God invites us to reason together…
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah; though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. MKJV
Why as believers are we so afraid of anyone who dares to present a different approach to the Word of God?
Our relationship with God is a personal one so it is quite likely we may each have learned something different in my walk with Him, yes this must be filtered through the written word to verify its veracity. This usually isn’t the problem between believers, the problem usually comes when we begin using dogmas and traditions to verify truth and the refusal of one or other to even consider there could be a different way of applying a certain scripture or that the translation you have been religiously using may have missed something, or numerous other things that bring errors into our thinking.
Is our trust in Jesus the rock on which our faith is based so shallow that only that which we have been taught by people with whom we have associated is to be considered to be worth listening too, are we so weak in what we really know the scripture tells us that we dare not look again to see if there may be more to be learned?
This is a very old problem Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1- 11 tell this sad tale;
1Co 3:3-6 For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men? For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. MKJV
and in verse 11 it says;
1Co 3:11 For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ. MKJV
Yet we still divide ourselves up accord to the human teacher we choose to follow. for example today some say I’m of Calvin or of Arminius, neither are completely in error nor are they totally correct and such is it with most human teaching we must be like those in Berea…
Act 17:10-11 And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. They, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.And these were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so. MKJV
The Bible in both the Old and New Testaments admonishes study for ourselves to seek truth,
Isa 28:9-12 Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Those weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; for with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.To whom He said, This is the rest; cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. Yet they were not willing to hear. MKJV
2Tim. 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. MKJV
Must we continue to be sheep being led into the ditch because we do not take the time to study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us. The Holy Spirit is a gift given to teach us so that we may know truth and have wisdom and live in love and grace with all believers in Jesus. None of us have all the truth but if we obediently seek we will find Jesus and he is truth!
Edie
March 2 2016
Break Up the Fallow Ground 