The Other Side - The Enemy?

Satan is the enemy and he has his hands in many different places.

 

We wrestle not against flesh and blood. But we DO wrestle vociferously against philosophies and theologies and ideologies that hinder the exaltation of the King and the expansion of his Kingdom.

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

Well said:thumbs::applause:

 

Sounds good, but who defines which philosophies do that? For example, if a person is truly KJVO committed and honestly thinks the other translations 'hinder the exaltation of the King and the expansion of his Kingdom' do they have licence to 'wrestle vociferously' against those who use another version?

 

No they do not. The reasons why are obvious & debated to death. Now are we going to turn the post into KJO fight topic? I hope not! I thought we Calvinists were the ones on the hot seat? :smilewinkgrin:

 

I was trying to avoid the obvious. In Calvinism debate both sides think the other is doing what you say, so both feel justified in their attacks.

 

'......"Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow us" (Mark 9:38).

The only reason for separation is if someone denies cardinal issues: the truth of the Bible (all of it), the Gospel and the doctrine of Christ (ie. His Deity, eternal pre-existence, virgin Birth, miracles, atoning death, resurrection and impending physical return).

Other matters, like baptism, are certainly important and can be discussed vigorously, but always with love. It should be possible to do that. I am firmly and unashamedly Calvinistic, but I have never had a problem working with moderate Arminians. The problems come when Arminianism turns into Pelagianism or Calvinism into Hyper-calvinism, but until that happens, we are all on the same side.

I am a T.R. and NKJV man, but my minister prefers the NIV, so I always take a NIV to church with me and preach from it whenever I stand in for him. It's not worth spoiling the unity of the church over Bible versions. If he used the KJV, I'd support him in that also.

Steve

 

isn't the correct biblical answer to the OP is that Christians ALL have ONLY 3 main enemies: World/Flesh/Devil

Noticed that our particular systems of eschatology/sotierology/etc NOT mentioned by god on that listing!

 

I don't fall out with anyone over eschatology except Hypers. You can be Pre-mil, Amil or Post-mil and you're OK by me, so long as you believe in an impending physical return of Christ.

With regard to soteriology, I spoke of Christ's atoning death. 'Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures' (1Cor 15:3). Steve Chalke is a false teacher.

Steve

 

yes, was just saying that one can be my brother/sister can disagree with me on IF can be holding to arminian/calvinism/dispy/covt/ etc and still can agree that we are one in Christ, just that some of more 'right" than others!

 

The enemy is one who does not confess that Jesus comes in the flesh, our flesh, living in us, through us. It's more like a lifestyle definition rather that a doctrinal statement. Anyone can say the words " He came in the flesh", but to live it in our lives is the real statement.

 

Ultimately what is most important is that what you fight for is RIGHT.

You will answer to God, not for how sincere you are concerning what you believe- but for whether or not what you believe is RIGHT.

Followers of Jim Jones and suicide bombers are sincere- but they are wrong and they will be judged based on believing lies- regardless of how sincere they are.

That KJVonlyism is a lie is clear. That people believe it with all their heart is meaningless. They divide churches, weaken the hands of those who serve God and slow down the progress of the Kingdom of God. They do this because they are wrong. And that is what they will answer for. This does not mean that they will go to hell of course. They may be right on those essential doctrines concerning salvation and be wrong about this. But as Christians they will answer for their hindrance to the progress of the Kingdom based on their flawed ideas.

How do we know who is wrong and who is right? The Bible properly, wisely, spiritually, humbly, reverently interpreted.

Being right is extremely important. That is why ignorance and arrogance ought to be resisted with all intensity wherever it is found. These two things are what keep people from believing right.

 

And so, which version is "right"?

 

But what about what both sides think they are right, such as in the Calvinist debate. Both sides think they are are right. Both sides can proof text the other side to death. Does that allow for the kind of enemy spirit which can develop in debate?

 

Versions are not right. Truth is right. Versions should seek to only communicate the truth in the best means possible. Truth is the Word of God. The Word of God is not a version.

Whenever a person claims a version is ITSELF the Word of God- they are immediately in error- and they immediately indicate that they are arrogant, irreverent, unspiritual, and improper in their interpretation of truth.

No humble, reverent, spiritual and proper pursuit of truth will yield that a VERSION is the Word of God when the whole church has never believed this before.

This same thing is true about Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostalism, etc, etc etc...

 

Both sides are not right- being RIGHT is what matters.


Proof texting is pointless.

How you arrive at what is RIGHT is by humble, reverent, wise, spiritual, proper, Christ centered interpretation of Scripture. How many verses you can post that you feel say what you wish was true is nothing. How you come to understand those verses is everything. If you are going to be right it is because you employ a humble, reverent, wise, spiritual, proper and Christ centered means of interpreting Scripture.

I contend that Arminians do not come to their interpretations by those means.

I contend that KJVonlyers COULD NOT believe what they believe if they had studied it out humbly, reverently, wisely, spiritually, Christ centered and properly from Scripture.

I am saying that the enemy is arrogance, irreverent, foolish, unspiritual, man centered and improper interpretation of Scripture.

I am saying that being wrong is the result of coming to an interpretation via means of arrogant, irreverent, foolish, unspiritual, man centered and improper methodology.

It is EXACTLY that that allows a Mormon to believe what he believes.

It is also EXACTLY that which allows a KJVonlyist to believe what he believes.

And I believe it is also EXACTLY that which causes an Arminian to believe what he believes.

 

You'll know them by their fruit.

 

Right. Irreverence, arrogance, man centerdness, and foolishness are opposites of good fruit.

Those who interpret Scripture in those means, indeed who come to any understanding by those means, are corrupt.