Good summary thankyou and it is exactly how I believe and see the gospel and ministry.
Yes Paul was fully invested. He prolaimed 'I am not lying, I am telling you the truth'. Even commanding others to stop following myths and false ideas.
As though the spirit was so clear in him that this was the truth as much as the sun rises. There was no alternative and he could confidently declare this with authority. I think this is sadly lacking today.
It is the age of watered down truth and reality and not just Gods word and Christs teachings.
It is fundementally Postmodernism or even post postmodernism where self referential truth of the individuals and group experience is the only truth. Or at least the principle truth for how we should see the world and morality and how we order society and the church even.
So the conditions for watering down the bible were cultivated by the overall worldview of western society as it has evolved from the reformation and the Enlightenment.
Which tells us this is a battle of principalities and spiritual powers fundemental to how we believe the world is. Whether by a creator and loving God or by humans as the gods of their own world.
I understand this and its sort of logic and non contradiction. Division and fighting are not fruits Chists would produce. So I agree that there are certain fruits of the spirit which will identify Christs church and its really as simple as that.
But the problem I was trying to point out is that I think the gospel and truth has been watered down so much and false teachers have become so good at creating narratives that almost seem loving and true that it takes strutiny to unpeel the decption beyond most.
A similar phenomena is happening in wider society. Which to me points to it actually being a cultural wide thing. But many have been foold by the false narratives and then some wakeup a few years later realising they were fooling themselves. Especially in politics.
Then it becames a game of which side has the least division and the right kinds of fruits of the spirit. Claiming many are being saved as proof of the good fruits. Its really becoming a minefield of hermeneutics and narratives where everyone is claiming the truth. While the truth is getting lost in all this white noise.
Now I know those who know God and who obey and stay true know this and can tell. But how do many out there know which church or Christian community they should belong to and not also be decieved in the name of God.
This is where I think the spirit of God will cause like minded and spirited people to endup coming together. Whatever church that will be but I would say one of the more traditional ones.
I agree and have used this same reasoning. Paul was constantly worried about the church like a shepherd who knows there are wolves lingering around and getting into the church.
That is what I think is missing. First that overseers are properly qualified. But more so that the perception is they are not really necessary at all in the sense of how the early church functioned.
Today its more an egalitarian approach where everyone makes the decisions jointly. Authority is seen as control.
Which I might add is one of the arguements for why the progressive church is the true church. Because they are not like the bully authoritive churches. So the narrative has become a powerful tool in the culture wars.
No I don't think so. Not generally anyway. Maybe in pockets here and there.
But this is part of the deception. That the scriptures should not be taken literally. That cultural, experiencial and modern norms should inform us as to what is Christlike.
As I said those who do stand on tradition or any authorative aspect are seen as out of date and touch. We live in a relative world where pushing single truths is seen as control.
In other words not only are the scriptures being watered down the culture within which the church exists is watered down.
I agree. I believe that Christ installed in the disciples everything we need to build the church. To identify the good fruits of a Christian community. One of them is unity in mind and spirit. So division no matter who is right or wrong is a sign of bad fruit.
Clement I think said that division was the beginning of evil in the church. It meant some underlying issue was like cancer and if left would eat away and further compromise the church.
I think as we are now in a world which is primed for fake news, narratives and truths we cannot win anyone by just poiting out the biblical truth of the plain and clear words. As words are now themselves relative and hold multiple meanings.
Therefore I think the key destinguishing factor that can determine truth from untruths will be found in living the teachings. Paul lived the teachings. He says the members were his reference because they seen in him the teachings living a Christlike example.
Peter says that a Christlike disposition of love and obedience to God expposed evil and turned people towards God and His truth without even preaching Gods words.
This means by first living the words the disposition of the person is what is empowering the words. The words don't need a rationalising re semantics. They are embodied truths that cannot be disputed.
But also another sign of truth is consistency, calmness, and as you say love. Because love is not concieted or anxious to prove right. Its patient and kind in preserving the truth and being above reproach. So that others may also see and know that truth and also partake.
This I notice of alternative ideologies. That they are overly protective and projected as a matter of life and death. It will use emotion and manipulation and even become antagonistic against opposing beliefs. Always changing to suit what is appealing to sensitivities. But many people can fall for the emotion and appeal.
