I have answered every question you guys have thrown at me, you can't deny that.
It's all to no avail, you will not even consider the points I make. I am wrong before I speak.
You have chosen what you will and will not believe. So be it!
I'm tired of my words being thrown to the wind.
I had written earlier about my observation that some have made the Bible into an idol. Putting a book above a personal relationship with God. As if a stained glass window was being used to view the God who is sitting right in front of us. Thus obscuring the view of the person on the other side.
I think the same thing can be said for doctrines. They can become an idol. Especially when used to divide the Body of Christ. This is one great aspect of Restorationism. Those of us that can understand and accept it also accept each other even though we have differing doctrines on other issues. There is a sense of freedom that comes from the realization that doctrine doesn't matter. Granted, there are some black and white issues that are important, but the gray areas don't matter. In fact, there is no consensus as to what the black and white issues are. And it's not even worth fighting about.
The bottom line.
If your doctrine is dividing the body of Christ, some serious introspection is in order.
The standard defense being to disown those whose doctrine differs, claiming they are NOT in the Body of Christ. (sound familiar?)
Galatians 5:18-21 King James Version (
KJV)
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred,
variance,
emulations,
wrath,
strife,
seditions,
heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:18-21 New International Version (
NIV)
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft;
hatred,
discord,
jealousy,
fits of rage,
selfish ambition,
dissensions,
factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that
those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.