Lamenting the "Biblically Naive"
Brad Reiches
Aug 23 2006 09:45PM
Brad Reiches
Aug 23 2006 09:45PM
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Thursday, August 24, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!
GodThoughtsWired!
"Lamenting the 'Biblically Naive'"
"You will know them by their fruits...
So then, you will know them by their fruits."
"You will know them by their fruits...
So then, you will know them by their fruits."
Matthew 7:16, 20
Fruit! The answer is...FRUIT! Some of you mentioned a wonderful verse, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). In fact, I remember the song that this verse generated, "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love." EXCELLENT!
However, within the context of our current discussion, I was looking for the word...FRUIT!
Can I speak from the heart for a moment? Thank you. About fifteen individuals unsubscribed from GodThoughtsWired! as a result of yesterday's teaching. It truly breaks my heart. It is the "down-side" of ministry, the harsh reality that "truth" divides.
Paul experienced it, "Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16).
Jesus lamented it. After a particularly intense discipleship session (see John 6:47-71) the Bible says, "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore" (John 6:66). Soon thereafter, we gain some amazing insight into the sensitive heart of Jesus when He responded to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" (John 6:71).
You know what? We've got some pastors and preachers in the body of Christ today who are as popular with the American culture and media as they are in the church proper. Yet, Jesus said,
Paul experienced it, "Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16).
Jesus lamented it. After a particularly intense discipleship session (see John 6:47-71) the Bible says, "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore" (John 6:66). Soon thereafter, we gain some amazing insight into the sensitive heart of Jesus when He responded to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" (John 6:71).
You know what? We've got some pastors and preachers in the body of Christ today who are as popular with the American culture and media as they are in the church proper. Yet, Jesus said,
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me
before it hated you. If you were of the world,
the world would love its own; but because you
are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
John 15:18-19
before it hated you. If you were of the world,
the world would love its own; but because you
are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
John 15:18-19
I recently overheard a conversation among the "biblically naive" who were rejoicing over their perception that these men had found a way to serve God without offending the public at large.
I'm curious, "Do you understand why I refer to these well-intentioned brothers and sisters as, "biblically naive?"
I'm curious, "Do you understand why I refer to these well-intentioned brothers and sisters as, "biblically naive?"
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