Not to be a contrary but my experience of getting closer to the Lord after leaving TWI was the result of focusing less on the Bible, not more. For me, the knowledge of the Scriptures had taken the place of an intimate relationship with God. I think there are others here who had similar experiences.
These days, I pray and speak in tongues regularly, and I still think about the Bible, but I spend very little time studying it.
I think the purpose of the Bible is to give Christians a basic doctrinal foundation, and to serve as a bridge to the unsaved. But the goal of Christ's work was not to introduce us to a book. It was to introduce us to Himself and his Father. Maybe it's because I'm not an ordained minister, but I can safely say that the vast majority of the interaction between God and me--the instances of revelation, insight, or the evidence of divine grace in my life these days--has almost nothing to do with Scripture. Instead of helping me understand some nuance of the God-breathed word, He helps me and encourages me toward becoming a better husband, father, artist, and product manager.
Whatsoever you do, do heartily as to the Lord and not unto men.
Everyone needs a standard of faith and practice. When push comes to shove, when the hard questions come up.
This country had the U.S. Constitution by which the Supreme Court decided issues brought before them. When the standard is lost, the confusion and "every evil work" can come in.
The USA President Barak Obama recently stated that he was quoting from the Bible when he said, "God helps those who help themselves," which came from British politician Algemon Sydney's "Discourses Concerning Government" and then was quoted by Benjamin Franklin in "Poor Richard's Almanac" in 1757. (I got this info from Capitol Hills Prayer Partners in email today.)
I believe we will give account of ourselves before the Lord for every word we spoke, and that it behooves us to be careful with our thoughts words and deeds. For me, that carefulness requires that I ensure I am in line with what the Bible does in fact state. Even back when I was in twi I used Acts 17:11 (receive the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so) to verify stuff, and it was always amazing to me (1) how much "assumed" godliness was not found in the Bible and (2) how much trouble I got into for doing so, which still occurs.
I have found many paraphrasers of the Bible which give the stuff of the Bible an easy hear-connection, Max Lucado's stuff and Peterson's "The Message" translation of the Bible for example. However, before I post either of their work or anything else, I always have verified that it fits with the Bible I know.
Nice post, Kit. I can't quite put into words what the Bible has done for me, which accounts for the endless string of 'em I come up with I guess.
I agree, I encourage all to crack the Book. Read it, give it thought and give it time.
I've never really had a period where I haven't to be honest, since my own new birth in Christ. I've found it important to have a relationship with the Bible and learn from it, let it inform, and through it provide enlightenment and wisdom.
I think knowledge and understanding are two different things in a sense - knowledge itself doesn't lead to understanding in and of itself.
I could point to times and periods where my own understanding and "aha!" moments have come and are simply part of the process of continuous effort - I do that in others areas of life too. Others seem born of themselves, come "out of nowhere" and are satisfying in ways that are new. The "spirit" speaks, spreads, reveals, renders, crafts, lives and makes known.
Prayer, study, meditation, thought - these are the basic things for me. One doesn't exclude the other, they all work together towards a good end. That writer addresses those nicely I think.
Dear Excathedra, "I can hardly stand to read the Bible," is one of the most terrible of issuances of vp's life, and one for which I trust he will receive a just recompense. I pray this wound also will heal not only in you but in everyone else who came to this conclusion after being involved with vp's issuances.
I believe that there will come a just recompense as promised by Jesus, for example in Luke 11:52 ( Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.)
My heart breaks for you and for everyone who was robbed of the sweet treasure of reading of our relationship with God Almighty, the precious Lord Jesus and with the Holy Spirit which was paid for by the blood of blood of the saints.
I read "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" and the updates "Extreme Devotion" and "Jesus Freaks" from "The Voice of the Martyrs" and have been on their mailing list for years. You can check out persecution.com -- These and being on prayer lists -- which bring to my inbox daily the griefs and pains and needs of others -- keep me reminded that I am not alone in my suffering and my prayers and tithes and other works that I find to do are needful, for me and for others.
