Take heed unto thyself, and unto the DOCTRINE

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Keep reading. It's an interesting book but it won't hurt you.

I found what he wrote about "yokes" really interesting and discovered something that I'd never known before. And that is what a "yoke" is. It's "teaching" or "doctrine". Each rabbi had their own "yoke". Jesus - who was regarded as a Rabbi or Teacher said His yoke in comparison to the other rabbis (the Pharisees and others maybe? ) was easy.

Interesting, huh?

I read about half of the book earlier this evening, and will probably finish it before bedtime. The yoke thing wasn't new to me, but his presentation of it was.

The way he writes reminds me of Tommy Tenney.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I am reading a book from Rob Bell titled Velvet Elvis .

It has shaken me to my core.

So much that I don't even know if I should keep reading or not.

It's all about our elevation of doctrine over our love for God.

I think there can be a danger in this, and have seen it. I heard that Verbal Bean made a statement that Apostolics where in danger of worshiping the doctrine over the God of the doctrine.

I see the opposite happening for many in the Apostolic ranks in our day and time. We seem have more "fluff" messages than ever. For many, if the church didn't shout the house down, they didn't have church.

I do understand there must be balance.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I think there can be a danger in this, and have seen it. I heard that Verbal Bean made a statement that Apostolics where in danger of worshiping the doctrine over the God of the doctrine.

I see the opposite happening for many in the Apostolic ranks in our day and time. We seem have more "fluff" messages than ever. For many, if the church didn't shout the house down, they didn't have church.

I do understand there must be balance.

Could you start a list of the things you think should be taught as doctrine?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I am reading a book from Rob Bell titled Velvet Elvis .

It has shaken me to my core.

So much that I don't even know if I should keep reading or not.

It's all about our elevation of doctrine over our love for God.

Can you love God's word more than God himself? I thought they were synonomous.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Can you love God's word more than God himself? I thought they were synonomous.

This is something that has disturbed me for quite a while about myself.

I think we may love our interpretations of God's Word more than the God of the Word.

Our interpretations of God are man-made and false, and therefore idolatry.

I have been praying that God would rip every bit of idolatry out of me. I feel that there is a poison of religious pride in me that I am incapable of defeating without His help.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I think there can be a danger in this, and have seen it. I heard that Verbal Bean made a statement that Apostolics where in danger of worshiping the doctrine over the God of the doctrine.

I see the opposite happening for many in the Apostolic ranks in our day and time. We seem have more "fluff" messages than ever. For many, if the church didn't shout the house down, they didn't have church.

I do understand there must be balance.

Balance is key.

When I read (and I read a lot) I weigh everything I read against the Word of God -- my understanding and knowledge of it -- which I feel holds me in real good stead.

So I read some things and I think........ "Wow, this is good!" Then I read other things and I think ... "This is not what the Word teaches!" and dismiss it immediately.

When you have a good solid foundation of understanding and knowledge of the Word you immediately recognize error when you hear it or read it.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Could you start a list of the things you think should be taught as doctrine?

Must I?? Surely we all could pick out doctrinal teachings starting at Genesis, and ending in Revelation.

I am not trying to be specific here, though I guess we could. I think we get more feel good sermons, and sermons that speak to our emotions than doctrinal teaching anymore. Of course it is probably just the churches I have been around, cause everyone else has doctrinal and Holy Ghost power reservoirs that are continually overflowing.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I am reading a book from Rob Bell titled Velvet Elvis .

It has shaken me to my core.

So much that I don't even know if I should keep reading or not.

It's all about our elevation of doctrine over our love for God.

Be careful of Rob Bell. He has some interesting things to say, but he almost takes them to the extreme. He said some things in a youth worker's conference that really disturbed me. He is a major leader in the "Emerging Church" movement, and some of their stuff is a little scary. They basically say that anything goes. No rules at all. I can't go along with some of that.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Be careful of Rob Bell. He has some interesting things to say, but he almost takes them to the extreme. He said some things in a youth worker's conference that really disturbed me. He is a major leader in the "Emerging Church" movement, and some of their stuff is a little scary. They basically say that anything goes. No rules at all. I can't go along with some of that.

As I mentioned, some of his stuff scares me.

But I must admit that his take on "cornering all truth" defines our movement fairly accurately.

Often we think we are spiritually superior to others.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Be careful of Rob Bell. He has some interesting things to say, but he almost takes them to the extreme. He said some things in a youth worker's conference that really disturbed me. He is a major leader in the "Emerging Church" movement, and some of their stuff is a little scary. They basically say that anything goes. No rules at all. I can't go along with some of that.

Agreed!

And there are some things in "Velvet Elvis" where I feel he's definitely off. However, he also has some great thoughts.

Keep the meat - whatever there is. Throw away the bones.