Of course. We're lost, in need of being found, sick, in need of being healed, dead, in need of being raised. We can't find, cure, or raise ourselves. But that doesn't mean we can't refuse to be found, cured or raised. God works in very subtle ways with the human will, drawing, without determining, its right orientation and choices.
I have no problem with any of that, in fact I am a continuationist. I do not see that as being against orthodox teachings.
If you want to call confirmation bias lack of faith I will not argue.
I am not going to tell people what to believe, your understanding of John 5:18 and Philippians 2:6 is not consistent with Orthodox Christianity if you believe that Jesus was any less God or had any less power than God, if you want to debate that I can provide volumes of evidence. Jesus was not just a conduit, Jesus was and is and always has been God with all the powers of God anytime He wanted to use them.
I do not intend to tell people what to believe, I teach Orthodox Christian doctrine even though some of my person beliefs might slightly deviate from that doctrine. There are entire denominations based on misinterpretation of scripture and flawed Christology. I am hesitant to call any beliefs heretical even though some clearly are. Trying to establish a belief system based only on isolated Scripture is always going to lead to errors and potentially heretical beliefs. Regarding Jesus growing in wisdom, there is nothing inconsistent in that statement. Jesus assumed a human nature, that nature developed in knowledge and wisdom just as any other human does. How the human nature and the nature of the second person of the Trinity communicated is unclear and a mystery. It is safe to say that the human nature of Jesus was perfected in faith and sanctification beyond anything that any of us is capable of being. It is important to keep in mind the findings of the Council of Chalcedon declared that Jesus possesses the perfect Godhead and the perfect manhood. His fully divine nature is united with His fully human nature yet without mixing, blending or alteration. I hope this is helpful and not seen as critical of anyone or their beliefs.
And that view is called Subordinationism and it is rejected by Orthodox Christian Theology. https://www.theopedia.com/subordinationism
My concern involves those who want to blame a suffering person for their failure to receive healing. anyone who says or infers that someone was not healed or is sick because of something that they themselves did that is causing God to punish them is not only being heartless and uncaring but they are also most probably wrong. Point in fact no one has any idea why God does what He does. Clearly the Book of Job, likely the oldest book of the Bible, is a wisdom book that teaches that man is in no way able to understand God or God's actions. It also teaches that bad things happen to good people due to no fault of their own. Job's "friends" continually try to assert that Job is responsible for his misfortunes and sickness however the reader knows that they are absolutely wrong. These are the major point made in the Book of Job so they should be understood by all believers. It strikes me as somewhat ironic to use a Pauline Scripture to support the assertion that people are responsible for their own failure to be healed or for their illness. Paul after all was perhaps the most obedient and faithful man in the Bible and yet he asked God three times to be healed of his affliction and God refused. Are we to conclude that Paul earned his affliction by his own misdeeds or that he was not healed due to his lack of faith?
I'm not denying the deity of Christ. Just making the point that he laid it aside when he became a man. As per Philippians 2:6 and John 5:16
Here's an example of Jesus using the interview technique.
As I posted previously the answer to the question of why did Jesus say The Son can do nothing by himself is contained in understanding the economic Trinity. Nothing done by any member of the Trinity outside of the ontological Trinity is done alone. All three persons of the Trinity are acting when Jesus does miracles. This also provides the reason why Jesus is not just a conduit, He is an active participant. He never lost or failed to have available any of His powers. What He subdued was his Glory which was displayed in the transfiguration. He humbled Himself by taking the form of a man even though He was God. As I said I am not telling you what to believe but if you want to debate the accuracy of what I am sharing, I can provide lots of evidence.
I have seen that method but then I have also seen Benny Hinn throw his coat, I wont tell you what I think of when I think of Benny Hinn.
I don't really care about "orthodox Christian Theology". I care about my relationship with my creator, and the grace he gives. And my understanding increases as I pray and read the bible, and apply what I learn.
BTW I have a Teac reel to reel tape deck much like the one you show. It is in my attic, I have not used it for years.
If God told me to throw my coat, I would throw my coat. Would you?
