After posting a few messages, I believe that it is time for me to introduce myself:
Over 20 years ago I became a christian as I was attending a charismatic youth group. My christian life has been since then a bit chaotic, where I quickly joined some sectarian groups, hoping to find genuine christian fellowship in a living church that is faithful to God. After a few years I realized my error and left these groups. Later, I got more and more involved in the charismatic movement.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. – 1. Cor. 2.2
Around 3 years ago, I started distancing myself from the charismatic movement. It started by reading a book from Charles Spurgeon (All of grace), a famous predicator that lived long before this movement existed. I was struck by how he preached the Cross with power (1 Co. 1:18), which helped me to understand how central the work of Christ on the Cross is to the christian life.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? – Gal. 3.1
Afterwards, I quickly realized that in the center of the charismatic movement it wasn't the Cross, but a search after emotions, experiences, visions, signs and wonders. Moreover, many strange things (e.g. fire tunnels) happen in such circles, which should be refuted by the Bible, but this doesn't happen, because as a matter of fact the Bible has lost much of its authority, although people don't admit it openly.
Having for a while lost my focus from the Cross, I was held back with regards to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ ...
... that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting – Eph 4.12-13
So, after many back and forth concerning the doctrines which I believed, and movements which I followed, what should give me the needed stability in my christian life in order to be rooted and built up in Christ (Col 2:7)?
Today, while I don't necessarily agree with all the reformed theology, I consider their 5 Solae to be a solid foundation for my faith that can prevent me to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
Sola Scriptura – Scriptures alone: The Bible is the final authority on everything. It judges and corrects my theology, not the other way around!
Solus Christus – Saved by Christ alone
Sola Gracia – Saved by grace alone
Sola Fide – Saved by faith alone
Soli Deo Gloria – To God only the glory. Not a man-centered Gospel, but a God-centered Gospel.
I hope that we will have a good time discussing together and edify one another!
Over 20 years ago I became a christian as I was attending a charismatic youth group. My christian life has been since then a bit chaotic, where I quickly joined some sectarian groups, hoping to find genuine christian fellowship in a living church that is faithful to God. After a few years I realized my error and left these groups. Later, I got more and more involved in the charismatic movement.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. – 1. Cor. 2.2
Around 3 years ago, I started distancing myself from the charismatic movement. It started by reading a book from Charles Spurgeon (All of grace), a famous predicator that lived long before this movement existed. I was struck by how he preached the Cross with power (1 Co. 1:18), which helped me to understand how central the work of Christ on the Cross is to the christian life.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? – Gal. 3.1
Afterwards, I quickly realized that in the center of the charismatic movement it wasn't the Cross, but a search after emotions, experiences, visions, signs and wonders. Moreover, many strange things (e.g. fire tunnels) happen in such circles, which should be refuted by the Bible, but this doesn't happen, because as a matter of fact the Bible has lost much of its authority, although people don't admit it openly.
Having for a while lost my focus from the Cross, I was held back with regards to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ ...
... that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting – Eph 4.12-13
So, after many back and forth concerning the doctrines which I believed, and movements which I followed, what should give me the needed stability in my christian life in order to be rooted and built up in Christ (Col 2:7)?
Today, while I don't necessarily agree with all the reformed theology, I consider their 5 Solae to be a solid foundation for my faith that can prevent me to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
Sola Scriptura – Scriptures alone: The Bible is the final authority on everything. It judges and corrects my theology, not the other way around!
Solus Christus – Saved by Christ alone
Sola Gracia – Saved by grace alone
Sola Fide – Saved by faith alone
Soli Deo Gloria – To God only the glory. Not a man-centered Gospel, but a God-centered Gospel.
I hope that we will have a good time discussing together and edify one another!
