Scroll down to finish video parts 2n3
I began this blog thing for several reasons all of which stem from what happened to perspective upon reading Gods Word thru .
From that first time 8 years ago , many things happened.
I had a desire to share with family and friends how God has brought clarity and peace to my understanding.
(although that peace often looked like intense conflict)
But , I was raised in a confusing time. I never quite understood all the church has taught.
Now I always knew that God was my savior and I truly needed saving .I would never ever doubt that once.
But it seemed that everyone around me was ok with confusing ,conflicting, abstract subjective church teachings, and the ones who weren't left the church all together , of which I can't really blame them.
Yet I still wanted to share what's happened but because of every ones acceptance of post modern church behavior, communicating became impossible. I thought maybe it would be a good idea to send them to this blog thing to better understand, although half the friends or family I send here will think I am nuts and the other half will dismiss it thru anger or maybe sorrow and they will have to pray harder for me.
Then I thought there might be other middle aged , raised in the church, believers that for a long time have sensed something not right about there church. Maybe they have not been able to take the time needed to read and or listen to their Bibles so I thought that by sharing how God has revealed Himself to me thru the Word , sending them to this blog, might have some benefit.
As a quick time line sort of thing , a timeline of how God was showing me things, it went something like this.
1)Before reading the Bible through , church made little sense
2) (then) a day came when I listened to the Bible
3) (then) I discovered countless vrs taught wrong over the years -
4) (then) I discovered that was due to them being taken out of context
5) (then) I discovered what people can do with a single verse
6) (then) I began asking how did this happen
7) (then) I discovered what the emergent Church was and how it began
8)(then) I began comparing different styles of preaching , some with opposing views of doctrine to discover where they split in there teaching
9)(then) I kept asking questions (something Christians are discouraged in doing) and getting answers ......and then it happened.
10) I discovered the form of preaching that led to a mixed up, confused, frustrated generation, all around my age and this was the most difficult of all things to wrestle with. The most clever, satanic approach to the Bible came by way of confusing the :
2) (then) a day came when I listened to the Bible
3) (then) I discovered countless vrs taught wrong over the years -
4) (then) I discovered that was due to them being taken out of context
5) (then) I discovered what people can do with a single verse
6) (then) I began asking how did this happen
7) (then) I discovered what the emergent Church was and how it began
8)(then) I began comparing different styles of preaching , some with opposing views of doctrine to discover where they split in there teaching
9)(then) I kept asking questions (something Christians are discouraged in doing) and getting answers ......and then it happened.
10) I discovered the form of preaching that led to a mixed up, confused, frustrated generation, all around my age and this was the most difficult of all things to wrestle with. The most clever, satanic approach to the Bible came by way of confusing the :
Gods Law and Gods Gospel!
The fallout from this is immeasurable. It began long before I was born but it just so happens that by the time I was born, the techniques used to advance false ideas were put in place to perfect such a satanic approach.
It would be disguised in everything from ones hopes and dreams to finding ones purpose, which led to ones experiences. , All these things are off limits to object to ,in Christian circles.
Bible reading Christians can not touch em. Besides, ya just don't mess with ones experiences. They trump practically everything. To question these is to question God Himself, or so the one who claims direct revelation from God (by saying "the Lord told me..") would have you believe.
But God will never contradict His Word but because many church goers never read it, how would they know if it squares with God's Word?
They wouldn't.
It would be disguised in everything from ones hopes and dreams to finding ones purpose, which led to ones experiences. , All these things are off limits to object to ,in Christian circles.
Bible reading Christians can not touch em. Besides, ya just don't mess with ones experiences. They trump practically everything. To question these is to question God Himself, or so the one who claims direct revelation from God (by saying "the Lord told me..") would have you believe.
But God will never contradict His Word but because many church goers never read it, how would they know if it squares with God's Word?
They wouldn't.
Understanding law and gospel challenges everything , and I mean everything one grew up with. All the things I trusted, all the things I like, all the things that causes us to believe they were saved.
Understanding this confusion of Gods Law and Gospel , even challenges one to consider if they are indeed a child of God. Now that's nasty my friend, for a Christian to even question their own salvation , after living what they thought to be Christian for so long.
The thing that brings that on is when they see clearly , what God thinks about all that's going on around us, and that is stated cleparly in the Bible but its in the lesser read books.
------
The fuel that drives the engine of confusing law and Gospel is not knowing who or what the Old testament is about. By not seeing Jesus on every page , one is sure to go in many odd directions.
I struggle between wanting to give my thoughts to this.
Its best to allow those who care , come to it on their own. Its not like I discovered something new here . But I grow weary of being told there is no elephant in the room when the darn thing is sitting on my head. I add a bit of the dramatic here only due to its being a serious deception in its nature while being embraced by church's worldwide.
