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All Becomes New

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
 

NBB

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Humans have the devil as enemy and their forces, who try to create trouble for anything that is related to God or the good things of humans, and then the stubbornness of people that don't accept the gospel.
"for the ire of God reveals itself, against everyone that impedes the truth of the gospel with lies"
 
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2PhiloVoid

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?

I agree, and you're touching on points that I've been alluding to for quite some time. I think you do a good job here of summing up the essence of the political impetus that all too commonly and cyclically occurs.

But what do I suppose is the solution? Honestly, I don't have a clear answer and I really don't think anyone else does has one or can have one, despite their position within the political sciences. Moreover, where those of us who are Christians are, like yourself, deliberating over how to make things better, I think the answers we give will, for better or worse, be conditioned on how we interpret the Bible and on how we formulate our position in Eschatology.

.................. I'll be honest. At present, my eschatological view tends to be pessimistic, even if not fatalistic, so I don't really think the cyclic problems you've dutifully noted will be going away any time soon. If I was a Post-millennialist, I might think otherwise.
 
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All Becomes New

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I agree, and you're touching on points that I've been alluding to for quite some time. I think you do a good job here of summing up the essence of the political impetus that all too commonly and cyclically occurs.

But what do I suppose is the solution? Honestly, I don't have a clear answer and I really don't think anyone else does have one or can have one, despite their position within the political sciences. Moreover, where those of us who are Christians are, like yourself, deliberating over how to make things better, I think the answers we give will, for better or worse, be conditioned on how we interpret the Bible and on how we formulate our position in Eschatology.

.................. I'll be honest. At present, my eschatological view tends to be pessimistic, even if not fatalistic, so I don't really think the cyclic problems you've dutifully noted will be going away any time soon. If I was a Post-millennialist, I might think otherwise.

To be honest, and this might be a bit of a separate issue, I find that I have fewer and fewer people I can see eye to eye with as a Christian. I find myself being more and more theologically homeless.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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To be honest, and this might be a bit of a separate issue, I find that I have fewer and fewer people I can see eye to eye with as a Christian. I find myself being more and more theologically homeless.

I feel the same. It sounds like during your own thinking and studying you've reached similar insights to some of mine. You sense the overall historical development of ideas in the world, both good and bad, and you're becoming aware of the limits of those ideas.

In other words, you have your own gift from the Lord for insight. Does this mean that you, like me, are a philosopher at heart? I don't know. Only the Lord can tell you that.

Just do yourself a favor-------------try not to focus on the "homeless" feeling. Not only for the sake of your own peace of mind, but because, too, being a Christian isn't a matter of finding perfect doctrinal or ideological concordance with every other Trinitarian Christian who lives and breathes. And today it's almost impossible to have that sort of agreement among ourselves since there are literally millions upon millions of competing scholars and voices vying for our attention and education. It's inevitable that we'll all disagree on some points between us since we all read and watch and listen to different sets of informational sources.

I know your frustration, and I've been a Christian now since the 1980's, so do yourself a favor and try to let it be "enough" to just have a daily fellowship of discussion and discovery with those brethren who are amiable and caring and who seem to be authentically devoted to Jesus Christ. :)
 
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Maria Billingsley

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
" Seek and ye shall find". Famous words from our Lord. Sometimes we have to be dragged through the mud , deception, in order to know truth. Blessings.
 
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eleos1954

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
The lies of satan are very deceptive, one should study the Word of God for themselves. We are to indeed love our neighbor but in doing so not by compromising the word of God ... we are called to put forth Biblical truth. If someone or people groups and/or other religions do not accept biblical teachings ... fine ... we are to live in peace if at all possible ... if they are outwardly hostile (enemies) about it we are to pray for them. Loving your neighbor is getting the biblical truth out ... but some/many may be against the truth.

Satan distorts biblical truth in very deceiving ways and yes false teachings are in the churches that is why there is so many divisions/beliefs.
For every one of God's truth .... Satan has a lie. Propagating lies is not loving your neighbor. The reason we are in this mess is because satan started propagating lies ... and the lies were believed ... and this has been going on since the fall and will continue to go on until Jesus returns.

One must study for themselves ... anything taught by anyone should be compared with the written Word of God. His revelation comes from the written word.

The return of Jesus is the only solution, until then we have chaos.
 
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bèlla

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To be honest, and this might be a bit of a separate issue, I find that I have fewer and fewer people I can see eye to eye with as a Christian. I find myself being more and more theologically homeless.

