believers have faith
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Post by believers have faith on Oct 11, 2007 15:32:53 GMT -5
In a two by two gospel meeting, recently it was spoken that being narrow minded is a good thing. In his younger days the worker had considered himself open minded, and had considered that there might be validity or things of truth & value in other religions...such as Buddhism, and perhaps also to be found in"worldly" denominations. Not now however; the worker proclaims himself to be narrow minded; after all the way is straight and narrow, and few there are who find it. People, once you have found that 2x2ism is the truth it is best to be narrow minded as to any other possibilities.
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Post by How True on Oct 11, 2007 16:36:00 GMT -5
Ignorance is Bliss---------------For a while
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Post by Roy unlogged on Oct 11, 2007 18:17:36 GMT -5
Yes, Ignorance is Bliss, once you lose it, you can never get it back again!
Perhaps the bigger question is why did the worker bring up the point?
I would find it hard to believe the worker wasn't having an issue with that direction since they spoke about it.
When we speak from the heart, insteresting things are said.
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Post by wingsofaneagle on Oct 11, 2007 18:46:34 GMT -5
Narrow-mindedness is defined as lacking tolerance or not having the mental faculty to see beyond the superficial and recognize the underlying truth.
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Post by gloryintruth on Oct 11, 2007 20:49:38 GMT -5
In a two by two gospel meeting, recently it was spoken that being narrow minded is a good thing. In his younger days the worker had considered himself open minded, and had considered that there might be validity or things of truth & value in other religions...such as Buddhism, and perhaps also to be found in"worldly" denominations. Not now however; the worker proclaims himself to be narrow minded; after all the way is straight and narrow, and few there are who find it. People, once you have found that 2x2ism is the truth it is best to be narrow minded as to any other possibilities.
I have always said I personally am narrow-minded. I do not believe there exists a truly "open-minded" person who embraces all possibilities, for even the supposition that we should embrace all possibilities is a "narrow-minded" view. In reality the two terms simply translate to convictions based on absolutes as opposed to convictions based on relativities.
As G. K. Chesterton once wrote, "An open mind is only as good as an open mouth - totally useless unless it has something good to chomp into".
Does the Worker not make a valid point? Does the anonymous poster embrace a little Buddhism, or Hinduism on the side to Christianity?
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Post by Thhere you Go on Oct 11, 2007 20:54:32 GMT -5
In a two by two gospel meeting, recently it was spoken that being narrow minded is a good thing. In his younger days the worker had considered himself open minded, and had considered that there might be validity or things of truth & value in other religions...such as Buddhism, and perhaps also to be found in"worldly" denominations. Not now however; the worker proclaims himself to be narrow minded; after all the way is straight and narrow, and few there are who find it. People, once you have found that 2x2ism is the truth it is best to be narrow minded as to any other possibilities.See how blissful one is when they are ignorant. I have always said I personally am narrow-minded. I do not believe there exists a truly "open-minded" person who embraces all possibilities, for even the supposition that we should embrace all possibilities is a "narrow-minded" view. In reality the two terms simply translate to convictions based on absolutes as opposed to convictions based on relativities. As G. K. Chesterton once wrote, " An open mind is only as good as an open mouth - totally useless unless it has something good to chomp into". Does the Worker not make a valid point? Does the anonymous poster embrace a little Buddhism, or Hinduism on the side to Christianity?
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Post by diet coke on Oct 11, 2007 21:08:03 GMT -5
"virtue" might not be quite the right word. Perhaps it does tend to bring more peace, a simpler life, and a more in-line fellowship.
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Post by selah on Oct 11, 2007 21:36:25 GMT -5
Open-minded does not mean embracing ALL belief systems, just as closed-minded does not mean rejecting ALL belief systems.
Closed-minds usually accept at least their own belief system, and open-minds are usually willing to at least examine belief systems outside of their own.
