The reason for Christian Controversy

[Stephen Mendes]

Let's step back from the emotional ..... and the firmly held "beliefs" of certain faiths that we accepted without question (possibly even as children)

Jesus observed the people and told them they were like "children in the market place, we piped and you did not dance ..... we did a dirge and you did not mourn" (Matthew 11:17) ..... He then proceeded to apply this to Himself and John the baptist

He also said "ye search the Scriptures daily because ye think that in them ye have eternal life and yet ye refuse to believe in ME and be saved ...... yet they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39-40)

The real reason people come to all these differing positions is because of passages that seem to contradict each other ...... and there are very many .... on many topics (baptism, church music, health and medicine, body, nudity, salvation itself, works, grace.... and the list goes on and on)....... FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

and then we have all the dire warnings against FALSE DOCTRINES in Timothy (and many other of Paul's epistles) ...... as well as Jude and John

So truly all this leads to on the one hand the STRICT FUNDAMENTALISTS (no allowing ANYTHING and circumscribed by serious rules and regulations ..... the ascetic.... grave.... and for some people a bit depressing view of Christianity) ... John the Baptist mentality ?

And at the other end of the spectrum the "health, wealth and prosperity gospel" where God just wants to bless and prosper us ..... piping and dancing ?

Ironically the history of Israel shows conclusively that when God gave material blessings the people turned to EVIL ....... why should it be any different today ?

The REAL TRUTH is that neither postion is correct..... there are extreme positions....

Everyone will experience some blessing and some adversity in their life

Blessed is the person who takes the adversity to heart ..... and uses it to draw closer to God .... in love, humility and contriteness...... once lessons have been learned God will soon bless them again (the slide into evil will have been repented of and fellowship restored)

God also has a sense of humor when dealing with us humans of diverse backgrounds ..... and I think this aspect of God's character is lost on those people preaching the "rules and regulations and damning everybody else"

I hope this meditation on the Scriptures blesses somebody today

 

[Minister Monardo]

The real reason people come to all these differing positions is because of passages that seem to contradict each other

You must be born from above, to receive wisdom
from above.
1 Corinthians 2:
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

James 3:
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

 

[By_the_Book]

Let's step back from the emotional ..... and the firmly held "beliefs" of certain faiths that we accepted without question (possibly even as children)

Jesus observed the people and told them they were like "children in the market place, we piped and you did not dance ..... we did a dirge and you did not mourn" (Matthew 11:17) ..... He then proceeded to apply this to Himself and John the baptist

He also said "ye search the Scriptures daily because ye think that in them ye have eternal life and yet ye refuse to believe in ME and be saved ...... yet they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39-40)

The real reason people come to all these differing positions is because of passages that seem to contradict each other ...... and there are very many .... on many topics (baptism, church music, health and medicine, body, nudity, salvation itself, works, grace.... and the list goes on and on)....... FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

and then we have all the dire warnings against FALSE DOCTRINES in Timothy (and many other of Paul's epistles) ...... as well as Jude and John

So truly all this leads to on the one hand the STRICT FUNDAMENTALISTS (no allowing ANYTHING and circumscribed by serious rules and regulations ..... the ascetic.... grave.... and for some people a bit depressing view of Christianity) ... John the Baptist mentality ?

And at the other end of the spectrum the "health, wealth and prosperity gospel" where God just wants to bless and prosper us ..... piping and dancing ?

Ironically the history of Israel shows conclusively that when God gave material blessings the people turned to EVIL ....... why should it be any different today ?

The REAL TRUTH is that neither postion is correct..... there are extreme positions....

Everyone will experience some blessing and some adversity in their life

Blessed is the person who takes the adversity to heart ..... and uses it to draw closer to God .... in love, humility and contriteness...... once lessons have been learned God will soon bless them again (the slide into evil will have been repented of and fellowship restored)

God also has a sense of humor when dealing with us humans of diverse backgrounds ..... and I think this aspect of God's character is lost on those people preaching the "rules and regulations and damning everybody else"

I hope this meditation on the Scriptures blesses somebody today

People tend towards one extreme or the other because it is easier for people to live in one extreme or the other but the truth is that the Scriptures often teach examples of one extreme or the other so that people can find spiritual balance. However, it is much more difficult for people to live in spiritual balance than it is to live in extreme.

 

[eleos1954]

Let's step back from the emotional ..... and the firmly held "beliefs" of certain faiths that we accepted without question (possibly even as children)

Jesus observed the people and told them they were like "children in the market place, we piped and you did not dance ..... we did a dirge and you did not mourn" (Matthew 11:17) ..... He then proceeded to apply this to Himself and John the baptist

He also said "ye search the Scriptures daily because ye think that in them ye have eternal life and yet ye refuse to believe in ME and be saved ...... yet they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39-40)

The real reason people come to all these differing positions is because of passages that seem to contradict each other ...... and there are very many .... on many topics (baptism, church music, health and medicine, body, nudity, salvation itself, works, grace.... and the list goes on and on)....... FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

and then we have all the dire warnings against FALSE DOCTRINES in Timothy (and many other of Paul's epistles) ...... as well as Jude and John

So truly all this leads to on the one hand the STRICT FUNDAMENTALISTS (no allowing ANYTHING and circumscribed by serious rules and regulations ..... the ascetic.... grave.... and for some people a bit depressing view of Christianity) ... John the Baptist mentality ?

And at the other end of the spectrum the "health, wealth and prosperity gospel" where God just wants to bless and prosper us ..... piping and dancing ?

Ironically the history of Israel shows conclusively that when God gave material blessings the people turned to EVIL ....... why should it be any different today ?

The REAL TRUTH is that neither postion is correct..... there are extreme positions....

Everyone will experience some blessing and some adversity in their life

Blessed is the person who takes the adversity to heart ..... and uses it to draw closer to God .... in love, humility and contriteness...... once lessons have been learned God will soon bless them again (the slide into evil will have been repented of and fellowship restored)

God also has a sense of humor when dealing with us humans of diverse backgrounds ..... and I think this aspect of God's character is lost on those people preaching the "rules and regulations and damning everybody else"

I hope this meditation on the Scriptures blesses somebody today

The reason there is Christian Controversy is that satan is contently distorting the Word of God .... amongst us.

Acts 20

28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.