It seems to me that there are few Christians willing to hear anything other than what they have been taught from their beginnings in the faith. As I observe "The Church" (meaning the Christian church of today), I see a great deal of dogma associated with organized religion and that is a real shame. Where dogma thrives, truth cannot live. The two are mutually exclusive. To hold fervently onto something you believe even when presented with new information is rightly associated with a lack of intelligence.
God gave us a brain. He intended for us to put it to better use than merely memorizing scripture. If, when reading the scriptures, you cannot put the passage you have just finished reading together with another scripture you have read previously to arrive at a more enlightened truth, you are wasting the brain God gave you. If you cannot put historical truth together with common sense as well as scripture, you will miss a great deal of the message God is trying to give you.
Dogma is going to rob most professing Christians of their inheritance. When they reach the White Throne and expect to be saved by The Blood, Jesus is going to tell them "I never knew you."
When you read God's Word, ask yourself questions constantly. What is He trying to tell me here? Why did He word this passage in such a way? If put into a historical context, is there something I know of that can add to my understanding of this scripture? Am I focusing on the correct aspect of this passage? Is there another perspective from which to view it? Pick it apart, never stopping until there is not even a minute scrap of meat left on that bone. As you read further, don't forget what you have gleaned from prior passages.
Never stop questioning, seeking all the truth from God's Word. Open your heart and mind. Be ready to question what you thought you knew. You never know what new truths await you.
God gave us a brain. He intended for us to put it to better use than merely memorizing scripture. If, when reading the scriptures, you cannot put the passage you have just finished reading together with another scripture you have read previously to arrive at a more enlightened truth, you are wasting the brain God gave you. If you cannot put historical truth together with common sense as well as scripture, you will miss a great deal of the message God is trying to give you.
Dogma is going to rob most professing Christians of their inheritance. When they reach the White Throne and expect to be saved by The Blood, Jesus is going to tell them "I never knew you."
When you read God's Word, ask yourself questions constantly. What is He trying to tell me here? Why did He word this passage in such a way? If put into a historical context, is there something I know of that can add to my understanding of this scripture? Am I focusing on the correct aspect of this passage? Is there another perspective from which to view it? Pick it apart, never stopping until there is not even a minute scrap of meat left on that bone. As you read further, don't forget what you have gleaned from prior passages.
Never stop questioning, seeking all the truth from God's Word. Open your heart and mind. Be ready to question what you thought you knew. You never know what new truths await you.
