Worshiping the Bible

[elijah23]

Why is it wrong to worship the Bible? Read this:

[34] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together.
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment. Matt 22:34-38 RSV

One cannot love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul while worshiping the Bible. In addition, the Bible cannot do for you what the living Lord can do.

 

[Adullam]

Why is it wrong to worship the Bible? Read this:

[34] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together.
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment. Matt 22:34-38 RSV

One cannot love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul while worshiping the Bible. In addition, the Bible cannot do for you what the living Lord can do.

The real danger lies in replacing the Holy Spirit with the bible. Jesus said...The Spirit will guide you into all truth...not the bible.

The early church did not carry bibles, but were led by the Spirit.

Having the bible is a GREAT benefit, as long as we understand that the bible is testifying to a life led by the Spirit.

 

[smaller]

Trying to drive wedges and separations between the Word and the Spirit are quite futile. They are one and the same.

The structure of the Word is to show us all that the faults are within the hearts of the readers, not the Word.

If any Word handler thinks they have a wrap on subject matter Word tends to contradict them in other places. The Word is intentionally a difficult construct directed and designed exactly for purposes of frustration to all who engage therein, that they may know and see the reality of their own pale reflections of same by comparison to Gods Words. The Word and the reflector of the Word are two entirely different matters. One is flawed, the other not. Therein is an interesting dynamic. Therein we relegate ourselves to our proper 'much and far lesser' roles by comparisons.

To claim there is some rift between Word and Spirit...nah. False effort. There is no separation.

When handlers get real about their own sins they will be 'led' by the Spirit of Truth to see and hear the Word MUCH better.

Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

IF any reader of Word engages the facts of frustrations, they are on the track intended for them by God in Christ. When 'any' think they understand the entirety of God, a hypocritical and often megalomaniac heart is what is really being shown. Christianity is filled with such posers.

But to deny His Word or separate His Word from His Spirit? In place of what? The little deceiver who whispers abandonment of His Words in your mind? lol

Jesus posed a classic IF/THEN logic presentation on this matter:

John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

So, mark your progress. Don't eliminate The Mark. It is The Spirit of The Word that takes root in the hearts of the handlers and brings forth His Own Fruit.

enjoy!

s

 

[elijah23]

Trying to drive wedges and separations between the Word and the Spirit are quite futile. They are one and the same.

The structure of the Word is to show us all that the faults are within the hearts of the readers, not the Word.

If any Word handler thinks they have a wrap on subject matter Word tends to contradict them in other places. The Word is intentionally a difficult construct directed and designed exactly for purposes of frustration to all who engage therein, that they may know and see the reality of their own pale reflections of same by comparison to Gods Words. The Word and the reflector of the Word are two entirely different matters. One is flawed, the other not. Therein is an interesting dynamic. Therein we relegate ourselves to our proper 'much and far lesser' roles by comparisons.

To claim there is some rift between Word and Spirit...nah. False effort. There is no separation.

When handlers get real about their own sins they will be 'led' by the Spirit of Truth to see and hear the Word MUCH better.

Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

IF any reader of Word engages the facts of frustrations, they are on the track intended for them by God in Christ. When 'any' think they understand the entirety of God, a hypocritical and often megalomaniac heart is what is really being shown. Christianity is filled with such posers.

But to deny His Word or separate His Word from His Spirit? In place of what? The little deceiver who whispers abandonment of His Words in your mind? lol

Jesus posed a classic IF/THEN logic presentation on this matter:

John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

So, mark your progress. Don't eliminate The Mark. It is The Spirit of The Word that takes root in the hearts of the handlers and brings forth His Own Fruit.

enjoy!

s

The Lord is not a book.

 

[smaller]

The Lord is not a book.

The Word IS The Lord. There is no difference between Gods Word and Gods Spirit.

Your position has no merit because it has placed what is called a 'false dilemma' arrangement, that being The Word is nothing more than print on papyrus.

s

 

[jasoncran]

The real danger lies in replacing the Holy Spirit with the bible. Jesus said...The Spirit will guide you into all truth...not the bible.

The early church did not carry bibles, but were led by the Spirit.

