Today’s post on “Spreading God’s Word” is courtesy of Ken Matto and addresses something we’ve all heard at different times. If two Christians are discussing a point of Scripture and one of them doesn’t have the answer to a question, then they’ll typically say something like, “Let’s agree to disagree.”
I’ve heard this often (and recently) and I’m sure you have too. Whenever biblical truths are being discussed and the parties can’t come to the same conclusion other than to say “Let’s agree to disagree”, then biblical truth suffers. When it comes to spiritual matters, having a philosophy of Agreeing to Disagree (ATD) is quite dangerous.
There’s an old adage that goes something like this: put three Christians in a room and you’ll get four differing opinions.” There will be disagreements on topics such as:
Free Will vs. Election
Fellowships vs. Churches
Tongues vs. No Tongues
Annihilation vs. Eternal Damnation
Women Preachers vs. No Women Preachers
Date Setting vs. No Date Setting
Age of Accountability vs. No Age of Accountability
Many other doctrines divide Christianity and increasingly whenever they’re discussed, the latest fad is to ATD. A fair question to ask is WHY? Why does this happen?
Frequently discussions are ended due to the unbiblical “love gospels” that have become entrenched in many churches. If someone who is teaching a false doctrine is challenged, then the person bringing the challenge is usually criticized for not having a spirit of love.
But is it really loving to allow someone to relax in a false teaching or gospel? 1 Corinthians 13:6 states: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Love rejoices in truth not in falsehood. Therefore, it is entirely “loving” to try to bring someone out of a false teaching by showing them biblical truth.
Many Christians don’t like the Bible because they don’t like what God has to say in it. So instead they go to bookstores and buy some book from a theologian they admire and then interpret the Bible according to them.
Here’s another biblical definition of love from 2 John 1:6: And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Not only does love rejoice in the truth, but love also means living our Christian lives in accordance with the commands of God. This can’t happen if someone is walking in a false teaching that is diametrically opposed to a teaching in God’s Word.
Let’s now examine some of the dangers of the ATD philosophy:
1. Truth Remains Buried
Prov 25:2 – It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
When someone blurts out “Let’s just ATD” it really means they’re no longer interested in seeing if they’re incorrect on a given subject. They’ll continue to believe what they want to believe. They’ll reject any truth they’ve been given in order to remain steadfast in their present belief. Spiritual growth is hindered by this type of settlement philosophy.
2. No Challenge to Search The Scriptures
Acts 17:11 — These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
When someone becomes settled in their beliefs, they’ll no longer search the Scriptures. The word “search” in the above verse carries with it the meaning ”to investigate, inquire or examine.”
Let’s assume someone believes in a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ. Then he comes into contact with a study that gives substantial biblical evidence pointing to the fact that the 1,000 year reign of Christ is figurative and represents the entire New Testament period from the Cross to the Last Day. Since he already has his belief system rooted and refuses to search the Scriptures diligently, he continues to believe an erroneous doctrine which then spawns other erroneous beliefs.
3. The Person Remains in a False Gospel
2 Cor 3:14 — But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.
The person who refuses to research their false belief will remain in the false teaching — and go deeper and deeper into it. Those believing in tongues will also be led to believe in further signs and wonders. If only they would have studied the Bible more and researched these beliefs! When they’re confronted with Scripture passages contradicting these beliefs, then they don’t want to hear it and they give their ”We’ll just have to ATD” response. Sadly, their minds continue to be blinded with false teaching.
Summary
When someone comes at us with an ATD, they’re basically saying, “I’ll believe what I want to believe, and you believe what you want to believe.” When someone uses an ATD, they’re being spiritually smug in thinking they’ve stopped an argument or debate. However, what’s really happened is that they’re truncating their spiritual growth and development by choosing to remain where it’s the most comfortable and palatable.
PS: For the record, we understand the totality of Scripture to support the following doctrines: Election; Churches; No Tongues; Eternal Damnation; No Women Pastors; No Date Setting; No Age of Accountability.
