Take heed unto thyself, and unto the DOCTRINE

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Felicity

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.

Oh my!!!!!!!!!


Amen!


I believe a good solid foundational doctrine is what has kept some of us going. I know that if it had not been for the basic doctrine taught to me as a youth, I would not have came back to God after having left. That and all those prayers of my mom and dads.

But if Doctrine is a sure footing, the continual teaching of doctrine would be to me a pathway, or a navigator, for my life in God. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good hoe down here and there. But I want some meat for dinner more often than not.

[JaneEyre]

I have seen men and women throw out love, grace and mercy all in the name of "doctrine"....It's almost as if this chapter had been ripped right out of the Bible:

1 Corinthians 13 tells us:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

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.

Unless you are ready to accept "other faiths" as saved, I would say that we are in a greater position of standing than they are. That should not produce haughtiness in a true Christian, but humility.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Oh my!!!!!!!!!


Amen!


I believe a good solid foundational doctrine is what has kept some of us going. I know that if it had not been for the basic doctrine taught to me as a youth, I would not have came back to God after having left. That and all those prayers of my mom and dads.

But if Doctrine is a sure footing, the continual teaching of doctrine would be to me a pathway, or a navigator, for my life in God. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good hoe down here and there. But I want some meat for dinner more often than not.

*faints again*

*thud*

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by JaneEyre

I have seen men and women throw out love, grace and mercy all in the name of "doctrine"....It's almost as if this chapter had been ripped right out of the Bible:

Jane .......

I know exactly what you're saying, but I've also seen those who talk about love and grace and mercy all the time who show very very little of it. While those who hold a very firm position and draw a very straight line are full of love, kindness and mercy and extend it generously.

It goes both ways. I know and speak from experience.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Jane .......

I know exactly what you're saying, but I've also seen those who talk about love and grace and mercy all the time who show very very little of it. While those who hold a very firm position and draw a very straight line are full of love, kindness and mercy and extend it generously..

It goes both ways. I know and speak from experience.

SO TRUE!!!

[JaneEyre]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Jane .......

I know exactly what you're saying, but I've also seen those who talk about love and grace and mercy all the time who show very very little of it. While those who hold a very firm position and draw a very straight line are full of love, kindness and mercy and extend it generously.

It goes both ways. I know and speak from experience.

Yes, I was not disputing anything about things going "both ways" and I, too, speak from experience.

I wasn't speaking about those who talk about love, grace, and mercy...I mentioned the "love" chapter to say that there sometimes is so much emphasis on doctrine and not enough love. (not just in preachers, but church members).

Doctrine for doctrine's sake without the love, grace and mercy doesn't mean anything. All of the grace, mercy, and love without sound doctrine doesn't mean anything either. I agree it goes both ways.

[Michael The Disciple]

Before Luke wrote:

1: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2: Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

Mens traditions tell us all they had was word of mouth. Luke says there were many eyewitnesses, ministers of the word who wrote these things down. I believe Luke.

So yes they had more than Heb. 6 and Eph. 4.

[Pastor Keith]

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.

Very, very good book, the part about Yokes is exceptional!

Most of what I read, I don't even share here, strong meat belongs to those who have exercised their senses.

A nice book that I am reading now is on the Great Omission by Dallas Willard.

[Pastor Keith]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

They had the Torah for their foundation concerning the doctrine of Messiah.

They also had the written testimony of many who had seen and heard Yeshua.

Luke said:

1: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2: Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3: It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4: That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

They probably had more knowledge to go by than we do today.

The first generation Apostles had that luxury, but those early believers that were converted did not, they just took what was said and shared it with others, again it wasn't until later that the letters started to be shared among the churches or someone had the ability and means to procur a OT scroll.