the Elijah syndrome

[JonC]

On another thread a member introduced a term...the Elijah syndrome....I only I am left.

I have not heard this term before and find it interesting.

My view is that any interpretation or position that is unique to an individual is bound to be wrong. Perhaps technically this is "playing the odds", but I always cautioned those I have taught that a new interpretation of teaching that has been around for over 2k years is bound to be problematic.

My concern is when people arrive at individual interpretations that they alone hold.

That said, there may be a bit of validity to the idea that if Luther refrained from acting on his "individual interpretation" there would not have been a Reformation. But even here there were influences of a more correct doctrine upon which Luther could draw.

 

[GoodTidings]

I was on a different message board once, and we had a guy who showed up who called himself, "Tennessee Elijah." He sincerely believed he was the prophet Elijah and that he was the only person who truly spoke for God. All Bible teachers and pastors were liars and he alone had the truth. He had an acute case of "Elijah Syndrome," but I will say it was entertaining in some ways to watch him interact for the short time that the mods allowed him to remain on the boards. He even had written a manuscript that he wanted to have included in the canon of Scripture. He called it, "I and II Elijah." He was a weirdo, to say the least.

 

[JonC]

I know what you mean. We've had our fair of crack pots here as well. Sad but kinda entertaining at the same time.

 

[Van]

Many times when disagreeing with other sincere believers, it was suggested "God told them so." If I disagreed, I would be disagreeing with God. Needless to say, this line of reasoning is cult like.

Another argument is this view has been around for 2000 years, or was held by the Apostles, or some such thing. Usually the idea is to bolster one side of a disagreement, and disparage the alternate view.

The bottom line is some old views are correct and some old views are incorrect. The age of a fallacy does not make it true, and the youth of a view does not mean it is bogus, it could be a restoration of the correct view.

Both Calvinism and Arminianism are about 400 years old, but since they are incompatible, one or both are wrong even though many sincere men of God have believed those views to be true.

 

[Iconoclast]

On another thread a member introduced a term...the Elijah syndrome....I only I am left.

I have not heard this term before and find it interesting.

My view is that any interpretation or position that is unique to an individual is bound to be wrong. Perhaps technically this is "playing the odds", but I always cautioned those I have taught that a new interpretation of teaching tgat has been around for over 2k years is bound to be problematic.

My concern is when people arrive at individual interpretations that they alone hold.

That said, there may be a bit of validity to the idea that if Luther refrained from acting on his "individual interpretation" there would not have been a Reformation. But even here there were influences of a more correct doctrine upon which Luther could draw.

What a surprise.JonC has not heard of this term and has come to the conclusion that it must be wrong .
This is the same kind of conclusion John C comes to with his Calvinism or other people's Calvinism if he doesn't understand it or he doesn't it doesn't meet his approval of his proclamation of what is true then it must be wrong.
I'll show in a little while while the facts will bear out that this term has been around for quite a while and it means exactly what it means.

 

[InTheLight]

What a surprise.JonC has not heard of this term and has come to the conclusion that it must be wrong .

I had never heard of it either.

Are you saying the Elijah Syndrome is not wrong?

[If it..] doesn't meet his approval of his proclamation of what is true then it must be wrong.

Yes, everyone does this.

I'll show in a little while while the facts will bear out that this term has been around for quite a while and it means exactly what it means.

Who is disputing that it's been around a long time?

Who is disputing its meaning?




Sent from my Pixel 2 XL

 

[JonC]

What a surprise.JonC has not heard of this term and has come to the conclusion that it must be wrong .
This is the same kind of conclusion John C comes to with his Calvinism or other people's Calvinism if he doesn't understand it or he doesn't it doesn't meet his approval of his proclamation of what is true then it must be wrong.
I'll show in a little while while the facts will bear out that this term has been around for quite a while and it means exactly what it means.

I never said that this "Elihah syndrome" must be wrong.

I never expressed a lack of understanding of Calvinism. In fact, I am a Calvinists and have continually argued for the position as expressed by the Canons of Dort to include reprobation (something TC rejected of my position on the open forum) and double predestination.

I never claimed the term has not been around for a long time. I said that I was not familiar with the term.

You seem to have posted a bunch of false assumptions. Did you even read my post????