April 14, 2008 at 11:34 pm |
I actually find that people have different interpretations of the Bible. The difference usually comes down to the interpretation of a particular word or some assumption about what God’s intention was in crafting a scrpture in a particular way. For example, I have never believed that Revelations 22:18 means that there can be no other revelation than the currently constituted KJV Bible. This belief is based on interpretations of certain words in that verse and an assumption that its placement in the Bible contributes to its inerpretation.
April 17, 2008 at 9:44 pm |
“Assumptions” about God’s “intention”? God “crafts” scripture??? Where is your faith?
April 18, 2008 at 12:22 am |
Not sure what you mean. People make assumptions about God’s intention when they interpret scripture. What does that have to do with me having or not having faith?
April 18, 2008 at 10:25 pm |
I just have to take offence at the way you worded your statement, making it sound like God is being “crafty” in his wording of scripture. So Gorilladad, instead of listening or reading “peoples” different interpretations of scripture, why don’t you read the Bible and come to your own conclusions?
April 18, 2008 at 11:12 pm |
Crafting something doesn’t mean crafty. To craft :verb, “to make or manufacture with skill and careful attention to detail.” Crafty: adj: “skillful in underhand or evil schemes; cunning; deceitful; sly.” A very different meaning. I meant the former not the latter. I never used the word crafty. Sorry if my wording has distracted from what I was saying. I simply meant that many times when I have spoken with other christians about passages in the Bible, I hear numerous different interpretations and often it is a result of different assumptions made about the context or even trying to guess what God was thinking in deciding to say something in a particular way or why he put a scripture in a particular place. This is one reason why there is often disagreement that is not easy to resolve. As for as listening to other people, I suppose I could isolate myself and read the Bible on my own. I do read the Bible on my own, but I like to talk to others about it. It expands my understanding and challenges my existing understanding.
April 18, 2008 at 11:23 pm |
Sounds like you’ve misunderstood what I said. I used the word “craft” :verb, “to make or manufacture with skill and careful attention to detail.” I did not use the word “crafty”: adj, “skillful in underhand or evil schemes; cunning; deceitful; sly.” All I meant was that often when I speak with other christians about verses in the Bible, I hear different interpretations and often those different inerpretations are based upon assumptions about the context, placement in the Bible, or even about what God was thinking. It is then difficult to resolve disagreement on those verses. I do read the Bible on my own and I do come to my own conclusions, but I like to discuss it with others because it expands my understanding and challenges my conclusions. I thought that was a healthy thing to do.
April 19, 2008 at 7:33 am |
Gorilladad,
The Bible is one cohesive whole. It’s not a series of sixty-six books, each standing on its own merits so you can do with any one of those books as you wish. The Bible is one Word — it is the Word of God. And if you add something to the book of Revelation, you’ve added it to the whole Bible. And if you take something away from the book of Revelation, you’ve taken it away from the whole Bible. If I add a 6th finger on my left hand, haven’t I indeed changed my whole body?
Suppose someone added a verse to the book of Revelation and it was a verse from another part of the Bible. There’s a lot of redundancy in the Bible, where God uses the same verse even in the same chapter repeatedly. If someone added a verse to Revelation that was found elsewhere in the Bible, they’ve now thrown Revelation out of balance. The fact is they’ve added something to the Word of God; they’ve put something there that God has not said and that God had not decreed at that particular point. Consider this: if I added a duplicate of my left forefinger to my right hand, not only is my right hand out of balance but my entire body is as well.
The Bible is the Word of God. This is the big point. And we either believe this or we don’t. And if we don’t believe it, then we can make our additions to the book of Revelation. And once we do that, then when we read Revelation 22:18 we’re going to interpret it in the light of our wider revelation. Besides, at this point we’ve already accepted the principle that God is still speaking today. And so then we’re going to read Revelation 22:18 and we’ll say, “Well, whatever it means, I know it doesn’t mean that God is not speaking today, because my later authority indicates that that conclusion is impossible.” That’s exactly the trap that people get into.