I'm sorry you feel that way and hope the thread brings kindred spirits you can share with. While I don't feel theologically homeless and don't mind charting my own path. I find myself at odds with the mainstream perspective on several issues. Be it christian or otherwise. There's so much angst, finger-pointing and blame. And it's honestly unhealthy.

I liken the times to a ball of hysteria that will meet its end and carry many with it including believers. The more it goes off the rails the further I move. You can't make people listen. Many learn the hard way.

~bella
 
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CoreyD

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
This is a good point you raised.
I think the easiest solution is to used the method that any expert would.
Take all the existing copies, and match them against the oldest copy available to the original, or the primary source itself.
The copy that is closest to the original, would be the more accurate.

So, I think, this is what people should do - Examine all the religious "dogmas", doctrines, practices, etc., and match them up against the first century teachings and practices.
The one that matches or closely matches, is the one that despite being prone to error, has not erred in the base teaching, and practices.
 
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CoreyD

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Humans have the devil as enemy and their forces, who try to create trouble for anything that is related to God or the good things of humans, and then the stubbornness of people that don't accept the gospel.
"for the ire of God reveals itself, against everyone that impedes the truth of the gospel with lies"
This is a good point.
The Devil has created trouble. He does not fail in that regard.
It is therefore hard for people to see through the thicket of weeds he has planted. Matthew 13:24-29, 36-40
Yes, the Devil does use people who do not want the Gospel Christ preached. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
 
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CoreyD

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To be honest, and this might be a bit of a separate issue, I find that I have fewer and fewer people I can see eye to eye with as a Christian. I find myself being more and more theologically homeless.
I understand the reason for that, but I don't think most persons know why that is the case.
I would say though that it has to do with two things, which can be put in a single category, we could call "Deception".
  1. a master at his work - Satan is deceptive, and very cunning... described as the father of the lie. His name means deceiver.
    He has used a method that has been very successful. Matthew 13:24-29, 36-40; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4
  2. the nature of the human heart - Pride is a root trait of the deceptive heart of sinful humans. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
    This causes a person to do things their way; seek their own path; teach themselves, rather than be taught; etc.
Many people have broken free from this.
We have examples that go all the way back to the first century, where Saul (who was named Paul) had his eyes literally, and figuratively opened, and was able to see clearly enough to tell us the things he did, concerning this deception. Acts 20:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
 
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All Becomes New

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I understand the reason for that, but I don't think most persons know why that is the case.
I would say though that it has to do with two things, which can be put in a single category, we could call "Deception".
  1. a master at his work - Satan is deceptive, and very cunning... described as the father of the lie. His name means deceiver.
    He has used a method that has been very successful. Matthew 13:24-29, 36-40; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4
  2. the nature of the human heart - Pride is a root trait of the deceptive heart of sinful humans. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
    This causes a person to do things their way; seek their own path; teach themselves, rather than be taught; etc.
Many people have broken free from this.
We have examples that go all the way back to the first century, where Saul (who was named Paul) had his eyes literally, and figuratively opened, and was able to see clearly enough to tell us the things he did, concerning this deception. Acts 20:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Most Christians are not even trying to be Biblical.
 
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CoreyD

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Most Christians are not even trying to be Biblical.
That's just it.
All Christians are Biblical... if you get what I am saying.
If you do a match up against Jesus, and his apostles, and how often they quoted scripture, as compared to those who identify themselves as Christian, you can clearly identify those not only prone to error, but in error.
 
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Palmfever

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That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?

As one here stated, “Don't mind charting my own path.”

We plot our course with an eye on the truth not the lies, for liars and evil are continually in our face and impossible to avoid.

1 Cor 5:9
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Several years back when I still had a facebook presence a sister commented on the increased political polarization and lack of morality in todays world.
“The changing currents and perceptions of the religious and political world are flowing down the highway to hell, don't be discouraged it is following the course God has foretold, “Evil men will become worse and worse.” I don't presume to know when He will return, but I sense an urgency that the end is drawing near.

I'm often remind myself of Lot who was surrounded by constant sin and endured a world where he and his children only survived the judgment of God.

1 Peter 2:11
“Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims...”

Hebrews 13:14
14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.

As far as loneliness, we are never alone however I understand the desire for human companionship as God did in Genesis

So the solution?

”Rejoice your redemption draws near.
 
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com7fy8

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?
Part of this is how humans have a tendency to join in with fads.

But God's word says >

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

We need to become able to make sure with God, at all times, about "all things", in order to know what is really "good" . . . which God knows is good. And this good is better than what a lot of fad people are into, which they as imperfect and selfish people can think up and do and copy-cat.

