Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesGlen
In the “fruit production” and/or lifestyle (as it relates to genuine discipleship), of a disciple of Jesus Christ, that loves God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength that hasn’t received His spirit evidenced w tongues..
Vs.
Another person the same, except after they’ve received the Holyghost, evidenced w tongues?
Are the people that have spoken in tongues for years any more “Christ like” than other genuinely sincere Christians that have not?
Howso?
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First off of those who have
NOT received the Holy Ghost with tongues there are two groups. One group of Church goers attend Churches that are liberal and support sin. They perhaps confess Jesus but also pursue the world. Their teachers are generally tares serving the devil.
There are smaller groups who do not accept the evidence doctrine who nonetheless throw themselves into the teachings of Christ wholeheartedly. I'm thinking of groups particularly who teach tongues is not the
ONLY initial evidence but may be real for
SOME but not all. They strive to do Gods will and may come across actually seeming Christ Like. IMO if they are taught to take God seriously they will be able to win victories in various battles because they are exercising faith in the word of God.
Then there are those who have received the Holy Spirit baptism and lets say attend a Pentecostal or Charismatic Church. Many of these when you get to know them seem much the same (or even less Christ like) as those who dont have it.
In such cases the
POTENTIAL to walk as Jesus walked is there but they are not
TRAINED IN DISCIPLESHIP. They are not taught very basic truths such as putting Jesus above
EVERYONE OR EVERYTHING.
That is taking up the cross and denying themselves. Abiding in Jesus always in prayer and exercising faith in his word. To many times they are taught if they quit drugs, drinking, alcohol, and whoredoms they are overcomers!
Well to overcome such things is a great starting place but from my own personal experience of 44 years around Pentecostal/Charismatic people very few of them place a high value upon the teachings of Jesus In the sermon on the mount. This is when one is getting truly serious with him. This is the bulk of his commandments.
Many Pastors only teach on this kind of discipleship every few years if even that! So those sheep who
DO have the Spirit who should be able to obey
ALL of the will of God are often discouraged to follow his commands.
Things like meekness and turning the other cheek are made to seem "sissified". Heart purity is ignored while the doctrines of men such as "shave only" or "obey the standards of the Pastor" are drilled into him.
So altho the Spirit filled believer
CAN AND SHOULD be like Jesus the quality of the doctrine he is taught will have much to do with where he winds up. So we wind up with situations where those who have the Holy Ghost but are taught to obey mens standards come across perhaps not even as Christ like as others who without the Spirit who having been taught the commandments of Christ more fully at least try to follow.