Featured I Need Help Understanding if I did the Wrong Thing

More often when one is awakened to a need to assess, there is a pendulum like swing as they seek a new normal.

For the believer, it can begin with disappointment, discouragement, perhaps disolution, even enemy deceiving.

There are also landmark periods in a persons life and living such as age, health, death of near and dear, loss of job, status, financial setbacks, and the like.

What the true believer has that the world and worldly do not is that Spirit of peace. It isn't constricted to human understanding, yet can be shut out or quenched.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians saying:

12But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,13and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit; 20do not despise prophetic utterances. 21But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
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Please be guided in your journey by these scriptures.

Also, there are 31 chapters in Proverbs. This is the second day of the month so consider reading the second chapter, the third day, read the third chapter and so forth, doubling up on the last two chapters on those months with only thirty days.

As you journey, be careful of in the area of judgment. It is good to discern, I would more believers would take such matters seriously. But, along with such discernment, do not allow a spirit of bitterness to replace the indignation you sense over the disregard of Godly living by others.

 

My apologies

The word assess is mispelled in the post, above.


The edit button isn’t available, so if a moderator would make the correction by adding the necessary “s” I would appreciate it.

 

I see Jesus speaking to the Jew first. Most of his words we said to primarily Jews. Much of his post resurrection ministry may have included a few [Edit: gentiles]. After his assumption the direction apostolic preaching including messianic gifts were directed toward the [Edit: gentiles]. When the apostolic periods came to an end most of these gifts cease. To the Jew first the the same signs to [Edit: gentiles]. I heard another man teach that whole period is called the period of the hypo static union. In that time the gospel which was give to Jews was by commission given to the [Edit: gentiles] the is the equality of Jesus in action and how he built his church. Charismatic folks love the gifts so much one wonders how much the giver is worshipped. Paul wrote, "tongues will cease." Apparently Paul believed in temporary period of these gifts. Do we pray for healing of body and soul, yes. After the apostolic period God it appears miracles went back to being a refreshing spiritual expression but not on demand nor normative.
Ecstatices are emotional by not theological. It is ok to get happy about Jesus. Let's accept sometimes our flesh is just happy and sometimes in prayer all we can do is groan or cry. Yet, these are not bad or apostolic gifts.

 

Interesting to learned that you studied at Asbury Seminary. That's in KY near Lexington isn't it? I was born in Danville, KY which isn't far away. There was a major revival there in the early 70's which seems to have been genuine. Here's my thought for you. Christ's Church is perfect and was established at Pentecost. This tradition was carried on initially by the Roman Catholic Church until the Reformation when Martin Luther pointed out some unacceptable ways the Catholic Church had strayed from Christ's view of His Church. other denominations were initiated. None of these are perfect but the really important thing to understand is that even in the best of them there are a large number of people in their churches who are hypocrites or what has recently been called "Christian Atheists."

I think there's a great deal of support and theological interpretation to be found in a Christian church which preaches the gospel as I understand it. I found that out in the middle 20 years of my life in which I didn't attend church regularly after a stong foundation in my youth. I very much resonate to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I've chosen to stay in a church now which does some things that I don't agree with because of the many good Christian friends I have there who support me when I need Christian support. I have my own interpretation of the gospel which I find consistent with the Baptist principle of Priesthood of all Believers. I don't support the current effort by the SBC to make church members conform to what is really a creed which has never been a part of Baptist theology. My advice is do your own Bible study. Pray to God for understanding and talk with fellow Christians in a sincere community of faith. Don't reject denominations because of past history. They are led by humans who have made mistakes. Look to Jesus as the perfect example to model your life after.

 

Just so the readers may discern...

There are those on the BB that ascribe to the view that languages and prophecy have ceased and foundational to their thinking is 1 Cor. 13.

However, there are others that see in history that no such condition has ceased but will when the Lord returns for the millennial reign.
For example: Betsy Ten Boom told her sister, Corrie, of the promises from God that had given her just before her passing. The promises were completely fulfilled.
Another example: The oldest eye witness written account by a woman of early church martyrdom was that of the diary of Perpetua written approximately in early 200's. This was long after the last apostle lived. The account of the martyrdom showed the prophecies given to both Perpetua and others were fulfilled.


This is not to state that the charismatic use is even close to being that of what Paul was discussing in 1 Cor. 13. For in that passage, the emphasis is not on the ability to use earthly languages, and how God might comfort and guide a believer who is under great duress, but upon the principle of what is actually the most important character of the believer.

Paul's statement of cessation states that even he with all the gifts that exceeded any in the world at that time could only see as if through a fog bank.

But, when will all believers know and see without hindrance or lingering questions, and when will the believers know others and themselves as clearly as God knows?

Only during the millennial reign, when Christ has returned with the believers who are now in their glorified estate, will we find all issues that the BB argues over, resolved.

 

Speaking from 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, did you notice the word railer? A good many of us do just that (to include myself).

 

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, I don't even want to be as good as you if it involves relentless judgment of others. It's one thing to discern, it's completely another to put people under a character microscope to find some biblical error in them. I think a little 1 Corinthians 13 is in order.

1 Corinthians 13English Standard Version (ESV)

The Way of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Though I don’t agree with everything any writer writes, J. I. Packer’s “Knowing God” is extremely good.

He is scholarly and seems authentic in desire to see the believer thrive in wisdom and knowledge.