I see two shortcomings to what's proposed here. (But I DO believe in the pros of small groups and it providing accountability.) Firstly, is the problem of a common heart idol, to which even most Christians are bound--though usually self unaware. In the KJV (I didn't check others) it is termed "envy & strife": that competitive nature of mortals. It will cause us to judge other Christians as not having those virtues we need to manifest. Rather, we usually end up a victim of the safety in numbers game, telling ourselves we are no worse than them and therefore safe with our shortcomings. Secondly, is what--if someone's old enough to recall--was the failure of the mentoring movement that briefly arose a few decades back. As I believe it was Clyde M Narramore who first enlightened us: those who were mentors (type a's, etc.) should not have been; those who should've been (e.g. meek and unassuming), were not. To reinforce things, coming to mind is the Scripture, "by their fruits you shall know them." Using the basis of #1 above, we refuse to recognize in another a fully ripened Fruit of the Spirit we lack, the result also of self-justification, denial, ego, etc. And the above verse does not refer to Galatian 5's Fruits, but rather those we proselytize, i.e. the fruits of our labors, and reinforces #2 above.
Yes, but he's choosing to focus on the truth of discipleship, a challenge he believes God has given him. He would be quick to say that discipleship is not the be all and end all of Christian belief and life. We all tend to have our 'favourite hymn' - let's learn from each other. Paul puts it this way: "If every member was a foot...." {His comments about Wesley included the holiness aspect of that movement.}
I Have listened to all his videos and am still not sure why he deviates from the word of God. We are not to be Imitators of Man but imitators of God We know God is perfect but man is not so why would we be ask to imitate a Man
Paul said "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" or, in modern English, "Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ." And in another place Paul says, "Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me." Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." Eph 5:1 says to imitate God as dearly loved children but says nothing about NOT imitating man. 3 John 1:11 seems to indicate that we should follow those who do good (who are from God): "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God." Philippians 3:7 says "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us" and again in 4:9: "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Heb 13:7 says, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." And again in one of the letters to the Thess: "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you," and in another: "You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit," and "For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews." WHERE does the Word of God say "do not be imitators of Man?"
Thank you so much...this is very helpful
I see two shortcomings to what's proposed here. (But I DO believe in the pros of small groups and it providing accountability.)
Firstly, is the problem of a common heart idol, to which even most Christians are bound--though usually self unaware.
In the KJV (I didn't check others) it is termed "envy & strife": that competitive nature of mortals. It will cause us to judge other Christians as not having those virtues we need to manifest. Rather, we usually end up a victim of the safety in numbers game, telling ourselves we are no worse than them and therefore safe with our shortcomings.
Secondly, is what--if someone's old enough to recall--was the failure of the mentoring movement that briefly arose a few decades back. As I believe it was Clyde M Narramore who first enlightened us: those who were mentors (type a's, etc.) should not have been; those who should've been (e.g. meek and unassuming), were not.
To reinforce things, coming to mind is the Scripture, "by their fruits you shall know them." Using the basis of #1 above, we refuse to recognize in another a fully ripened Fruit of the Spirit we lack, the result also of self-justification, denial, ego, etc. And the above verse does not refer to Galatian 5's Fruits, but rather those we proselytize, i.e. the fruits of our labors, and reinforces #2 above.
Does this man believe in the Holy Spirit and sanctification?????????? Through the Holy Spirit?????????
Yes, but he's choosing to focus on the truth of discipleship, a challenge he believes God has given him. He would be quick to say that discipleship is not the be all and end all of Christian belief and life. We all tend to have our 'favourite hymn' - let's learn from each other. Paul puts it this way: "If every member was a foot...." {His comments about Wesley included the holiness aspect of that movement.}
I Have listened to all his videos and am still not sure why he deviates from the word of God. We are not to be Imitators of Man but imitators of God
We know God is perfect but man is not so why would we be ask to imitate a Man
So how would you understand Paul saying to imitate Paul?
Paul said "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" or, in modern English, "Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ." And in another place Paul says, "Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me." Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." Eph 5:1 says to imitate God as dearly loved children but says nothing about NOT imitating man. 3 John 1:11 seems to indicate that we should follow those who do good (who are from God): "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God." Philippians 3:7 says "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us" and again in 4:9: "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Heb 13:7 says, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." And again in one of the letters to the Thess: "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you," and in another: "You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit," and "For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews." WHERE does the Word of God say "do not be imitators of Man?"
so much lip smacking
He is a bit creepy.