and dedicates their life to her and asks her to provide for his/her salvation, God just takes it on the chin and says, 'well he/she has good intentions so I count that as good enough'???
Over the years, I don't think that there is any real animosity here...while there are certainly heated debates, for the most part they are fairly civilized and all of us learn a little from them.
Pretty soon everyone will return to Catholicism....:o))
YES, ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT,...and ONLY the Catholic church has the COMPLETE, without error, absolutley correct, word of God....and they have had it since He gave it to THEM and promised to be with THEM until the end of time.
How much more clear could He be????
and that's why you USED to be a Catholic....actually you still are..just not a real good one.
Is esigetic puffed up?
Nope not Roman Catholic ... in anyway .... But you are right about one thing...we do have a different Jesus
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