Having the bible is a GREAT benefit, as long as we understand that the bible is testifying to a life led by the Spirit.

wow i didnt know that the beareans like the jews then didnt read their tankahs?

uh the early church had the scriptures and the epistles that the paul and the others wrote and letters.

the core of scripture to them was the tanakh.

and ancienct jews then and the ones today recited many of them ot books.

so they knew the tankah well.

 

[elijah23]

The Word IS The Lord. There is no difference between Gods Word and Gods Spirit.

Your position has no merit because it has placed what is called a 'false dilemma' arrangement, that being The Word is nothing more than print on papyrus.

s

The Lord is not a book. He is a living being like us.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Why is it wrong to worship the Bible? Read this:

[34] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together.
[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
[37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
[38] This is the great and first commandment. Matt 22:34-38 RSV

One cannot love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul while worshiping the Bible. In addition, the Bible cannot do for you what the living Lord can do.

Jesus spoke of this very thing:

"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life." (John 5:39 NIV1984)

This is a problem to this very day. Many, many people in the church today think they have God's approval because they have correct doctrine. They don't know that it is correct doctrine lived out that pleases God. And this does not mean correct doctrine about baptisms, and freewill, and end times teachings, and law keeping, circumcisions, etc. This is about living out the doctrines (the teachings) of Christ in regard to the new creation:

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:6b NIV1984)

But many in the church think correct beliefs about the facts of Christianity is what counts.

When we read about the narrow road that only a few find in Jesus' sermon in Matthew, we see in context what those things are that constitute the narrow way--mercy, purity of heart, not judging, not chasing after the things of the world, being a peace maker, settling disputes, not divorcing, keeping your word, love for enemies, forgoing your rights for 'eye for eye', secret giving, secret prayer, secret fasting, 'doing unto others'. That is what the narrow road to eternal life looks like. Possessing mere doctrine, even proclaiming it, does not mean you're on the narrow road at all!

"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 

[reba]

The Lord is not a book. He is a living being like us.

Elijah, He is not like us, We are sinners saved by Him. He is not saved by us.

He is Grace. He is Mercy

 

[elijah23]

Elijah, He is not like us, We are sinners saved by Him. He is not saved by us.

He is Grace. He is Mercy

Yet the Lord is not a book.

 

[smaller]

The Lord is not a book. He is a living being like us.

Word presents that Spirit Works and speaks 'identically' with 'Word' and vice versa.

Without Word there is no way to 'test' the Spirit. Without Spirit there is no way to 'test' Word.

The Two remain ONE and THE SAME.

except that is, in the mind of the denier of either

The Sword of The Spirit is The Word of God.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Without Word there is no way to 'test' the Spirit. Without Spirit there is no way to 'test' Word.

The Two remain ONE and THE SAME.

The Sword of The Spirit is The Word of God.

The problem Jesus was addressing was about a person possessing the Word without the Spirit and thinking they can be saved by that. It is in effect making written Words about God into an idol that saves you. But it is written words lived out because you have faith in God's forgiveness that saves a person. That is when God is your God, and you're not just taking false comfort in possessing a false idol that you have created in your heart that can not save.


It's entirely possible to have the Word and not the Spirit. Many people swing the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and think the Spirit is doing the swinging. That is a big, big deception in the church today.

 

[smaller]

It's entirely possible to have the Word and not the Spirit. Many people swing the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and think the Spirit is doing the swinging. That is a big, big deception in the church today.

Again, trying to force a division between Spirit and Word is not possible.

The fault remains within the handlers, 'all.'

Those who know the Spirit will turn the Sword of the Word against the working of 'evil' within themselves.

The evil in man deflects that direction of the WORD and seeks to avoid it and to KILL or ERADICATE the Word in this regard.

The Word and the Spirit has TWO EDGES.

One for us and one against the workings of evil in us all.

Those who live by the Sword must also die by that same Sword.

s

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Again, trying to force a division between Spirit and Word is not possible.

It happens all the time...people who use the Word devoid of the power and truth of the Spirit. But I know that ultimately God decides when his Spirit is going to inhabit his Word to perform a work, regardless of the motives and intentions of the user and how they swing it.

The Word and the Spirit has TWO EDGES.

One for us and one against the workings of evil in us all.

I think the double edge nature of the Word of God refers to how it cleanly and effectively pierces, not hacks or saws like a single edge sword.