 

[Revmitchell]

What a surprise.JonC has not heard of this term and has come to the conclusion that it must be wrong .
This is the same kind of conclusion John C comes to with his Calvinism or other people's Calvinism if he doesn't understand it or he doesn't it doesn't meet his approval of his proclamation of what is true then it must be wrong.
I'll show in a little while while the facts will bear out that this term has been around for quite a while and it means exactly what it means.

This post is an example of being uncharitable. Also it is off topic and unnecessary. It is why so many people have a problem with a minority of cals.

 

[Revmitchell]

I never said that this "Elihah syndrome" must be wrong.

I never expressed a lack of understanding of Calvinism. In fact, I am a Calvinists and have continually argued for the position as expressed by the Canons of Dort to include reprobation (something TC rejected of my position on the open forum) and double predestination.

I never claimed the term has not been around for a long time. I said that I was not familiar with the term.

You seem to have posted a bunch of false assumptions. Did you even read my post????

You shouldnt waste your time explaining your self in this case.

 

[JonC]

You shouldnt waste your time explaining your self in this case.

It is odd. I thought the OP was rather clear. Yet @Iconoclast 's response has somehow discovered ideas in my words that are literally in opposition to what I wrote.

"There is a condition worse than blindness, and that is, seeing something that isn't there." (Thomas Hardy)

 

[Iconoclast]

I had never heard of it either.

Are you saying the Elijah Syndrome is not wrong?



Yes, everyone does this.



Who is disputing that it's been around a long time?

Who is disputing its meaning?




Sent from my Pixel 2 XL

In the op...
2k

 

[JonC]

In the op...
2k

Let me take a monent to explain.

Looking through the internet there are several definitions for the "Elijah syndrome ". I am taking it to refer to a state of loneliness in terms of being the only one holding a paticular idea.

That is what I was speaking of when I explained that I do not trust interpretations that are not shared by others.

I do not require an apology and you are welcome.

Next time, please just ask for an explanation. That would have save you from making such a reply based on a simple error.

(You were the only one to misunderstand the OP).

 

[Iconoclast]

It is odd. I thought the OP was rather clear. Yet @Iconoclast 's response has somehow discovered ideas in my words that are literally in opposition to what I wrote.

"There is a condition worse than blindness, and that is, seeing something that isn't there." (Thomas Hardy)

Patience..
The answers are coming.

 

[JonC]

Patience..
The answers are coming.

What are the questions?

I think the "Elijah syndrome" is an issue (I was just unfamiliar with the term).

We have seen people who offer unique positions. I have not personally seen anything to the extent @GoodTidings encountered with "Tennessee Elijah", but no one here is questioning that these types exist.

When I teach on how to study Scripture I suggest reading several times without consulting a commentary. Come up with what you believe is being said. Then do a study to include commentaries. If your conclusion is unique, then you are most certainly wrong. Christians have been studying Scripture for a very long time.

 

[GoodTidings]

What a surprise.JonC has not heard of this term and has come to the conclusion that it must be wrong .
This is the same kind of conclusion John C comes to with his Calvinism or other people's Calvinism if he doesn't understand it or he doesn't it doesn't meet his approval of his proclamation of what is true then it must be wrong.
I'll show in a little while while the facts will bear out that this term has been around for quite a while and it means exactly what it means.

You are misreading the OP. That is not what JonC is referring to. It appears that he is talking about people who come up with their own interpretations of Scripture and then posit those interpretations as THE truth to the degree that they believe that they alone have the TRUE interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

It's ususally something that cult leaders do and it is a manipulation tactic. They present their interpretations special divine information that has come to them directly from God. They feel that they alone stand as the only true receptacles of God's revelation in a see of lies passed down over the centuries. They also often view Christianity as nothing but a pagan religion.

False doctrine is usually a package deal. When you find one error, you will find it connected to a whole assortment of other theological errors, as well .

 

[Iconoclast]

JonC,

Hello JonC, lets work through this together

On another thread a member introduced a term...the Elijah syndrome....I only I am left.
I have not heard this term before and find it interesting.

Okay, glad you found it interesting.

My view is that any interpretation or position that is unique to an individual is bound to be wrong. [/QUOTE]
While that might be interesting to know what your view is, a google search would have helped.
Not having the correct information, makes a person jump to wrong conclusions quickly
,Perhaps we can see a pattern in how you do this..