(Prayer is a strengthening thing. I am strengthened when I pray, my trust in the Lord's goodness is increased as well as my reliance upon Him for the "victorious life" I always dreamed of.)
Someone very precious, when I was 50+ and we were chit chatting and I was bemoaning the fact that I never became the ballerina I had wanted to become, said, "well you may not be a dancer but you can still dance." And this is true of every dream I think. We never have to allow the devil to kill our hopes and dreams. ("If you don't fold you can't lose" is still true I think.)
From reading, "Heaven is for Real" (which is a lovely record of what a young child saw and learned when he simply to heaven), I know that we will all be restored to the prime of our lives and that there will be no eyeglasses, hearing aids, crutches, missing limbs and organs, etc.
So maybe the good dancing I would love to do I will do in heaven, but that is pretty wonderful to look forward to, and at almost 66, I am practicing up because, like the kid said, I still can dance. Even with rheumatoid arthritis and being stone deaf I can still dance.
Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife, requested for her tombstone, "Construction completed. Thanks for your patience."
As long as our names haven't appeared in the obits, we haven't been killed and we aren't completed.
This is kind of stuff is good, too, as a reminder of God's goodness: Magnificent
Recommended Posts
Jbarrax
Hi Kit.
Not to be a contrary but my experience of getting closer to the Lord after leaving TWI was the result of focusing less on the Bible, not more. For me, the knowledge of the Scriptures had taken the place of an intimate relationship with God. I think there are others here who had similar experiences.
These days, I pray and speak in tongues regularly, and I still think about the Bible, but I spend very little time studying it.
I think the purpose of the Bible is to give Christians a basic doctrinal foundation, and to serve as a bridge to the unsaved. But the goal of Christ's work was not to introduce us to a book. It was to introduce us to Himself and his Father. Maybe it's because I'm not an ordained minister, but I can safely say that the vast majority of the interaction between God and me--the instances of revelation, insight, or the evidence of divine grace in my life these days--has almost nothing to do with Scripture. Instead of helping me understand some nuance of the God-breathed word, He helps me and encourages me toward becoming a better husband, father, artist, and product manager.
Whatsoever you do, do heartily as to the Lord and not unto men.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kit Sober
Been thinking about what you said. . .
Everyone needs a standard of faith and practice. When push comes to shove, when the hard questions come up.
This country had the U.S. Constitution by which the Supreme Court decided issues brought before them. When the standard is lost, the confusion and "every evil work" can come in.
The USA President Barak Obama recently stated that he was quoting from the Bible when he said, "God helps those who help themselves," which came from British politician Algemon Sydney's "Discourses Concerning Government" and then was quoted by Benjamin Franklin in "Poor Richard's Almanac" in 1757. (I got this info from Capitol Hills Prayer Partners in email today.)
I believe we will give account of ourselves before the Lord for every word we spoke, and that it behooves us to be careful with our thoughts words and deeds. For me, that carefulness requires that I ensure I am in line with what the Bible does in fact state. Even back when I was in twi I used Acts 17:11 (receive the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so) to verify stuff, and it was always amazing to me (1) how much "assumed" godliness was not found in the Bible and (2) how much trouble I got into for doing so, which still occurs.
I have found many paraphrasers of the Bible which give the stuff of the Bible an easy hear-connection, Max Lucado's stuff and Peterson's "The Message" translation of the Bible for example. However, before I post either of their work or anything else, I always have verified that it fits with the Bible I know.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
cman
You may notice Acts 17:11 puts a distinct difference between the 'word' and 'scripture'.
There is a difference between direct connections and knowledge of scripture.
Of course I think the scripture is important.
And what it means to you could change with direct intervention of the divine.
And not to leave out that which has been built by scripture.
Though some may burn, be destroyed, and transform into a new born light.
And more then one time.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
socks
Nice post, Kit. I can't quite put into words what the Bible has done for me, which accounts for the endless string of 'em I come up with I guess.
