As Christians we must beware of the counsel found outside Jesus, The Holy Spirit and The Holy Scriptures. While it is not inherently dangerous to seek the advice of friends and even turn to books by Christian scholars; we must be careful of esteeming the 'wisdom' of people over God. There are plethora of books by brilliant theologians and believers. But even the best book by a priest, pastor, Christian counselor, and sage can be flawed.
I recently was reading a book that up until now was insightful. I was going to recommend it until I reached the current chapter where the author, a Christian, makes claims that contradict the Bible and caste doubt over principles that are established by the Church since the days of the Apostles. His wording is cleaver and could be interpreted differently, but honestly with discernment and open mind, I discovered that this author is essentially asking people to be subject him and share everything in their hearts and minds with him, even if it is questioning him. Frankly this request of this author is controlling and honestly, it reminds of counter insurgency brainwashing.
Counter insurgency brainwashing is well known by military personal. It is a process to undermine a person's mind and heart with propaganda, but unlike the tapes and videos in Nazi interment camps, counter insurgency brainwashing is established by trusted individuals and is so well crafted and easy to digest, that many are brain washed before they can even pose the question if they are being brainwashed. Next to the brain washing, this author also invoked hypocrisy, because he judges a group of believers who practiced a scripture according to their understanding and support it with Scripture, but this author then makes his counter argument and does the same thing by claiming the scripture is meant a different way and uses Scriptures to support his argument; wait.. its wrong for the other Christians to defend their point of view with Scripture, but this author is allowed to use scripture to defend his point of view?! That is double standard and hypocrisy. The Pharisees did the same thing, "they laid heavy loads on others, loads they themselves could and would not lift themselves." (Matthew 23:4).
We must be careful of other Christians who seek to subvert Christ's authority and place a yoke or burden of their doctrine on us. It is fine to disagree and view a scripture about "binding and loosing" differently. If the author had simply said that one group views it this way, but he sees it differently and respectfully stuck with his own words, "this Scripture is hard to interpret." Instead he condemned the other Christians who viewed it differently, something Christ would never have done, and in fact this act of condemning is something that contradicts his own program (book) and advice in prior chapters.
There are truths that cannot be interpreted differently. John 3:16 is literal, period. But certain practices in the church, like wither a woman really has to cover their head and arms during worship is open to debate. I am fine with a staunch position on the essentials of the faith and would applaud this author if that had been the case, but in this case it was a subject that is a matter of debate. What I am trying to get at is not that he is horrible for posing his different point of view and arguing it, he is free to do that. But to condemn the opposite point of view and shame those who adhere to it is wrong. What is also wrong is to place a restrictions on that other group and not live by it; that is simply Pharisaical!
The point is that our ultimate guide, who we should esteem, listen to, and believe above all authors and speakers is Jesus Christ! The Lord has the correct answers which can be found when relating (praying, talking) to Jesus, listening to The Holy Spirit, and reading The Holy Scriptures (Bible). By relating to God and reading His Word, we can discern the truth from the lies that even good Christian brothers and sisters have decided to believe. The bible says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a brother sharpens a brother." (Proverbs 27:17). We are encouraged to correct our fellow Christian family members. Jesus said, "You have log in your own eye. First remove the log and then you will be able to see and remove the splinter from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:4-5). This very Scripture from the Savior is about hypocrisy and how we must first, with the Lord's help remove the lie (log) in our own life before helping someone else.
The safety net all saints and believers need is the Savior Jesus Christ. If we focus on Him, listen to the Holy Spirit, and saturate our hearts and minds on His Word (The Bible), then we shall be safe from the deceptions of the devil that are found in Christian Literature and Christian Living books. I am not saying boycott books from either genre, but be wary of accepting everything in them or devouring every piece and line; for those books are short of God and short of His Word (which tests and measures all things). Sometimes a fellow Christian will have an insight that opens our eyes and draws us closer to the Lord Jesus, but other times they can put up a stumbling block in the form of levity, legalism, and learned worldly wisdom. Anything short of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Father, and The Holy Bible as your guide and focus will lead to hypocrisy, heresy, and harm towards your spiritual walk.
We cannot take our eyes off Christ! No matter how cleaver the conversation or compassionate the person, if they lead you away from Jesus Christ and get you focused on something else: demons, devils, psychology, counseling, ministries, and so on; count them as false teachers and false prophets! Do not let anyone try to lead you into making anything more important than being close in relationship to Christ Jesus! For if God is your center, then everything else will be in balance and come into its proper place. But if you elevate anything; wither it be a man, woman, or teaching, doctrine, or practice above Jesus, you have sinned and now are deceived.
I talked about this in former post, the name of which I cannot remember. But I feel it is necessary to address this point again and in this case in a more focused context. Beware of teachers, preachers, philosophers, scholars, theologians, counselors, theologies, doctrines, sermons, advice, counsel, and ideas that contradict, misinterpret, and challenge Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, and The Holy Bible. Spend time in the Bible, not because I say so, but because it will be as shield to you! In the Holy Bible is the stipulations and measures from God that will settle a Christian's soul and help keep a believer from being beguiled by false teachers and prophets.
What matters most is that you have personal relationship with Jesus Christ (which will include The Father and Holy Spirit, they are One). Anything that takes your time away from connecting with Christ and even discourages you from keeping in touch with the Trinity is an evil teaching! Do not let the devil or demonized men try to plunge you deep into the "doctrines of demons." St. Paul said, "But the Holy Spirit clearly says, that in the later times some will fall away from the faith (in Christ), and pay attention deceitful spirits and the doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with branding iron." (1 Timothy 4:1-2). So be on the alert and keep the Lord Jesus as your focus and read the Bible and practice moving in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Through this triad: (1) relating to Jesus (which has you relate to Father), (2)moving/operating in the Holy Spirit, and (3) reading The Holy Bible you will draw closer to God and have the Truth to contest the lies of men and demons.
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