When Churchianity fails you . . .

Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I know the Holy Spirit guides each one of us who belong to Jesus but using the word "revelation" is just too strong for me.
Too easy to stray if you go beyond what is written.
I did try Mediafire but there are too many hoops to jump through it to use for me.
Many posts by different people, some whose names I recognize; which are yours?
If you consider yourself a prophet have you ever erred?

 

Hey Seeker, we were saved the same year!

I am very wary of you because you advocate getting out of "the system". You have been doing what you are doing so long you're used to it, and serious questioning is viewed as an attack. I supposed you are used to that too.


A definition:
Revelation Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary

Revelation [N]

an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times ( Hebrews 1:1 ) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF GOD .) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate preservation and propagation of the truth.

Revelation and inspiration differ. Revelation is the supernatural communication of truth to the mind; inspiration (q.v.) secures to the teacher or writer infallibility in communicating that truth to others. It renders its subject the spokesman or prophet of God in such a sense that everything he asserts to be true, whether fact or doctrine or moral principle, is true, infallibly true.



I am going to stick with what I know is the word of God and not trust any extra-biblical "revelations."


Someone earlier mentioned we will have to go smaller when we undergo persecution and I think that is true.

But you like the freedom your situation gives you to be an authority. I think you are a rebel at heart so you have a joy in being free to share your "heart."

Do you have any humans who have spiritual authority over you?

How do the people in your "church" tell if your sayings are true?

Do they just accept what you say at face value because they are your sheep?

And how can others ascertain your truth?
What scripture can they check for your pronouncements?

Bereans searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
Acts 17:10

Prove all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:21

...try the spirits whether they are of God.
1John 4:1

Suppose you are right 95% of the time?

If you are married has you wife ever confronted you about something where you had to admit you were wrong and did you say, "Yes, Dear" just to appease her?

Am I telling you to stop?
Nope.

I am just not going to follow someone who says he gets revelations from God that go beyond any insights gained from scripture.

 

The 1st century church is the model followed by most churches I’ve belonged to. We strive to reproduce doctrine and practice doing all things in order.

Scripture identifies leadership within those churches and commands members to respect those men.

I see you using vague language, mostly, about a “system” or organization or things “invented” by these men, regardless of scriptural support for those practices (whatever it is you are against)

It occurs to me we are using a different language, so to speak. If I want a scriptural basis for everything I do in worship and practice, and you rely on personal revelation or movement of the Spirit; disregarding scripture as being corrupted by “men” or “tradition” and so on, then we are doomed to speak past each other, regardless of good intentions.

I do want to offer this advice, for whatever it’s worth. I’ve noticed some comments that I find troubling. The first is the claim of belonging to the one “true way”. That is a common statement among heretical groups.

Just to be clear, I’m not accusing you of being a heretic. I firmly believe all Christians should be convinced in their own minds, but also show an abundance of grace toward those who disagree on non-essential issues.

The second is accusing those who follow a traditional church organization as being deceived by Satan. This is inflammatory at best and dangerous at worst. Don’t expect civil discussion if that accusation is asserted.

Thanks for the conversation

peace to you

 

Peace to you

 

I know, I said I'd leave the thread, but Seeker did not even acknowledge that (must be really mad at me ), so I'm back just for a minute to leave a quote from Watchman Nee which describes succinctly his Keswick theology:

"First, after one is saved he should seek for proper knowledge of the Bible. Second, he should desire to make progress in the spiritual life, such as victory, holiness, perfect love, and so forth. This is very very important. Third, we should be fervent in winning souls. Fourth, we should trust in God with such singleness of faith that we may see God working miracles" (The Latent Power of the Soul. New York: CLC, 1972, p. 64).

It's odd to me that Seeker, though once again touting his allegiance to Nee, has not answered a single one of my posts about Nee and his evangelism and miraculous answers to prayer, etc. Also, Seeker ignored my query about Nee's Keswick theology. Strange. (Does he know what Keswick is? Just asking. )

 

You did reference Satan in your first post and linked that influence to all dogma. In post #94, you quoted someone that specifically stated that organized religion is Satan’s idea.

You have stated religious leaders are deluded. You have stated Christians in traditional churches cannot fully experience God. You have dismissed scripture that supports traditional church structures as men’s ideas. You have admitted to not really knowing scripture but prefer to rely on visions, dreams and the subjective phrase of being “led by the Spirit.”

I have not called you a heretic but I do offer a warning that without a foundation of scripture, people are much more likely to be led astray.

One other bit of advice. At the risk of flattery to his face, John of Japan, imo, is an example of a Godly man striving to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus... in personal holiness, in personal commitment to love for the lost, in scholarly study of God’s Word.

You could learn a lot from him.

peace to you

 

Thank you. Very kind and encouraging of you to say this. I'll keep striving.

 

And I’ll keep reading your posts with great admiration. May God continue to bless your efforts.

peace to you

 

Dear Seeker,

Your self-entitled name seems apt because it appears you have not found for what you are seeking, making a law for yourself and "seeking" to entangle others.

 

Sorry, I was too harsh. Forgive me for my pride. I just think you were not satisfied for where God put you.

 

You can send people out with missionary organizations if you and they feel they have a call for that. You can support them through that mission.

Once a house church gets to big, They can break up into another house church. They divide the people up in accordance with their various gifts in the Body so that both have the leadership and teaching and pastoral ability.

Quantrill

 

I agree with both of these points.