I agree, I encourage all to crack the Book. Read it, give it thought and give it time.
I've never really had a period where I haven't to be honest, since my own new birth in Christ. I've found it important to have a relationship with the Bible and learn from it, let it inform, and through it provide enlightenment and wisdom.
I think knowledge and understanding are two different things in a sense - knowledge itself doesn't lead to understanding in and of itself.
I could point to times and periods where my own understanding and "aha!" moments have come and are simply part of the process of continuous effort - I do that in others areas of life too. Others seem born of themselves, come "out of nowhere" and are satisfying in ways that are new. The "spirit" speaks, spreads, reveals, renders, crafts, lives and makes known.
Prayer, study, meditation, thought - these are the basic things for me. One doesn't exclude the other, they all work together towards a good end. That writer addresses those nicely I think.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
i can hardly stand reading the bible
god knows me as christ does
thank god, thank christ
Link to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
this clip reminds me of god/christ
if i don't put it in properly, would someone with the smarts fix it? thanks
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kit Sober
Dear Excathedra, "I can hardly stand to read the Bible," is one of the most terrible of issuances of vp's life, and one for which I trust he will receive a just recompense. I pray this wound also will heal not only in you but in everyone else who came to this conclusion after being involved with vp's issuances.
I believe that there will come a just recompense as promised by Jesus, for example in Luke 11:52 ( Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.)
My heart breaks for you and for everyone who was robbed of the sweet treasure of reading of our relationship with God Almighty, the precious Lord Jesus and with the Holy Spirit which was paid for by the blood of blood of the saints.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
thanks kittie you know i care about you so much
i don't feel i've been robbed from my relationship with my god and christ -- honest
Link to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
thank you so much for your PM, kit
you are a very special person
i do love you so much
Link to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
life has killed the dream i dreamed
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TrustAndObey
But is it ever to late to dream a new one?
My dream was squashed, but from it blossomed a new one. Maybe the same can happen for you!
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kit Sober
I read "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" and the updates "Extreme Devotion" and "Jesus Freaks" from "The Voice of the Martyrs" and have been on their mailing list for years. You can check out persecution.com -- These and being on prayer lists -- which bring to my inbox daily the griefs and pains and needs of others -- keep me reminded that I am not alone in my suffering and my prayers and tithes and other works that I find to do are needful, for me and for others.
(Prayer is a strengthening thing. I am strengthened when I pray, my trust in the Lord's goodness is increased as well as my reliance upon Him for the "victorious life" I always dreamed of.)
Someone very precious, when I was 50+ and we were chit chatting and I was bemoaning the fact that I never became the ballerina I had wanted to become, said, "well you may not be a dancer but you can still dance." And this is true of every dream I think. We never have to allow the devil to kill our hopes and dreams. ("If you don't fold you can't lose" is still true I think.)
From reading, "Heaven is for Real" (which is a lovely record of what a young child saw and learned when he simply to heaven), I know that we will all be restored to the prime of our lives and that there will be no eyeglasses, hearing aids, crutches, missing limbs and organs, etc.
So maybe the good dancing I would love to do I will do in heaven, but that is pretty wonderful to look forward to, and at almost 66, I am practicing up because, like the kid said, I still can dance. Even with rheumatoid arthritis and being stone deaf I can still dance.
Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife, requested for her tombstone, "Construction completed. Thanks for your patience."
As long as our names haven't appeared in the obits, we haven't been killed and we aren't completed.
This is kind of stuff is good, too, as a reminder of God's goodness: Magnificent
Edited by Kit SoberLink to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
thank you, you kind souls
i am in a bad place mentally or spiritually or whatever than i have ever been before
i'm trying hard
Link to comment
Share on other sites
cman
don't be hard on yourself there exc
somethings we think we can't change
but everything will change
cause we can't do it ourselves
it easy to say 'let go'
but not so easy to do
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.