The Staple

Having learned sound Bible doctrines have always kept me from falling into disrepair, even by the strongest and most eloquent teachers, who have decided knowingly, or unknowingly to vary from the sound doctrines of the faith.

Some of the Dangers of “Lordship Salvation”, and other beliefs systems.

I may be deceived (in and of myself) for a short time, yet the Holy Spirit within me is never deceived.  He will teach me experientially and practically greater truth:  even with the pitfalls or deceptions of the enemy, specifically  when dealing with other people’s Biblical understanding (which for a season) I may find comfort or even discomfort with, yet in time I am moved to an even greater understanding.

For me, this is not a four brained calculated thing at all, but rather an intuitive one, which later only reinforces my understanding of scriptural doctrines from dogmas. The reason is, it is not of my natural intellect (understanding) that I rely upon, but rather the Spirit of the Lord, “the teacher” whom Jesus promised would reveal all truth.

In other words, it is not simply a doctrinal position which I may hold but rather a reliance upon the Lord himself, just like a small child.

Recently, I have known some brethren who hold to the same passages in the scriptures I also hold to, and claiming to be following the leading’s of only the Holy Spirit; yet our (spiritual) positioning seems to be in direct conflict, even while hurling condemnation at the opposing faction!

I am a retired soldier, and my personality is such that I am used to people shooting arrows at me, but what I cannot abide is disgruntled brethren redirecting their fire upon an innocent person, who may happen to agree with me! I have been told things like “ I don’t do accusations, as that wouldn’t be Godly”: or that “I am the one” who crushes the “tender shoot” ( the young believer) so on and so forth, in customizing the scriptures to fit into their own belief system, thus justifying themselves and excluding those who take issue with them.

That type of behavior is neither spiritual nor scriptural, but is rather manipulative and extremely dangerous, to both those who engage in it, as well as to people that are taught such deceptive reasoning. Imagine those who claim such a superior walk in the Lord Jesus Christ, in attacking those who may agree with me (even if I was wrong in my doctrine) as having left the Lord, or siding with “The Enemy” (Satan)! Do not children stumble and fall? Do not children misunderstand the bigger world which is around them? The answer of course is that children are not held to account like an adult, nor disowned for what they do not understand!

These type of attacks are only valid however, provided I have been guilty of misleading or corrupting them (the tender shoots) in some manner, who are “unspotted and innocent” so to speak in the eyes of God: which I don’t believe I have done in the least. Anyone in leadership who would assert such a position against another, should make darn sure it is by the direction of the Lord, and not on behalf of themselves that they do so; especially if the one they are condemning is seen as blameless by the Lord, in holding such an opposing position! Even David would not attack Saul who was later out to kill him, as he was God’s anointed for a season – even though David was unquestionably in the right and to be the next King, David would not move in attacking Saul.

The late Dr. Gross, (who taught me in street ministry while still in my youth) would tell us “don’t believe anything I tell you, go back to the Lord and check it out yourselves”. This is because anyone with a more convincing manner or intellect or speech, can easily fool the flesh into believing what they wish them to believe! Yet the Lord’s Holy Spirit within his people, will not be deceived by “false teachers” as He is “fool-proof” even though we are not.

I have learned a new level of deception in all this, sound Bible doctrines being used to paint ones position in Christ as righteous, while condemning those who will not be taken-in by such powerful delusions of self and others. This is most tragic (I can’t think of anything worse) as being deceived at this level and deceiving others, yet it appears to me to be most common to those who think themselves above reproach! I had even shared with the elder, that the most powerful forms of witchcraft are those which use the scriptures (as in Hebrew style witchcraft) that I had learned from the late Dr. Gross, who in my opinion was the most transcendent Man of God I have ever met, or probably I will ever know… although he too was fallible within his own understanding.

Having said all these things, I still love these judgmental brothers – not because it is a commandment of Jesus, but rather as it is but a second nature in having Christ within me, that I do so. I have said I will pray for them, and I will as long as I am led to do so within my spirit.