CFW Walther the Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel
http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/
is the best resource I know of to bring this into light but I warn ya, this is not an easy read. I struggle with it. Besides, this can not be understood apart from Christians knowing their Bibles. But once seen , from that point on it becomes very easy to spot.
But to get to this treasure of insight , one must travel some hard hard roads that will challenge much of what they once believed.
There will be a brief time of wondering how it was was you were so easily fooled but that doesn't last long when you see how many this has deceived over the centuries.
Church goers that ask u "what makes you think your so right" is solid prove they are not ready to consider God's total Word. That's because they insist on making the conversation about you (me) They also approach the Bible to fit what they think, into it.
Lets face it, those apart from the Bible ,those disinterested in Jesus, have no interest whatsoever in some Man hanging on some tree dying for some sins most don't even think they by have.
If they did have them, they would say they are not so bad when compared to others.
For the visible church to tailor a message to them is beyond foolish.
If in any form of relationship where one party wrongs the other, if the restoration process doesn't begin with an "I'm sorry" from the offender, true restoration can never be had.
My kids are an example of this. I would tell them, when they would disobey, they need to say "I'm sorry".
Saying that was not for us (mom n dad) We unconditionally love them so forgiveness was never an issue)
but saying "I'm sorry" was FOR THEM.
They never understood this so is it any wonder, they will (and are) struggling in there later years. This persists to even this day.
It stands to reason, an unbeliever needs to confront there offense, to God. If there trusting in Jesus doesn't begin with an "I'm sorry" it's fair territory to question their salvation.
But sadly, they are not told they have offended a Holy God usually till AFTER they are presented with the gospel, and long after at that.
. If they were told BEFORE , they may not come. Some of these may come back but most won't and that's good.
.I'm not sure which is worse. The one who walks out after being told they've offended a Holy God and need to believe they've been forgiven if they repent or the preacher who never tells the other they daily offend a Holy God and water down the daily sins we commit each day of our lives.
The gospel is not meant to be responded to in any other way then the way it was at Pentecost and that was when a person asks ,after hearing the harsh message of law , "what shall we do"
If a person does not ask that question, they are in no way ready for the gospel, but all to often all they need to do is raise their hand . Sad ,very sad!
By telling a lost world of the gospel, absent of the crushing effect of the law, (the law that reveals that person is a sinner), has done more harm to the church than one can tell.
The law needs to be used as a sledge hammer for the unbeliever, to reveal sin.
Then the Gospel can do its work , only after they realize their offense.
We also need to keep the law , daily in front of the believer, as a way to daily remind him/her, that they constantly break it, thereby finding daily strength from the gospel..
Instead, the law, for the believer, in many churches, becomes a standard of what they should be "doing" to maintain their salvation.
Need prove of that?
Just listen to any past sermon you've heard and count how many examples are given pertaining to our behavior.
When this is not followed up with the Gospel, problems occur. Many times it is not because the Gospel has become for the unsaved only.
Since you (as a believer) will never ever fully do what it is your exhorted to "do", Sunday after Sunday and since for you (the believer) this gospel has been made something you already "did" (when u raised your hand) there's nothing left for you then to just keep attending week after week, till you grow weary of this cycle and leave altogether.
I can assure you, that when one grows up under this light, one where the law gets preached as a standard to achieve rather than a means to reveal sin, along with an absence of the gospel daily offered to the believer, this person grows up desperately needing a way to quiet that constantly nagging law.
They seek ways to quiet that nagging law.
Some just abandon it while others add things to this upbringing, things that stimulate the senses.
It's hard to confront that because to them,the things they've added "feel" so good and good luck trying to confront ones "feelings".
-----
If you doubt that, just ask any man whose been married any length of time. Feelings are important but not when they become the standard.
The Christian needs the law and the gospel TOGETHER daily.
When Law by itself is legalism.
When the Gospel is preached by itself is prosperity and or faith movements.
When Gospel (first) then law (usually watered down) it breeds complacency.
But when Law is preached in all of its vigor (first) and Gospel is preached in all its sweetness,(second) this is Biblical in every fashion. Confuse them and it becomes satans playground.
If all it sounds confusing , it really isn't .The thing is, one appeals to us over the other and people will most likely respond to the more appealing one.
People are forever ,wanting something to "do".
They do not know that , this "to do" approach is often the bait used to confuse the hearer while times ,its a pastor casting the rod with that bait.
If anyone wants to test this order of things, listen to any of your favorite preachers. Count how many times the words "you" or "do" are used , count how much is aimed at you and the things you should be or need to be doing. That is law. That law cannot save anyone.