But if we just let the Bible speak to us, then we know that we stop with the book of Revelation – because it is the end of revelation. It’s interesting that those who are interested in signs and wonders are also interested in adding to the Bible, adding further visions, etc.
God has given us this magnificent Bible; it is the matchless riches of the revelation of God’s grace. Here it is for us to read, and God has given us the instruction to compare spiritual things with spiritual — that is, we let the Bible be its own interpreter. And as we search the Bible and compare one part of the Bible with another part, we can begin to get more and more information as to what God is teaching.
We live in a free land, so if someone else would rather take a chance with visions and voices and if signs and wonders intrigue them, they can do this. But from my vantage point of studying the Bible, I know that it’s not the gospel of the Bible.
If you don’t have the true Gospel, then you don’t have salvation. And eternal damnation is a pretty long time and it’s awful. Those who follow any gospel other than the gospel of the Bible will end up in hell.
When people disagree on various points in the Bible, what’s important is on what points are the disagreements. If you’re disagreeing on the authority itself, if you believe there’s more to divine revelation than the Bible alone and in its entirety, then you have a different gospel. And of course that’s your privilege. On the other hand, if you agree that the Bible alone and in its entirety is the divine Word, and yet you disagree on this point or that point, then it’s a matter that both of us have to keep studying. And if we keep studying, since truth is one piece, we are going to come closer and closer to each other.
That’s my $.02
April 19, 2008 at 1:29 pm |
Some say they believe in the Bible alone, but add to the Bible by heretical teachings. Just saying you believe the “Bible alone and in it’s entirety” does not mean you are saved or have the truth. If you save the Bible only and believe in the heresy of Annihilation you have taken away from the Bible, the Biblical teaching of eternal punishment (Matt 25:41,46) and have added a heresy like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you say the “Bible Only” and say the world will end in 1994 or 2011 and are WRONG, you are a false prophet. If you say the “Bible Only” and ALSO say that ALL churches of JESUS CHRIST are of SATAN, you have BLASPHEMED THE HOLY SPIRIT, which is either directly or very close to the UNPARDONABLE SIN. If you say the “BIBLE ONLY” and believe the world is 13000 years old, you are also wrong, because Genesis 5 and 11 stands just as it reads, and the world is about 6000 years old. If you say the “BIBLE ALONE AND IN ITS ENTIRETY” and follow a radio teacher, then you are following a man, rather than Christ.
AND FINALLY EVEN IF YOU DO BELIEVE THE BIBLE ALONE, AND HAVE ALMOST “PERFECT” DOCTRINE, YOU CAN STILL GO TO HELL FOREVER, IF YOU ARE WORSHIPPING THE BIBLE RATHER THAN GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. SOME PEOPLE WORSHIP THE OLD KING JAMES BIBLE, AND ARE LIKE PHARISEES WHO TRUST IN THEIR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE AND DO NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ARE NOT SAVED.
GOD BLESS,
JIM B.
FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME
jimbbbbb@gmail.com
April 20, 2008 at 1:22 am |
I think JimB says it well: we should worship Christ not the Bible. Isn’t the living God the source of authority rather than the Bible by itself? I’m probably doing a terrible job of trying to put this into words, and I apologize for that. With regard to Revelation 22:18, when the apostles lived and wrote, there was no New Testament yet and no finalized Old Testament compilation. I just don’t see how John’s reference to “this book” can mean anything other than that which he was at that time authoring. I could go on with more about why I see it this way, but we clearly disagree on the matter. This is why I chose this particular verse as a reply to this posting about ATD.
April 20, 2008 at 1:24 am |
Since April 18 I have not been able to post anything to this site. Is this a technical problem on my end?
