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Anyway, I want to know your thoughts on what is going on in my mind. I am struggling with the most basic truths that I have believed for the last 15 years because of observations that I am making. When I read the new testament I see it as so simple. Jesus said love me, love God, love others, be willing to die for me, do good things with yourself. Right? Simple. Just do good, be good, love God. I made the observation that Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come to be our teacher. He never mentioned a new testament. Ok if I say that too loud in a Christian circle people would FREAK out and say that the Bible is God's word perfect and true, etc. However I see a pattern. The Old Testament was written, people studied it, memorized it, debated it, preached it, then became Pharisees who went on to kill Jesus. Then Jesus came and said that He came to fulfill the law and forgive us and send us the Holy Spirit to be our guide, right? He never said he was sending a new testament did he? Then we created the New Testament, studied it, memorized it, debated it, preached it, and now we are the new Pharisees. I know that sounds harsh to call myself a Pharisee but before you get your panties in a wad hear me out a little. Just as the Pharisees we all think we are right. The Pentecostals think they are right, Baptist think they are right, Church of Christ think they are right, Catholics think they are right, my old pastor thinks he is the only one who is right, and none can agree(the list goes on but I'm just making a point). Everyone thinks they are the one that is enlightened in the truth and only if everyone could see things the way they know them to be true. Then everyone throws scripture around to prove their point....just like they did to Christ when the woman was caught in adultery and He said he who is without sin cast the first stone. And we all claim to have the correct understanding of scriptures! Ever heard the saying the Devil is in the details. I am actually wondering if we got it all wrong when we started the whole bible study thing. I don't know. I know that sounds extreme. But it seems to eat up so much energy and resources. Some would say how can you say that studying God's word is anything but what we are supposed to do. But...have we gone overboard? We have an average of four bibles per American household when there are thousands of languages that do not have a single copy of God's word. We are obsessed with the word. We spend more money on bible studies then we spend on taking the Gospel to the world. If the Bible was meant to be the cornerstone of our faith, then why did Jesus not say, after three days I will rise again, then my disciples are going to write letters to churches because the churches are going to screw everything up, then, you are going to collect these letters and fight over their meanings. Then you are going to split up the believers based on beliefs of what the letters say, and you are going to spend billions of dollars on writing books and studying these letters. Then whenever you want to put God's stamp of approval on something you are going to search the letters for a quote that agrees with what you are saying. And be careful, because you are the only one who is going to be right and don't listen to anyone that disagrees because they are clearly hearing from the devil. You are the one with the Holy Spirit and clearly You are the smart one with such a pure heart that only you can hear my voice.(Don't even tell me you have not thought this as some point in your life!) I think what Jesus was actually saying was shut the h e double hockey pucks up and go do some good. Uggg....I don't know. I just don't understand why if God intended the New Testament to have the authority and weight that it has today in the church, then why didn't Jesus just hand it to us and say...here you go, the play book. And yes that would be God's character because that is how He did the 10 commandments. Ohhh.....I would be kicked out of so many churches for even asking this.
You're right. We are supposed to worship Him in spirit and truth. I get what you are saying. People are reasoning in the flesh and not walking in the light. 1John2:6This is how we know we are in him:Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
ReplyDeleteAll scripture reveals Christ. People are trying to do scripture instead of allowing the word that became flesh to rule in their hearts.
Perfect example: That old church you love so much. The king says, "We need to get the Holy spirit in our minds and our minds in the Holy Spirit." Have you ever heard anything so stupid and wrong. He essentially states the problem. Out of the belly will flow rivers of living water. Our minds is where our soul dwells. The Lord knew this. That is why when it comes to the spirit, He must flow through our hearts and our guts- not our heads.
I totally get what you are saying. I have struggle with similar thoughts for a long time. I don't think the answer is to throw out the new testament but to put it in it's proper place. We are to love God and love people. It is that simple. It doesn't ever say you must spend "x" amount of hours in study and do "x" amount of precept studies. I think that is just our way of trying to make ourselves feel like we are doing the right things. Not that there is anything wrong with doing bible studies. However, I think they have taken the wrong place of importance in our lives. I think instead of spending hours a week studying we should spend hours a week serving, loving, and being Jesus to the people God has placed in our lives. I think we become closer to God by actually living the scriptures as opposed to reading them. I guess I might get kicked out of the church too.
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