"One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.'" (1 Corinthians 1:12, NIV)
And somehow the latter can be the most dangerous, always going "one-up" on the less "spiritual."
The reason so many have gone astray over the centuries is not false teaching; it's false following. This is why millions pray to Mary. This is why people paid indulgences. This is why there is "replacement theology." This is why so many worship mega churches and in mega churches, and disdain house churches or anything small. This is why there are homosexual "churches." False following is the reason the evangelical church is declining, "God is not mocked." Regardless of what people say about Martin Luther, he "followed" The Word of God.
So many person's theology is just parroting pop leaders' cliches. They won't think for themselves, because the word of man has replaced, "The Word of God." They believe, not what the Bible teaches, but only what televangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops, popes, etc. tell them to believe. I can tell you the main reason American Politics is in such turmoil is that "me and mine" rule. We took the Bible out of the state school system; Darwin replaced "The Word of God." As a result, America has "evolved" from affirmation of the Bible to affirmation of self------ Germany, 1932.
The best thing that can happen to Global Christianity is, as Jerry Falwell once said, "Every Believer should read every word in the Bible at least once a year." Small group Bible studies and prayer meetings, led by people with no personal agenda other than the glory, exaltation, and worship of the Living Triune God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and not building personal empires, should take priority over any other "church program." Yes, of course, we still need the "fivefold services," aka "ministries," the Pauls, the Apollos, etc. I believe, however, there would be far fewer "burn-outs," far few "disillusioned," far fewer discouraged at unfulfilled "dreams," if our "dreams" were shaped by the Words of Jesus.
Only, "The Word of God," Jesus and His Words, are, "a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path." There are no blind paths in Jesus. There are no unfulfilled dreams in Jesus, because Jesus has fulfilled all the "reality" dreams. If we are going to be "mindless" followers of anybody in these days, then it is best that we surrender our minds to our Lord Jesus Christ, viz, "we have the mind of Christ."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, for your continual gift of discernment I pray. Keep me in You and in, "Your... Path." Amen.
*********************
Please pray for "David's Tent" which begins on September, 11, 2015, and goes through the 2016 US Election. I will be there this Fall from September 18-22. It would be great to have some join me while I am there.
And somehow the latter can be the most dangerous, always going "one-up" on the less "spiritual."
The reason so many have gone astray over the centuries is not false teaching; it's false following. This is why millions pray to Mary. This is why people paid indulgences. This is why there is "replacement theology." This is why so many worship mega churches and in mega churches, and disdain house churches or anything small. This is why there are homosexual "churches." False following is the reason the evangelical church is declining, "God is not mocked." Regardless of what people say about Martin Luther, he "followed" The Word of God.
So many person's theology is just parroting pop leaders' cliches. They won't think for themselves, because the word of man has replaced, "The Word of God." They believe, not what the Bible teaches, but only what televangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops, popes, etc. tell them to believe. I can tell you the main reason American Politics is in such turmoil is that "me and mine" rule. We took the Bible out of the state school system; Darwin replaced "The Word of God." As a result, America has "evolved" from affirmation of the Bible to affirmation of self------ Germany, 1932.
The best thing that can happen to Global Christianity is, as Jerry Falwell once said, "Every Believer should read every word in the Bible at least once a year." Small group Bible studies and prayer meetings, led by people with no personal agenda other than the glory, exaltation, and worship of the Living Triune God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and not building personal empires, should take priority over any other "church program." Yes, of course, we still need the "fivefold services," aka "ministries," the Pauls, the Apollos, etc. I believe, however, there would be far fewer "burn-outs," far few "disillusioned," far fewer discouraged at unfulfilled "dreams," if our "dreams" were shaped by the Words of Jesus.
Only, "The Word of God," Jesus and His Words, are, "a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path." There are no blind paths in Jesus. There are no unfulfilled dreams in Jesus, because Jesus has fulfilled all the "reality" dreams. If we are going to be "mindless" followers of anybody in these days, then it is best that we surrender our minds to our Lord Jesus Christ, viz, "we have the mind of Christ."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, for your continual gift of discernment I pray. Keep me in You and in, "Your... Path." Amen.
*********************
Please pray for "David's Tent" which begins on September, 11, 2015, and goes through the 2016 US Election. I will be there this Fall from September 18-22. It would be great to have some join me while I am there.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