Blessings, Linda
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2007 21:47:21 GMT -5
quote - "Ignorance is Bliss---------------For a while"
Does broadmindedness leads to the Broad Way? Is our society making moral behavior broader? Did Jesus consider the worth of other religions?
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Post by I wonder on Oct 11, 2007 22:11:40 GMT -5
I wonder if the worker might be a little bit on the defensive side in his statement. What with all the slings & arrows flying into the peaceful camps of the faithful. It may be a matter of 'we are the truth...don't look to the right, don't look to the left, lest arrows of doubt & questioning give rise to annoying and troublesome questions".
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2007 22:31:56 GMT -5
quote - "... lest arrows of doubt & questioning give rise to annoying and troublesome questions".
Look how the churches responded to questions about homosexual priests and lesbian ministers, by way of example.
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Post by Scott Ross on Oct 11, 2007 22:43:16 GMT -5
Howdy Bert In regards to: Does broadmindedness leads to the Broad Way? Is our society making moral behavior broader? Did Jesus consider the worth of other religions?I think Jesus gave us a little glimpse of how we should look at all those who use his name. Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."
39"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. Scott
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Post by wanttobewithGod on Oct 12, 2007 5:29:38 GMT -5
As the saying goes tho....you don't want to be SO open minded yer brains fall out. ;D M.
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Post by Scott Ross on Oct 12, 2007 8:11:42 GMT -5
Hey Nate, In regards to: Hi Scott, my friend we discussed this before. I believe that man who cast out demons in the name of Jesus was one of his disciples. In Jesus' days you were either with Jesus or against Him. The 12 disciples/apostles did NOT know or meet ALL of Jesus followers or disciples. For an example, the 12 apostles would NOT believe the Samaritan woman could have been one of Jesus disciples. The 12 disciples/apostles of Jesus did not KNOW all of Jesus' disciples in person or names. The point I was trying to make here Nathan is that we should never take for granted that we know who Jesus' disciples/followers are. If we hold to the narrow minded view that because someone does not belong to our 'denomination' then they can't 'be one of us'. I used to think that only those who were 'professing' were true followers of Jesus, but as you pointed out above, we cannot know who is a disciple of Jesus, and it would be wrong to think that we have this ability.The same is true in the case of the Samaritan woman as you pointed out. If the apostles themselves could not tell, why would we ever think that somehow today we would have this ability? Thanks for your response... Scott
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Post by Or on Oct 12, 2007 9:15:18 GMT -5
Howdy Bert In regards to: Does broadmindedness leads to the Broad Way? Is our society making moral behavior broader? Did Jesus consider the worth of other religions?I think Jesus gave us a little glimpse of how we should look at all those who use his name. Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."
39"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. Scott Hi Scott, my friend we discussed this before. I believe that man who cast out demons in the name of Jesus was one of his disciples. In Jesus' days you were either with Jesus or against Him. The 12 disciples/apostles did NOT know or meet ALL of Jesus followers or disciples.
For an example, the 12 apostles would NOT believe the Samaritan woman could have been one of Jesus disciples. The 12 disciples/apostles of Jesus did not KNOW all of Jesus' disciples in person or names.You believe but that does not make it so and there is no proof of this. That person could have been a total stranger to the 12 disciples and not a disciple at all per se. Remember the moving of the Holy Spirit is as the wind. I have no doubt that God was moving many behind the scenes while Jesus was with men at that time. I believe that Jesus knew him and the purpose of this was to show the Apostles the Glory of the Father. It was to teach the Apostles not to get puffed up thinking more of themselves than they should.
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Post by OzE on Oct 12, 2007 21:11:43 GMT -5
It says in Acts 5 that God grants the Holy Spirit to them that OBEY him. If you don't obey his Son Jesus' teachings or believe in Him as the Lord and Savior then God the Father will NOT grant his Spirit.... So, I say the man who had power to cast out demons was one of Jesus' disciples.
