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How do demons evangelise?
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Richard T
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Unfortunately the gospel is not always pure. This seems acceptable to Paul when he says:
Phil 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Also:
II Cor 2: 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
So it seems that though many Christians do not preach out out of good motives, the gospel still works. I likely do not answer the question directly but Satan just takes every opportunity to lie, twist and deceive as many as possible. Satan would prefer a blatantly false gospel. When that is thwarted though he just tries as many other things as he can. Is James question rhetorical? I think so because that is exactly what is happening in Phil 1:15. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
This is why every Christian needs discernment. There is no pure preacher, though some approach Jesus and might get close none have arrived.
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Jeff Saunders
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The problem is that too many do read the Bible, but with no cultural or historical or linguistic knowledge, reading and eastern mindset with a western mindset you do not always come away with the correct conclusion. Why do you think that there are so many different interpretations of scripture and so many denominations? Because every one is doing what is right in there own eyes, no different than what the Jews did , we are following the same pattern just supercharged that’s all.
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Oh that you were able to understand that it is nothing to do with knowledge of anything.
Hebrews 12.6-8
Hebrews 5.8
2 Corinthians 1.4
2 Timothy 2.12
Proverbs 22.15
Proverbs 23.14
Why do I THINK there are so many interpretations of scripture?
Knowing that I am a fool, I would not be wise to lean unto my own understanding to answer that.
Especially knowing that the answers are right in front of your face. 1 Corinthians 8.1, but perhaps you have forgotten that God resists the proud who have been puffed up with knowledge.
Only by suffering does a man come to wisdom.
Luke 16.25
Hebrews 12.8
Hebrews 5.8
2 Timothy 2:3 KJV
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Notice how it does not say; “Thou therefore endure cultural and historical and linguistic lessons from the finest teachers.”
If what you were saying were true, most of the disciples would have no hope at all.
Knowledge puffs up, but love (which comes by suffering and chastening and the rod of discipline) edifies.
Leaning unto your own understanding is the certain road to captivity, and many now take it, even proudly proclaiming it, for the world has been filled with education and the wisdom of men.
Know assuredly that it is love that is the bond of perfection, not knowledge. Colossians 3.14.
It is the foolish things that God has chosen to put to shame the wisdom of the wise, but I know that a fool like me will by no means persuade the wise, who God has already failed to persuade by foolishness.
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Jeff Saunders
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Leaning unto your own understanding is a certain road to captivity is exactly what you get when we, who are about 2000 years away from Jesus and what he taught his disciples, thinking in our western mindset, not knowing the culture and language and customs of the day, get when we think by reading the English translation of scripture in our western mindset get. That’s why it’s important to know historical and cultural and linguistic context of the original eastern mindset. This is what “scripture onlyism “ brings us, with out a understanding of how the original audience would have understood what was being taught, we often come away with the wrong ideas of what God has done and is doing and what probably comes next. God has given us brains to use , with the leading of the Holy Spirit we can come to an understanding of what is true and we will see thing’s more clearly. I think the main reason we have so much division in the church is because to many people are reading scripture and not knowing the audience that first heard it and how they would have understood it , we come to wrong conclusions. That’s why knowing these historical things helps. Look at the Orthodox Church, they have had the same traditions from the 300 AD till now, they understand the Christian walk as one of scripture and the collective teachings of the church together for us to live by. They as a whole are not nearly as fragmented as the rest of the Church.
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johansen
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its true as you said there are no pure teachers, however i would say that Paul was not ok with it.
Those who teach the gospel out of false ambition,have hurt millions of people and the ripple effect of that is incalculable. Their works will likely tip negative on the scales. however, some of those who heard the gospel from them, will be saved. However those who are turned away by the obvious fraud, exceed those who heard the message.
to have a callous "what does it matter" point of view of this, quite frankly disturbs me.
it would be like saying, what Jim jones did is ok because a handful of people became legit christians as a result of his cult, and escaped.
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Aaron112
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For 99% of the forum posts, no. It is not required here nor should it be expected by those who know the truth. Those who live in the fantasy world think there is more correct than not, perhaps, but that's fantasy. The whole world lives as if in a fantasy, and few escape the sinfulness and the judgment.
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Richard T
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"What does it matter" is a quote from Paul. It might seem callous but he is talking about the real gospel from selfish ambition. This is different from a false gospel from selfish ambitions. Jim Jones and many fall in the latter category. What might amaze Paul is the number of ministers that are not really accountable to anyone. Ministries that span the globe yet maybe have one church if any.
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johansen
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its also an entirely different environment, one that we don't have much information about today.
Paul also seemed to believe the end would happen in his lifetime which is why he wouldn't have been concerned at all about the possibility of his own mistakes causing ripples, 2000 years later.
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