Many times , it is true , the Bible says to do this or that, but what is neglected to be preached is that the one doing this or that, must do it perfectly , all the time and never fail at it.
Then count how many times , in the same sermon or book , the good news of Jesus paying for your sins on the cross, is mentioned?
So many sermons ask the believer to do this or that , and the one hearing this tries and tries.
So often , they are not approached with the Gospel with the same force as the law.
So many Christians don't think they need the gospel daily or they don't think they need to repent each and every day but Gods total Word says different but because of one verse theology, many believers will never know and some will be lost for eternity.
I have heard church's tell the Christians in the room to tune out while the pastor proceeds to tell the gospel story to the wandering in sinner or atheist.
This is flat out wrong , on so many levels its hard to humanly comprehend.
Most will categorize me as nuts , and this may be due to the passion I have regarding this but the truth is, I feel humbled and blessed to be brought to this understanding.
I do not deserve it. I was given so much , my salvation, my desire to repent, my faith , all given to me ( in a world that taught those were all mine to begin with)
I was also given a patient wife. That truly helps. So many blessings. Too many to count.
I know many will say I'm strange, they'll think I've complicated things and they may pray hard for me to be more loving.
That's ok.
Once someone properly understands the uses of Law & Gospel, when they go back to their favorite passages, the ones that were taught were about them, they will see clearly what's been happening over the decades.
They will discover that the old Testament stories made about them are actually about Jesus and His continuing work of the cross, not to mention the power the new Testament now has, again, there favorite passages being about Christ, and not them.
And to think , all this came about because all I did was read Gods total Word , cover to cover ,as "me" not as its subject .
Its a small price to pay to have others think I'm crazy.
Don't believe me?
tryreadNit!
Understanding this confusion of Gods Law and Gospel , even challenges one to consider if they are indeed a child of God. Now that's nasty my friend, for a Christian to even question their own salvation , after living what they thought to be Christian for so long.
The thing that brings that on is when they see clearly , what God thinks about all that's going on around us, and that is stated cleparly in the Bible but its in the lesser read books.
------
The fuel that drives the engine of confusing law and Gospel is not knowing who or what the Old testament is about. By not seeing Jesus on every page , one is sure to go in many odd directions.
I struggle between wanting to give my thoughts to this.
Its best to allow those who care , come to it on their own. Its not like I discovered something new here . But I grow weary of being told there is no elephant in the room when the darn thing is sitting on my head. I add a bit of the dramatic here only due to its being a serious deception in its nature while being embraced by church's worldwide.
CFW Walther the Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel
http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/
is the best resource I know of to bring this into light but I warn ya, this is not an easy read. I struggle with it. Besides, this can not be understood apart from Christians knowing their Bibles. But once seen , from that point on it becomes very easy to spot.
But to get to this treasure of insight , one must travel some hard hard roads that will challenge much of what they once believed.
There will be a brief time of wondering how it was was you were so easily fooled but that doesn't last long when you see how many this has deceived over the centuries.
Church goers that ask u "what makes you think your so right" is solid prove they are not ready to consider God's total Word. That's because they insist on making the conversation about you (me) They also approach the Bible to fit what they think, into it.
Lets face it, those apart from the Bible ,those disinterested in Jesus, have no interest whatsoever in some Man hanging on some tree dying for some sins most don't even think they by have.
If they did have them, they would say they are not so bad when compared to others.
For the visible church to tailor a message to them is beyond foolish.
If in any form of relationship where one party wrongs the other, if the restoration process doesn't begin with an "I'm sorry" from the offender, true restoration can never be had.
My kids are an example of this. I would tell them, when they would disobey, they need to say "I'm sorry".
Saying that was not for us (mom n dad) We unconditionally love them so forgiveness was never an issue)
but saying "I'm sorry" was FOR THEM.
They never understood this so is it any wonder, they will (and are) struggling in there later years. This persists to even this day.
It stands to reason, an unbeliever needs to confront there offense, to God. If there trusting in Jesus doesn't begin with an "I'm sorry" it's fair territory to question their salvation.
But sadly, they are not told they have offended a Holy God usually till AFTER they are presented with the gospel, and long after at that.
. If they were told BEFORE , they may not come. Some of these may come back but most won't and that's good.
.I'm not sure which is worse. The one who walks out after being told they've offended a Holy God and need to believe they've been forgiven if they repent or the preacher who never tells the other they daily offend a Holy God and water down the daily sins we commit each day of our lives.
The gospel is not meant to be responded to in any other way then the way it was at Pentecost and that was when a person asks ,after hearing the harsh message of law , "what shall we do"
If a person does not ask that question, they are in no way ready for the gospel, but all to often all they need to do is raise their hand . Sad ,very sad!