April 20, 2008 at 9:04 am |
Harold Camping is a false prophet who said the world will end in 1994, and was wrong, and he is a false prophet again by saying their will be a rapture of the Campingites on May 21, 2011, and for 5 months all of the unsaved “church” people will be tormented. On the contrary, all of the Campingites will be confused for those 5 months. On May 22, 2011, Harold Camping (if he is still alive) will say that he was wrong about the rapture, but the world will still end on Oct 21, 2011. So for 5 months, all of the Campingites will be the ones confused and tormented and hope that their CULT LEADER HAROLD CAMPING was correct about all of his heresies about the churches and the world ending on Oct 21, 2011. When Oct 22, 2011 comes, all of the brainwashed Campingites will be totally distraught, and will probably leave God altogether. This is the work of SATAN. I already saw this happen with the CULT group I was in that followed Harold Camping in the 1980s and early 1990s and they thought the world will end in 1994. Most of the cult members were so totally confused and hurt, that they left God altogether, and do no talk about God anymore. This is the work of the DEVIL
Harold Camping is a minister of Satan. He now aligns doctrinally very close to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who set a lot of dates for the end of the world, and also believe all Christian churches are of the Devil. Let me repeat myself with Love and Compassion for any follower of Harold Egbert Camping of Family Radio. Harold Camping is doing the work of Satan, and if you follow him, you are being decevied by the Devil and will be very confused and severely hurt when you leave your church and when the world does NOT end in 2011.
God Bless You and open all of our eyes.
Jim B.
Feel Free to email me,
jimbbbbb@gmail.com
April 21, 2008 at 4:01 pm |
If you follow a church that is attempting to time the world’s end, then you are taking part in things of the world. If you follow the Holy Spirit, you have no interest in when the world is going to end, only that it will end someday soon. Praise be to God!
April 21, 2008 at 4:33 pm |
Testing to see if I can post.
April 21, 2008 at 9:00 pm |
test
April 25, 2008 at 1:32 am |
As Gorilladad, this was one of the replies I was trying to make:
Jeff and Cindy, thanks for the response. I used the example of Revelation 22:18 for the purpose of showing how easy it is for people to disagree on scripture. To me, the work “book” refers to the book of prophecy known as the Book of Revelation. Verse 19 even emphasizes this with the term “book of this prophesy”. I’m not sure how he could have been refering to the Bible as currently constituted as the KJV anyway, since when the apostles lived and wrote, there was no New Testament and no finalized Old Testament as we have it today.
I don’t want to presume to know God’s reason for everything he might do, but why would he reveal himself through inspired scripture for all time up until the Book of Revelation was written, and then cease all such communication with humankind? It’s never made sense to me. For example, while I don’t consider the founding documents of our country to be scripture, I do believe they were inspired of God. As a result of them we have the freedom to worship and even to have this discussion.
I just raise this as an example relative to the ATD posting because I think it illustrates how difficult it may be for various people to agree on points of doctrine yet who all believe that Christ is the Savior.
April 25, 2008 at 7:17 am |
Gorilladad,
We’re not filtering you out. Are you able to post comments to other WordPress blogs? I don’t know why you suddenly are unable to post comments to our site. As we said back on the 20th, there’s only one topic with all comments suspended — and that’s the one about the Depart Out doctrine and the Ninth Commandment. All other active postings have comments enabled.
If you discover what the problem is, we’d like to know ourselves.
April 25, 2008 at 10:01 am |
I’m trying my original name and email. Hope it works. I got on some of the wordpress tech blogs and did find people having the same problem, but no solutions or explanations found.
May 22, 2008 at 5:31 am |
WOW
Besides the evening radio broadcasts between 18h00 and 01h00 we can
hear the radio broadcasts of Family Radio now also from 05h00 to 06h30
in the early mornings in Southern Africa.
May the Lord richly bless these broadcasts till He come in 2011…!
(Heb 13:14) Want ons het hier geen blywende stad nie, maar ons soek die
toekomstige.
johannes coetzee
To God be the glory.