You had not heard of this term before. That is fine J , but that is when you should have sort clarification. That you started this thread seems to indicate you thought the poster...{me}
had invented a novelty? or worse yet, a false teaching?
You suggest it is bound to be wrong?
JonC....because you have not heard of a term, does not mean it is bound to be wrong.

let me expand this a bit. Other people might know something, or have learned something that you have not. This should not be a newsflash.

When i have remarked to you that I do not agree with your take on things, it is the same thing.
What you are saying is not the only view, or the only understanding of a topic.

Perhaps technically this is "playing the odds", but I always cautioned those I have taught that a new interpretation of teaching that has been around for over 2k years is bound to be problematic.

Now this might be a proper caution as we live in a day where people redefine things...so I can see where you are going, if you had done your google search first, BUT YOU DID'NT

My concern is when people arrive at individual interpretations that they alone hold.

Was that your real concern JonC , or perhaps you were trying to discredit me?? You do not have to answer...I think we can see

 

[Iconoclast]

InTheLight,

I had never heard of it either.

Are you saying the Elijah Syndrome is not wrong?

https://www.christiantoday.com/arti...nt-prophet-might-not-be-a-great-role-model-to

Elijah was a loner, an outsider. It was him against the world.

And the idea that we can be like him, the only pure ones in a world that's fallen away from God, can be very tempting.


It can lead us to condemn those who dont agree with us or speak the same theological language.

 

[Iconoclast]

JonC,

Let me take a monent to explain.

Looking through the internet there are several definitions for the "Elijah syndrome ". I am taking it to refer to a state of loneliness in terms of being the only one holding a paticular idea.

While It could be that or used that way, here is closer to the way I have read of it or heard it preached

https://www.christiantoday.com/arti...nt-prophet-might-not-be-a-great-role-model-to

Elijah was a loner, an outsider. It was him against the world.

And the idea that we can be like him, the only pure ones in a world that's fallen away from God, can be very tempting.


It can lead us to condemn those who dont agree with us or speak the same theological language.

That is what I was speaking of when I explained that I do not trust interpretations that are not shared by others

.

This is an attempted recovery, however you reveal what you were thinking here;

I do not require an apology and you are welcome

.

I do not need to make an apology, JonC. What I had posted was accurate and on the money.
I know you dislike me JonC, but there is no need to try and turn the tables here once again.
I ask that you refrain from doing that.

Next time, please just ask for an explanation. That would have save you from making such a reply based on a simple error.

(You were the only one to misunderstand the OP).[/QUOTE]

I did not misunderstand but got it quite right. When I answer for myself, you can see the complete picture, rather than the narrative that you offer.

 

[Iconoclast]

This post is an example of being uncharitable. Also it is off topic and unnecessary. It is why so many people have a problem with a minority of cals.

No Rm. Once again your post is what is off topic. You thought you had an opportunity to "pile on"
so you post this non-edifying post.Your posts are not an example of charitable posts

 

[Iconoclast]

JonC,

I never said that this "Elihah syndrome" must be wrong.

JonC we see what you posted. I am not trying to jump on your words. You now see it is a term used, I can give many places where it has been spoken of.Perhaps we can move forward now.

I never expressed a lack of understanding of Calvinism. In fact, I am a Calvinists and have continually argued for the position as expressed by the Canons of Dort to include reprobation (something TC rejected of my position on the open forum) and double predestination.

You can be whatever you want to be, for or against. I do recall TC correcting your ship quite often.
Now when I try and find the posts you have made, here is what I see;
Baptist Christian Forums - Error

This member limits who may view their full profile.

If you fix the setting on this, we could go back and see these posts you speak of...That would clarify quite a bit.

I never claimed the term has not been around for a long time. I said that I was not familiar with the term.

You mentioned something about 2000 yrs...

You seem to have posted a bunch of false assumptions. Did you even read my post????

Really? I am not going to nail jello to the wall, but here is what you posted;
My view is that any interpretation or position that is unique to an individual is bound to be wrong. Perhaps technically this is "playing the odds", but I always cautioned those I have taught that a new interpretation of teaching tgat has been around for over 2k years is bound to be problematic.