But God is creative.
Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes).
The Net makes it possible to spread things faster. However, humans have the basic character to be able to go along with stupid nonsense. Their own character is their main problem, then. So, pointing at the Net and at the kinds of fads we now see is a way of pointing our attention away from our real problem. Fighting symptoms and reforming things does not take care of the basic sickness.
But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."
Anything wrong now is not the real problem, but it is a product. If you do not like the product, it is not enough to stop the product, if you do not correct what is helping to produce the stuff.

Let's take slavery in the United States. Ones said it was wrong to have African people as slaves. So, they fought that and stopped the slavery. However, that did not solve the real problem. Among other things, there were black people themselves, in Africa, who were willing to raid villages and kill and kidnap people, in order to supply the slave traders. So, someone might say, oh that shows how it was not just the white people's fault that there was slavery in the United States. And they could argue about how blacks of one group themselves could discriminate against members of another black group and justify raiding their villages. But blaming black people, likewise, does not solve the real problem. Those black slave raiders themselves had their character problem, making them able to so look down on someone else, so they could raid a village of some other group and kidnap people for slavery. A deeper part of the problem, then, is how ones could look down on someone else and not love that person as oneself. So, stopping the symptoms does not solve the real problem which is of the heart not being with God who is all-loving.

So, are we seeing a lot of attempted symptom reformation, in the United States? I would say we are seeing present-day church culture which is trying to stop symptoms which were caused by earlier so-called Christian culture. How might this work? God's word says, "Do all things without complaining and disputing," > this is Philippians 2:14. According to this, I see that God means that arguing and complaining are anti-love. And so, in church culture households with arguing and complaining, the children do not have genuine family caring and sharing. And they can see how their parents go to church and even have ministries but it is not working for them to know how to love and how to be good examples for their kids. So, the kids are going to look elsewhere for some sort of love and acceptance . . . and pleasure. And who do they go to? > to others their own age who likewise are foolish enough to and desperate enough to try drugs and sexual stuff and other things in order to feel something nicer than the nasty mess that is in their selfish nature. They try to use pleasure to mask and appease their misery and confusion and anger and demanding lusts and boredom and loneliness and frustration. Their own character makes them weak enough to deeply suffer like that, and foolish enough to seek pleasure and control as the solution > there is their real problem > the sexual stupidity comes with desperation for pleasure to feel something nicer than their own selfishness-infected nature > the preferences, then, really, are for pleasure. So, you can wipe out all the crazy symptoms, but still have the cause which will come out in other ways.
What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
I would say that stuff is symptoms, being helped by how people are calling attention away from their own real problem . . . pointing the finger elsewhere.

I need to seek God for real correction of my own character so I am like Jesus and pleasing to Him like Jesus, and so I am loving any and all people the way God desires. And any scripture and other Christian can help me with this. So we need each other, then. And God uses prayer and example to help one another and for reaching to others.
 
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stevevw

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
I think its a case of KISS, keep it simple stupid. Though perhaps stupid is not the best word. Maybe servants is a better word. But nonetheless I think theres a fundemental teaching that can guide us and thats the gospel. The gospel according to what the bible tells us about Christ and His teachings and His death and resurrection as saviour over sin and death.

I think thats all the early church was based on and the disciples and early church leaders promoted this simple message. We see Paul, Mathew, John and others reminding the early church. They knew even then that all sorts of false doctrines and teachings could creep into the church and they kept coming back to the simple message of Christ.

I think one thing that stands out was that these leaders lived as an example and were actually living like Christ and would eventually go on to die like Him. So there was no compromising.

I think over time as we have moved away from the cross and the world has become more worldly. So maybe theres more distractions as time goes by. More white noise. The simple message has been theorized, elaborated on and with the natural progression of enlightenment people began to question things.

At first science was an endeavour to understand Gods creation. Up until around that time God was still central to our worldview. But this also opened up our minds to other possibilities. That then became skepticism and today outright rejection of Gods truths.

So now we have a range of views and beliefs from the simple gospel to variations and additions to complex rationalisations about all sorts of metaphysical ideas and beliefs.

So its almost like from the time of the cross and early church its been a slippery slope away from the gospel and the further we move away the more it will become just like in the last days.

If thats the case then we should expect that there will be a return to the early church in response because this will be a time when standing on the gospel will require putting your life on the line for the gospel because the further away from the cross the greater the world hates the cross and by extention Christians.

I think in some ways what has happened had to have happened. The bible says that humans intellect is foolishness to God. So it seems that there was always going to be challenges to Gods truth before it can be established as the Truth. Even if that is immitating the truth. Satans a crafty devil.

This is played out in allowing the white noise to have its day to be able to expose their untruths as they are lived out. When finally Gods truth prevails. Afterall there can only be one truth and it can only stand when all other claims to truth have been tried and failed.
 
