Spirit and Truth
 

Truth without spirit is legalism, but spirit without truth is liberalism

Agree or disagree?

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

I agree.

Also, Truth without Spirit makes a person blow away like dry dust, and Spirit without truth makes a person blow up with pride.

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

Wise words.

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

The first part I agree with. The second part is vague. "Liberalism" can be a good thing, in the right context. Maybe you need a different word here?

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

Disagree. Spirit without truth is just emotionalism, and empty nothingness.

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

That is true as well.

There are different kinds of liberals. There are liberals who love truth, but know that actual truth is liberty. That is what they use the term liberal for. But there are liberals who give liberty to the flesh which is wrong. So the question is what is liberalism? Paul spoke of the perfect law of liberty!

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

disagree.

truth without spirit...is still truth. and spirit without truth is still spirit.

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

Are you sure about that?

"They that worship the Father must worship Him in spirit AND in truth".

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

How are you interpreting that? Not a challenge, just curious how this is fleshed out? Here is the scripture in context, it isn't talking about theology....

Amplified: John 4:20 - 24

20 Our forefathers worshiped on this mountain, but you [Jews] say that Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary and proper to worship.

21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither [merely] in this mountain nor [merely] in Jerusalem.

22 You [Samaritans] do not know what you are worshiping [you worship what you do not comprehend]. We do know what we are worshiping [we worship what we have knowledge of and understand], for [after all] salvation comes from [among] the Jews.

23 A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.

24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

Re: Spirit and Truth
 

I agree that there are many spirits, but only one Holy Spirit and He is truth.

I don't think the Holy Spirit can be without truth and equal liberalism.

I like what a oneness person once quoted: (I DO recognize this is NOT scripture, but I thought you would appreciate that it comes from someone who believes as you)

Legality on the other hand "is a mechanical and external behavior growing our [sic] of reliance on self, because of a desire to gain a reputation, display a skill, or satisfy an urge to personal power. . . . It is religious performance, scrupulous and meticulous in its outward form, but inwardly, as Jesus described it, ‘filled with dead men’s bones.’ "

and...

On the flip-side of the coin, it is legalism to establish standards for other people when the Bible does not address the issue. Even standards for one’s self can be dangerous if they have the wrong standard. It is possible to be legalistic in the standards you set for yourself. Legality then becomes a "making [of] unwarranted demands on yourself or on someone else, especially in areas which are not prohibited in the Scriptures.