It's not possible to obey God without the Holy Spirit, without being born again and a child of God. Unless one is born again one cannot know God. Salvation comes before obedience Nathan and just as in the human experince being born again comes before anything else. God doesn't just grant the Holy Spirit, He comes to live within us. This happens before we can DO anything for God. Until we are born again we are spiritually dead and incapable of any spiritual response to God.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2007 9:21:22 GMT -5
OzE, your statement left me a little curious. Are you saying this: 1.Only saved people can obey God. or the inverse 2.Unsaved people cannot obey God. If this is what you are saying? If so, it's new concept to me. Could you elaborate? It says in Acts 5 that God grants the Holy Spirit to them that OBEY him. If you don't obey his Son Jesus' teachings or believe in Him as the Lord and Savior then God the Father will NOT grant his Spirit.... So, I say the man who had power to cast out demons was one of Jesus' disciples. It's not possible to obey God without the Holy Spirit, without being born again and a child of God. Unless one is born again one cannot know God. Salvation comes before obedience Nathan and just as in the human experince being born again comes before anything else. God doesn't just grant the Holy Spirit, He comes to live within us. This happens before we can DO anything for God. Until we are born again we are spiritually dead and incapable of any spiritual response to God.
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Post by selah on Oct 13, 2007 9:38:39 GMT -5
Acts 5:32 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
Romans 1:5 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2007 23:34:29 GMT -5
Thanks Linda, but those verses don't help. Acts5:32 indicates that it's obedience first, salvation after. Romans1:5 refers to obedience that comes from faith. That's just one of many motivations a person can have for obedience, saved or unsaved. Eph2:8 doesn't indicate anything about obedience before or after salvation, as salvation is a gift and obedience is not a factor. Acts 5:32 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."Romans 1:5 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
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Post by bluejay on Oct 13, 2007 23:59:33 GMT -5
My understanding and personal experience is that my obedience to God is prompted by the working of the Holy Spirit within my heart. The Spirit convicts me of my sin, and helps me seek God's will for my life.
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Post by selah on Oct 14, 2007 0:02:23 GMT -5
Hi clearday,
Acts 5:32 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
This verse indicates that those who obey will receive the Holy Spirit.
Romans 1:5 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
This verse says that obedience comes from faith.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
This verse says that faith comes from God.
I guess my point was more in response to Nathan's comment:
While Acts 5:32 does say obedience is first, it also has to be read in context with all the scripture. The verses I quoted remind us that our obedience comes from faith, and our faith to believe comes from God. So, really it's all about Him and not about us.
Blessings, Linda
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 0:17:50 GMT -5
Thanks Linda, I mistakenly thought your post was a response to my question to OzE. Now it makes sense!
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Oct 14, 2007 8:10:10 GMT -5
Obedience is better than sacrifice. When God gave us a mind it was for a reason. I found while in meetings I knew very little about the Bible. Apart from trying to be a good christian. I learned alot more in the churches I attended post meetings.. I think its better to keep an open mind and be teachable about the ways of God than to be narrowminded and closemeinded and block all possible expansion of thought because you think it will stop the "we are the narrow way." The wires get crossed with this concept I believe. Jesus is the narrow door/way. We are supposed to be growing from Glory to Glory, how can we if we have closed minds?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 8:20:00 GMT -5
quote - "We are supposed to be growing from Glory to Glory, how can we if we have closed minds? " If you open yourself to all the influences of the world, how can you grow in glory?
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Post by selah on Oct 15, 2007 10:41:32 GMT -5
bert, your reference to the "world" seems to mean "anything outside of the f&w fellowship."
That is not the same definition in everyone's mind.
God is bigger than the f&w fellowship or any other church or group. If we simply open ourselves to the influences of ALMIGHTY GOD, it seems you render that as the "world." God's influence goes far beyond any group, and we all need to open ourselves to HIS influence.
Blessings, Linda
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