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb. 4:12 KJV)

That's how the Word of God is when being swung by the Holy Spirit. Men tend to hack and saw with it.

 

[elijah23]

Word presents that Spirit Works and speaks 'identically' with 'Word' and vice versa.

Without Word there is no way to 'test' the Spirit. Without Spirit there is no way to 'test' Word.

The Two remain ONE and THE SAME.

except that is, in the mind of the denier of either

The Sword of The Spirit is The Word of God.

The Lord is not a book.

 

[smaller]

It happens all the time...people who use the Word devoid of the power and truth of the Spirit.

Said no different. The abuse and misunderstanding IS factually in the handlers, ALL.

The claim then that there is some division or dichotomy between Word and Spirit resides only in the claimants.

We are supposed to know that we only see in part. This limits a full view.

But I know that ultimately God decides when his Spirit is going to inhabit his Word to perform a work, regardless of the motives and intentions of the user and how they swing it.

I might supposed a dual working. One for us as His Children and one against the evil in us all. I would also suppose the working is of God Alone regardless of the viewers or handlers.

Most only want the good and the smooth. It's a little more interesting than just that. Most only want the Spirit to whisper sweet nothings to them and to ignore what they carry in themselves.

I think the double edge nature of the Word of God refers to how it cleanly and effectively pierces, not hacks or saws like a single edge sword.

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb. 4:12 KJV)

That's how the Word of God is when being swung by the Holy Spirit. Men tend to hack and saw with it.

The Word as shown above is the worker. There is no question that the Word reflects SIN in MAN. Whatever the handlers/observers SINNERS do is by position of being less than God and having SIN automatically equates all of us by relegation of being faulty by comparison.

The Hope is for a Perfect Reflection. Christians can't even seem to muster an accurate or honest reflection even about themselves.

We could say that the handlers are the hackers and sawers. This again would not be a diminishing upon Gods Word/Spirit whom we might presume to Work Perfect in Perfect Harmony regardless of hackers or usurpers.

Sawers, hackers and usurpers are used by God as well, as 'all things' are.

s

 

[Stormcrow]

One cannot love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul while worshiping the Bible. In addition, the Bible cannot do for you what the living Lord can do.

I don't know of anyone who does "worship the Bible." What's your point?

{16} All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; {17} so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

Do you have a problem with this?

 

[Asyncritus]

I don't know of anyone who does "worship the Bible." What's your point?

{16} All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; {17} so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

Do you have a problem with this?

Good point SC.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I don't know of anyone who does "worship the Bible."

I have.

When your trust is based on possessing privileged knowledge about God, that knowledge becomes a false idol in which you have placed your hope. The pride of knowledge most certainly can be an idol...an idol that can not save.

Way too many people take false comfort in just knowing and understanding the mysteries of Christ and salvation...even sharing them. I guess the reasoning goes if a person feels God has given them the privilege of knowing the truth they must have his favor, and they walk away satisfied that all is well with them and God. But it is only the one who hears and does that has actually pleased God and can take confidence in the favor of God. That is the person who's God is truly God and does not depend on mere knowledge (no matter how correct it may be) to save him.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves (that all is well with you and God). Do what it says." (James 1:22 NIV1984 parenthesis mine)

17 ...if you...brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? (Romans 2:17-21 NIV1984)


30...‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. (Ezekiel 33:30-32 NIV1984)

...and like the church today, they walk away satisfied that they are in God's favor for having heard such a wonderful anointed message from God in church today.


"2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, ...but have not love, I am nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2 NIV1984)


If all a person has is knowledge, even accurate Biblical knowledge, and they are sure that possessing that knowledge alone will deliver them, they are worshiping a false idol that can not save them.

 

[Stormcrow]

If all a person has is knowledge, even accurate Biblical knowledge, and they are sure that possessing that knowledge alone will deliver them, they are worshiping a false idol that can not save them.

Again, I don't know of anyone who views salvation or the Bible this way. It is certainly not a mainline denominational teaching that "knowledge of the Bible alone" can save. I don't think someone's pet peeve with another person or "weird doctrine" they've encountered rises to the level of a "Council of Nicea" moment, do you?

That said, I think this thread is pretty pointless, actually.