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Well that 'still small voice' appears to tell people different things so can we really trust those voices in our heads?
Its not the one in the head i am speaking of, it is the one in the center of our being. The one in our heads is what has caused this mess.
Very few know of or have learned to be still to the point of hearing the still small voice. It is a voice that is heard when one seeks First the kingdom. Not second or third or fourth in line of importance. We are a lazy people that desire instant gratification. The things of God are for most a process of continued asking and seeking. It is a way of life, that leads to life eternal, not the grave and ressurection, and judgement.
note that the still small voice of the Spirit will only speak when actual truth is present. it cannot testify of falsehood. so that means that there are many people out there who are deluded, or are deluding themselves.
that being said, look closely at the similarities before concentrating on the differences. i might be a different creed or denomination than my neighbor, but we probably agree on 95% of christian doctrine. even when you get into christianity vs. other types of faith, there is still more there in common than there is different.
another intersting thought: you mention zoroastrianism. who influenced them? mesopotamia was probably not the first culture that invented religion. if you look at it from a scientific standpoint, man (early man) had been inventing things for the last 40,000 years and longer. cave paintings, arrowheads, agriculture. religion was most definitely one of them.
Christians have an answer to that query. adam and eve practiced a pure form of religion, where they knew who God was, and what He was going to have to do in order to save them. their religion was changed by their many, dissident descendants (like that?), but probably held many of the same basic principles. we know that it is natural for man-made religion to evolve in that way.
note that the still small voice of the Spirit will only speak when actual truth is present. it cannot testify of falsehood. so that means that there are many people out there who are deluded, or are deluding themselves.
And who determines the truth except the person listening to this 'voice?'
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that being said, look closely at the similarities before concentrating on the differences. i might be a different creed or denomination than my neighbor, but we probably agree on 95% of christian doctrine. even when you get into christianity vs. other types of faith, there is still more there in common than there is different.
That 5% is enough for people to start wars, discriminate against others and break off to start other denominations.
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another intersting thought: you mention zoroastrianism. who influenced them?
I'm sure someone else influenced them, but that was not what I was trying to determine or discuss.
The way I see it, folk are influenced from an early age into the way they see or perceive things. Indoctrination in most faiths exist and even in the various sects of Christianity.
The problem comes in when one tries to take questions and provide pat answers in a pigeon hole system. Relationship with the Father is a one-one relationship and just like natural relationships, no two are the same. The salvation experience while similar is not identical. Just as we are unique individuals, so to should the relationship with God be. We can see differently due to bias and/or individual revelation.
Folk who believe similar to me, I have found no one that believes everything I do 100%, 90% would be a high expectation. It is not necessary to have exactly the same POV, we were not designed that way. The church however has tried to defy nature and indoctrinate and form people into thinking alike.
I am sure if you did a random sample of say 200 folk from a mega church, you would be surprised at results. You would see patterns but unlikely you would get all 200 agreeing 100% even if they sit under the same teacher.
That does not imply some are wrong or all are wrong or that the god-in-your-head is imagination. Even Atheists "want" a boxed theology, black and white either/or but no one can offer that anymore than I could tell you exactly how to love another person.
I believe a person who does not have the Holy Spirit cannot understand spiritual things because of a fallen nature, they are incapable of understanding the things of God 2 Corth 4:14 "But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means".
Jesus Christ is our teacher and through the indwelling presence of His Spirit, He makes all truth known to us. John 14:26 "But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative, and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit, He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I Myself have told you".
I believe a person who does not have the Holy Spirit cannot understand spiritual things because of a fallen nature, they are incapable of understanding the things of God 2 Corth 4:14 "But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means".
Jesus Christ is our teacher and through the indwelling presence of His Spirit, He makes all truth known to us. John 14:26 "But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative, and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit, He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I Myself have told you".
And this still does not seem to solve the problem of dis-unity amongst Christians in regards to the scriptures, does it? It is also presumptuous to say that people who are not Christians cannot understand 'these truths.' It's NOT that hard nor is it as mysterious as people think. Not accepting them and not understanding them are two different things. It's because we understand them and they make not one bit of sense or are not some great divine truth is why we reject them.
I believe that unity is one of the goals of the church but we being in imperfect flesh have not arrived yet. Jesus prayed that we would all be one and I believe that one day the body of Christ will be one, but I believe that maybe the greater teaching or goal is that we learn to love one another despite our differences. We can disagree and still show love and have love, even if we believe that someone is in error or teaching false doctrine. God bless.
I believe that unity is one of the goals of the church but we being in imperfect flesh have not arrived yet. Jesus prayed that we would all be one and I believe that one day the body of Christ will be one, but I believe that maybe the greater teaching or goal is that we learn to love one another despite our differences. We can disagree and still show love and have love, even if we believe that someone is in error or teaching false doctrine. God bless.
That's noble Shana, but look at what these errors have created over the centuries. If the holy spirit supposedly teaches "all truth" why are his people seeing and hearing different things?
Don, from what I shared earlier I believe that believers differ in their understanding on some things for many reasons. Some, for example, are babes in Christ and we are at different stages of growth in our walk with the Lord. Some have done more indepth studies and take into account various sources such as different lexicons, dictionaries, studies, ect which may influence how we understand things and some may look through the perspective of what they have been taught only. Sometimes we may not be ready to accept something that may be scriptural but which may go against what we have been taught. And I also believe that God gives to us as He desires. I don't believe that all are ready to receive certain things at the same time. Jesus did not reveal all to his disciples at the same time. This is why to me is so great that we can study the scriptures and pray for understanding and guidance. We can also learn from each other, but I believe that in all this, the spirit of how we relate to one another despite our differences on some subjects is what is most important. Just my opinion. God bless.
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Originally Posted by ShanaBrown
Don, from what I shared earlier I believe that believers differ in their understanding on some things for many reasons. Some, for example, are babes in Christ and we are at different stages of growth in our walk with the Lord. Some have done more indepth studies and take into account various sources such as different lexicons, dictionaries, studies, ect which may influence how we understand things and some may look through the perspective of what they have been taught only. Sometimes we may not be ready to accept something that may be scriptural but which may go against what we have been taught. And I also believe that God gives to us as He desires. I don't believe that all are ready to receive certain things at the same time. Jesus did not reveal all to his disciples at the same time. This is why to me is so great that we can study the scriptures and pray for understanding and guidance. We can also learn from each other, but I believe that in all this, the spirit of how we relate to one another despite our differences on some subjects is what is most important. Just my opinion. God bless.
That's good. The Holy Spirit teaches all truth, but some are not able to receive it, some refuse to receive it, and some refuse to be obedient to what they may hear. It's not the Holy Spirit's problem it's ours.
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