Family Radio listener (South Africa)
July 24, 2008 at 8:17 am |
I heard on the news that 83% of Americans call themselves Christian, but how many have attempted to find out exactly what love is as defined by God in the Bible? I don’t claim to know much about the Bible, but i have looked into what love is. Here are a number of verses i’ve found that show what love is and how we are to serve the Lord in spiritual unity of mind:
(John 14:15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (1 John 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 2:4-6) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 1:6, 7) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (John 15:10, 11) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full. (Philippians 2:2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Hebrews 10:24, 25) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Ephesians 5:15-17) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. (1 Corinthians 2:11-16) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (Galatians 5:16-26) [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
August 30, 2008 at 12:54 pm |
JimB says “SOME PEOPLE WORSHIP THE OLD KING JAMES BIBLE, AND ARE LIKE PHARISEES WHO TRUST IN THEIR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE AND DO NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ARE NOT SAVED.”
Study to show yourself approved, bro. The “Old King James Bible” is based on an inspirationally preserved and pure series of biblical texts. Deletions and reinterpretations are found in other base texts that have resulted in heretical translations such as the RSV, and others arising out of the Westcott-Hort textual criticism movement, which eventually led to the denial of the Godhead.
I believe in the Bible because Jesus does, and I believe in Jesus. I believe in the “Old King James” Bible because it is as a direct translation of the TRUEest Bible as you’ll find out there.
God Bless,
September 26, 2008 at 9:03 am |
Agreed as to ATD, but then your tag at the end would have me think you throw out those scriptures which don’t suit you. For instance, you can’t find one scripture that unequivocally states that tongues isn’t for today. Again, Deborah was a judge of Israel, a woman leader. You condemn Catholics and Eastern Orthodox as cults, yet I’m sure you’ve known those who feel if you die, as a Christian, with unconfessed sin you go to hell, yet the scripture plainly states that Jesus died once and for all for the sins of mankind. Adding what I call a “personal heresy” to one’s salvation, in this case works, does not void that salvation, it just confuses your walk. Otherwise we’d all be going to hell.
I suppose the best example I can give along these interpretational lines is wine. Wine means wine. Not grape juice, not “unfermented”. Yet doctrines are built around wine that fit that particular denomination. When I read the KJV/Textus Receptus, it says wine, that’s what it means.
Salvation is not about rules, it is about faith. I read my Bible as literally as I can, and I avoid interpretation, even if it brings me at odds with denominational teaching.
The Scripture says “believe”. That is a Christian, one who believes that Jesus is the eternally begotten Son of the Father, who shed His blood and died for our sins, was resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and teacher.
KISS-Keep It Simple, Saints.
We are not so smart as He is dumb.
RevRomansky
http://revromansky.wordpress.com
September 27, 2008 at 5:07 pm |
“For instance, you can’t find one scripture that unequivocally states that tongues isn’t for today.”
(Revelation 22:18) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
(Matthew 7:22, 23) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15) For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
September 27, 2008 at 5:19 pm |
(Proverbs 3:5-7) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
(2 Timothy 3:12, 13) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
October 4, 2008 at 7:23 pm |
Let the Heavens shout:
Stand Fast, Watch, and see NASA space shot, besthubble_v838_02.jpg. Marvel at the solemn features in this cloud.
Luk 21:25 AndG2532 there shall beG2071 signsG4592 inG1722 the sun,G2246 andG2532 in the moon,G4582 andG2532 in the stars;G798 andG2532 uponG1909 theG3588 earthG1093 distressG4928 of nations,G1484 withG1722 perplexity;G640 the seaG2281 andG2532 the wavesG4535 roaring;G2278
Luk 21:26 Men’sG444 hearts failing themG674 forG575 fear,G5401 andG2532 for looking afterG4329 those things which are coming onG1904 theG3588 earth:G3625 forG1063 theG3588 powersG1411 of heavenG3772 shall be shaken.G4531
Luk 21:27 AndG2532 thenG5119 shall they seeG3700 theG3588 SonG5207 of manG444 comingG2064 inG1722 a cloudG3507 withG3326 powerG1411 andG2532 greatG4183 glory.G1391
November 7, 2008 at 1:12 pm |
Always remember,
King James Bible
1 Corinthians 13
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Also,
King James Bible
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
I prefer this Translation, same message,
Jerusalem Bible
1 Corinthians 13
” Though I command languages both human and angelic — if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.
