by Gayle Jackson | Oct 12, 2015 | Articles, Mentors Corner
The value of being a Zealot Words We learn and discuss and think with words. And yet we tend to be sloppy in our understanding and definition of words. This is especially true in matters of our faith. Remember the old saying “he who defines the words wins the argument”. Some words that are in much debate in the body are: 1. Salvation 4. Imputed vs Actual 2. Sanctification 5. Accountability 3. Legalism 6. Fear of God Your view of the commandments of the bible and their meaning and authority will bring you into conflict with the body. For instance, thoughts on obedience: if I said that we are called to live a zealous obedient life in God’s Word, and if I said that the number one expression of Grace in our lives is our obedience to God’s Word and if I said to be Holy, my life must be directed by obedience to God’s Word, most would classify me either as a legalist or a nut. In today’s church the committed man of obedience is looked down on in Christianity as legalistic. And a legalistic person is to be shunned and criticized. What does that word legalistic mean? It is not used in the Bible but is clearly in the lexicon of Christianity. There are 3 definitions that I know of that are commonly associated with being legalistic. One who thinks obedient behavior is a key to their salivation or favor with God (of course this is wrong). One who imposes their convictions, (convictions not commands) or standards on someone else as a requirement for an association...
by Walt Henrichsen | Oct 5, 2015 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 There is perpetual tension between viewing Scripture objectively, on the one hand, and acknowledging its authority, on the other. Those who believe the Bible agree that it is the inspired Word of God, and that we are obliged to obey it. But authority is restrictive; I want to do what I want. Therefore we are more prone to manipulate Scripture than any other literature. For example, there is no necessity to manipulate the intent of the information in the morning newspaper, simply because we are not under its authority. This is the reason liberal commentators on the Bible are often more accurate than conservative commentators. Liberals don’t view Scripture as authoritative, don’t feel obligated to obey it, and therefore tend to be more objective in their interpretation. Dependence, surrender, neutrality, an eagerness to obey God, no vested interest in the outcome, not trying to build anything – these are key to knowing God and His ways. The urge to manipulate authority is great, and the more absolute the authority, the greater the urge to manipulate. CLICK HERE for more articles by this...
by Walt Henrichsen | Sep 7, 2015 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no phobia in love; but perfect love casteth out phobia: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1John 4:17-18 God does not want you to fear Him is a lie. As you know, there can be no accountability without phobia. Men do not want to fear God because they wish to avoid being accountable to God; they want to believe that grace eliminates accountability. To convince themselves they quote this verse from the apostle John’s first epistle. If you are convinced that this passage teaches that God does not want you to fear Him, why did Jesus teach, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell?”(Note1) It seems you will have to conclude that John corrected a misperception Jesus had, or that the Savior was talking about a different dispensation of time, which no longer applies in this dispensation of grace – and this in turn means that the content of all four gospels is suspect. The context of 1John 4 deals with Judgment. To the degree that we love God perfectly, we have nothing to fear when He judges us. The passage does not teach that God’s perfect love for us removes our need to fear Him, but rather our perfect love of Him casts out fear. If you do not fear...
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