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Paleouss

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What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.
Greetings, many blessing to you and yours.

I read a couple of responses and thought I would go in a different direction. The direction I am taking is the error that each of us are prone too. That is, the error I have in my life (conversely the error you see in your own life). So I'm turning this back onto ourselves.

In my years of walking with God, things have turned ever so slightly. These small adjustments improve my spiritual vision and direction each time. So this is my current position on ... myself.

Many might cringe at my list, but I think this is true. God has used many down through the years: Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Wesley. All these men, I believe God used and all are Godly men. However, if you know anything about these men you know they didn't agree on all theological issues. In fact, you might see a few that you don't like. My belief is that none of them are 100% correct in their theology. Each contains within their theology, errors. Therefore I conclude, if great Godly men as these can have error...then I have error within my theology. Each of us have error in our theology. I am not as smart as I think I am.

Now that would seem to be a hard pill to swallow. For some more than others. But I think it takes humility, submission, and a contrite heart to realize that we have error and God is at work in us every day, weeding out the error and bringing us closer to Him. So what is my errors? What are your errors? Do we seek God every day to flush out those errors?

As we witness to others, may we continually seek to reevaluate our own error. Test our own theology by asking God to have our hearts and minds open to His wisdom.

Keep seeking God's truth as if it were hidden treasure
 
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bèlla

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I think one thing that stands out was that these leaders lived as an example and were actually living like Christ and would eventually go on to die like Him. So there was no compromising.

They understood hierarchy in that period and it's a forerunner to submission. You can't be a servant if you don't understand what it means to be under another and subject to them. You're not autonomous. That's the difference between them and us. You can thrive in the wickedest place if you grasp that principle. Because you're not in control.

We give primacy to our thoughts, feelings and biases. But submission is a question of will that gives primacy to bending. When in doubt or conflict their way is the way. There's nothing to debate or consider. Their page is yours and where you want to remain. And their agenda is yours. It isn't complicated.

You can't be surrendered if you're equal. Bondservants take orders. Even those in high places. They answer to someone and ask for permission too. They don't have the freedoms modern christians enjoy. That's why their tether is stronger.

~bella
 
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dzheremi

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Hi. Sorry I'm late. Is this thread #278,542,361 where we all line up to pat ourselves on the back for being smarter than the average bear? :D

Remember: Statistically-speaking, we can't all be 'with it', so no matter how much we may all identify with being super-cool theological and ecclesiological rebels and mavericks, it would be 'safer', for lack of a better way to put it, to assume ourselves to be at least personally somewhat in the wrong and to be pleasantly surprised when we find out that the traditions we rejected in our rush to find the truth were not even what we thought they were all this time than to assume that we are personally right and its other people's "non-Biblicalness" that's the problem. We can read the Bible all day, every day, but if we're like the Ethiopian eunuch but much less humble about it, what's the point? If God prized literacy as much as that idea would suggest, then I guess the Muslims would be the correct ones, and God was manifest to us in the text of a book, rather than in the flesh of the God-man Jesus Christ, with all that that entails. اشهد ان...? (etc., etc.; I'm not finishing that vile creed on a Christian website.)
 
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JesusFollowerForever

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I'm not really sure how to articulate this exactly.

What I do know is that we are all, both individually and as part of a church or congregation or tradition, prone to error.

Without listing examples, do you guys see this as well? What do you suppose is the solution?

Biases seem to weave their way into our minds, individually first. Then, for whatever reason, these bad ideas spread. Look no further than the last 20 years or so and how much our society in the US and the West has changed in large part due to the internet (among other causes). But the current insanity of the politically liberal is somewhat an outgrowth to overextension to perversion of Christian principles. What started with "love your neighbor" has turned into "If you don't use my pronouns, you are a bigot."

Further, we see the same sort of errors all throughout Church history. What originally started as a question ends in dogmatism forever unable to get back to the original truth that at one time existed. Just look at how the Marian Dogmas developed, or the contagion of Dispensationalism, or that worship on Sunday is the mark of the beast. And on it goes.

What seems to happen is that it starts out with an innocent enough idea. It may even be revolutionary. It might be new for the time. Then slowly, it turns itself into a tradition that people will fight tooth and claw to defend their "Biblical" view.

That's the problem. What do you suppose is the solution?
I see exactly what you see, so many opinions but what is right. For me I put everything to the test, if it fits what Jesus was teaching us and did for us and does not contradict the Old testament then it is good. It requires an excellent knowledge of scripture and discernment, I pray everyday to have discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Blessings.
 
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