2 And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains — if I am without love, I am nothing.
3 Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned — if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited,
5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances.
6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.
7 It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.
8 Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; and if knowledge, it will be done away with.
9 For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly;
10 but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with.
11 When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways.
12 Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known.
13 As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love.”
Also,
Jerusalem Bible
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
“Make love your aim; but be eager, too, for spiritual gifts, and especially for prophesying.
2 Those who speak in a tongue speak to God, but not to other people, because nobody understands them; they are speaking in the Spirit and the meaning is hidden.
3 On the other hand, someone who prophesies speaks to other people, building them up and giving them encouragement and reassurance.
4 Those who speak in a tongue may build themselves up, but those who prophesy build up the community.
5 While I should like you all to speak in tongues, I would much rather you could prophesy; since those who prophesy are of greater importance than those who speak in tongues, unless they can interpret what they say so that the church is built up by it.
6 Now suppose, brothers, I come to you and speak in tongues, what good shall I do you if my speaking provides no revelation or knowledge or prophecy or instruction?
7 It is the same with an inanimate musical instrument. If it does not make any distinction between notes, how can one recognise what is being played on flute or lyre?
8 If the trumpet sounds a call which is unrecognisable, who is going to get ready for the attack?
9 It is the same with you: if you do not use your tongue to produce speech that can be readily understood, how can anyone know what you are saying? You will be talking to the air.
10 However many the languages used in the world, all of them use sound;
11 but if I do not understand the meaning of the sound, I am a barbarian to the person who is speaking, and the speaker is a barbarian to me.
12 So with you, as you are eager to have spiritual powers, aim to be rich in those which build up the community.”
November 7, 2008 at 1:23 pm |
FYI: I practice the use of Spiritual Tongues in my personal prayer time, unto the Lord.
November 8, 2008 at 9:16 am |
It is not tongues speaking or any other miraculous sign that confirms our conversion to Christ. True signs of salvation consist of a changed attitude about God and sin as evidenced by a love for…
…holiness (John 14:21, Heb 12:14)
…the brethren (1John 3:14)
…the lost (Matt 5:44)
…biblical truth (John 18:37)
Indeed, the Bible warns us about the following:
Matt 12:39 – … An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas
November 13, 2008 at 1:21 pm |
The outburst of V838 Monocerotis
In 2002,
the previously unknown variable star V838 Monocerotis brightened
suddenly by a factor of ,10^4. Unlike a supernova or nova, it
did not explosively eject its outer layers; rather, it simply
expanded to become a cool supergiant with a moderate-velocity
stellar wind. Superluminal light echoes were discovered as light
from the outburst propagated into the surrounding, pre-existing
circumstellar dust.
At a distance of >6 kpc,
V838 Mon at its maximum brightness was temporarily the
brightest star in the MilkyWay. The presence of the circumstellar
dust implies that previous eruptions have occurred, and spectra
show it to be a binary system. When combined with the high
luminosity and unusual outburst behaviour, these characteristics
indicate that V838 Mon represents a hitherto unknown type of
stellar outburst, for which we have no complete satisfactory
physical explanation.
NASA has still shots from 2002 – 2006 and a movie clip given freely.
Ecc 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Ecc 8:7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
Ecc 10:14 A foolH5530 also is fullH7235 of words:H1697 a manH120 cannotH3808 tellH3045 what shall be;H4100 H7945 H1961 and whatH834 shall beH1961 afterH4480 H310 him, whoH4310 can tellH5046 him?
Jon 3:9 WhoH4310 can tellH3045 if GodH430 will turnH7725 and repent,H5162 and turn awayH7725 from his fierceH4480 H2740 anger,H639 that we perishH6 not?H3808