My Talk With God:

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Votivesoul... in all due respect, I believe Aquila was speaking of man-made lists, not the ones God has provided to us in his Word. I believe Aquila was speaking of the add-ons such as what the Pharisees had been doing when Jesus railed against them. In Matt. 5:20, Jesus said unless your righteousness EXCEEDS the righteousness of the Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

I've heard Aquila say many times that he respects the ten commandments, and believes in holiness, and separation unto the Lord. But it seems the "lists" he was talking about were the lists that man makes, and adds to... and not the ones we find in God's word.

It may be so, but then again, the argument against man-made lists doesn't always hold water, since many of these "lists" are found in Scripture. It's usually the application of the list, or how binding the items are that are found in the list, that is at issue.

There are some real nutters out there, to be sure. But there are also some very sincere, God-fearing people who strive and contend for the faith as they understand it. But this automatically leads to division against those who understand the faith differently. We are but flesh, right?

Even Jesus said He came not to bring peace, but a sword. Members of one's own family can become enemies over the doctrine of Christ.

Today, while reading up on an unrelated topic, I came upon a verse that seems to weigh in on this thread. I share it now for consideration:

1 Timothy 6:3-5,

3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

We are even supposed to withdraw ourselves from brethren, people of the faith, if they do not consent to wholesome words, and etc.

To me, this goes back to the heart of Aquila's opening post. How can we obey verses like this without drawing a line in the sand? How can we know from whom we must withdraw, if we don't at first create an awareness and understanding of what Paul meant here in 1 Timothy 6?

This is God-ordained dis-unity. The Lord, while wanting for us all to become one with Him, nonetheless doesn't always want us to become one with each other if such a oneness compromises us.