reply to post by dunwichwitch
I'm not talking about Orthodox Christianity.
Then you aren't talking about Christianity:
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
2 Tim 3:13-17 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I have seen too much to take the Bible literally.
In verses 16-17 above:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
If I am left to my own 'devices' so that I decide what is good or evil, I fall into a trap:
Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth
right (good...correct...the RIGHT way) unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
I don't get to define what is 'sin' and what is NOT 'sin'.
I'm talking about the path of Gnostic Christian Mysticism.
Here is Gnosticism at its root/base/beginning (level):
Isa 14:13-14 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
...and the result:
Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Jesus did not come to call the righteous:
Matt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
The (by definition)
esoteric teachings of Gnosticism preclude my daughters (8, 5 and 15-months old) from being
enlightened (by
Gnosticism) until they are old enough to 'understand'.
Yet Jesus said:
Matt 18:2-4 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"Little children" don't need to understand quantum physics because they have no USE for quantum physics.
The little girl, who is crying, doesn't need a lecture on "string-theory", she needs mommy (or daddy) to pick her up and ask what is wrong and
to provide some comfort.
Gnosticism also presumes that what the Bible says (for them) is
incomplete, at best, or CORRUPT at worst It presumes a god (small 'g') who
gave a few hints, here and there...but left us, individually, to
figure it out
But the Bible says:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Gnosticism lays burdens at men's feet that we were never required to carry. Jesus said His yoke was easy...His burden: light.
Gnosticism, also, requires a never-ending search...never complete...never satiated...never (really) at peace with God, but competing WITH (THEIR idea
of what SHOULD be) God. It presumes that unless one BECOMES (their idea of being) god-like, one is failing in becoming the very god they desire
to be. This is the error. This is no different than what Lucifer did.
They, also, compare themselves with others around them and are constantly looking down in disdain (or pity) at the other's lack of (secret...not
OPEN) knowledge, err, rather "Gnosticism". OH yes they ARE! "You aren't as much of a god as I am!" BUT...they are too much of a COWARD to say it
outright. They THINK this, but they don't dare SAY it to you. Is this their way of "charity"?
Please note that the Greek word "Gnosis" is also where we get our word English word, "KNOWLEDGE". This is also where we get the term "Agnostic".
This means, they are "without knowledge" (of God). I suppose one could say that, "Agnostic means without the knowledge of ANY god"? For if an
agnostic knew of any god, one wouldn't BE an A-Gnostic (without knowledge of any god.)
May I further suggest that since the Agnostic knows of no god, the Agnostic, by definition, must BE his/her own god? This must be true, is it not?
The deer in the woods doesn't fear a "God", it only fears what will hurt
it.
The deer, in it's mind, knows only of it's own instinct.
The deer in the woods, being shot at, doesn't even for a moment, CARE who or what it
hurts while RUNNING in fear. The deer in the woods has no CARE but for its own welfare. This deer is it's own god.
The beasts of the field are Agnostic. They CERTAINLY aren't atheists...they can, at best, be Agnostic, because they are without knowledge of (ANY)
god that would ever step in and save them from CERTAIN destruction...death.
The beasts of the field are their own god, and Gnosticism fails because it makes men out to be
no more than beasts...who are their own
god.
2 Peter 2:10-12 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they
are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly
perish in their own corruption;
The whole chapter of 2 Peter 2 (for context) IS a good description of some of these "gnostics", as well as others who bring in "DAMNABLE
heresies".
Jude says it in a similar way.
I don't like Gnosticism. The Bible speaks against it.
and make baseless judgements and accusations about Christians, I shall slip off quitely in search of meaningful exchange.