By telling a lost world of the gospel, absent of the crushing effect of the law, (the law that reveals that person is a sinner), has done more harm to the church than one can tell.
The law needs to be used as a sledge hammer for the unbeliever, to reveal sin.
Then the Gospel can do its work , only after they realize their offense.
We also need to keep the law , daily in front of the believer, as a way to daily remind him/her, that they constantly break it, thereby finding daily strength from the gospel..
Instead, the law, for the believer, in many churches, becomes a standard of what they should be "doing" to maintain their salvation.
Need prove of that?
Just listen to any past sermon you've heard and count how many examples are given pertaining to our behavior.
When this is not followed up with the Gospel, problems occur. Many times it is not because the Gospel has become for the unsaved only.
Since you (as a believer) will never ever fully do what it is your exhorted to "do", Sunday after Sunday and since for you (the believer) this gospel has been made something you already "did" (when u raised your hand) there's nothing left for you then to just keep attending week after week, till you grow weary of this cycle and leave altogether.
I can assure you, that when one grows up under this light, one where the law gets preached as a standard to achieve rather than a means to reveal sin, along with an absence of the gospel daily offered to the believer, this person grows up desperately needing a way to quiet that constantly nagging law.
They seek ways to quiet that nagging law.
Some just abandon it while others add things to this upbringing, things that stimulate the senses.
It's hard to confront that because to them,the things they've added "feel" so good and good luck trying to confront ones "feelings".
-----
If you doubt that, just ask any man whose been married any length of time. Feelings are important but not when they become the standard.
The Christian needs the law and the gospel TOGETHER daily.
When Law by itself is legalism.
When the Gospel is preached by itself is prosperity and or faith movements.
When Gospel (first) then law (usually watered down) it breeds complacency.
But when Law is preached in all of its vigor (first) and Gospel is preached in all its sweetness,(second) this is Biblical in every fashion. Confuse them and it becomes satans playground.
If all it sounds confusing , it really isn't .The thing is, one appeals to us over the other and people will most likely respond to the more appealing one.
People are forever ,wanting something to "do".
They do not know that , this "to do" approach is often the bait used to confuse the hearer while times ,its a pastor casting the rod with that bait.
If anyone wants to test this order of things, listen to any of your favorite preachers. Count how many times the words "you" or "do" are used , count how much is aimed at you and the things you should be or need to be doing. That is law. That law cannot save anyone.
Many times , it is true , the Bible says to do this or that, but what is neglected to be preached is that the one doing this or that, must do it perfectly , all the time and never fail at it.
Then count how many times , in the same sermon or book , the good news of Jesus paying for your sins on the cross, is mentioned?
So many sermons ask the believer to do this or that , and the one hearing this tries and tries.
So often , they are not approached with the Gospel with the same force as the law.
So many Christians don't think they need the gospel daily or they don't think they need to repent each and every day but Gods total Word says different but because of one verse theology, many believers will never know and some will be lost for eternity.
I have heard church's tell the Christians in the room to tune out while the pastor proceeds to tell the gospel story to the wandering in sinner or atheist.
This is flat out wrong , on so many levels its hard to humanly comprehend.
Most will categorize me as nuts , and this may be due to the passion I have regarding this but the truth is, I feel humbled and blessed to be brought to this understanding.
I do not deserve it. I was given so much , my salvation, my desire to repent, my faith , all given to me ( in a world that taught those were all mine to begin with)
I was also given a patient wife. That truly helps. So many blessings. Too many to count.
I know many will say I'm strange, they'll think I've complicated things and they may pray hard for me to be more loving.
That's ok.
Once someone properly understands the uses of Law & Gospel, when they go back to their favorite passages, the ones that were taught were about them, they will see clearly what's been happening over the decades.
They will discover that the old Testament stories made about them are actually about Jesus and His continuing work of the cross, not to mention the power the new Testament now has, again, there favorite passages being about Christ, and not them.
And to think , all this came about because all I did was read Gods total Word , cover to cover ,as "me" not as its subject .
Its a small price to pay to have others think I'm crazy.
Don't believe me?
tryreadNit!
![Have you been thinking lately , there's something missing? Discernmen...........t.[CLICK IMAGE]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiNr7OjdutaE1fnZNfulF4VjXIW0Se2t3cO8WivL1l5R6Wbt2LwysTEwiZFMJ0dpXz_y4NKF-u3eG0WEbn9FenoXUIgL88SG5IMWLUyfp7N7J35eUPmE2a2zvy8nq6ZAIJ9eOmXmbNMYn/s376/PicsArt_01-21-05.55.38.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment