Spiritualizing the scriptures?

This spiritualizing of words is also called the allegorical method. which we can see in the study of early faith struggled with and many compromised with it , part of empire building and titles all that comes with it,philosophy as the key to truth. Or trying to blend it  with revelatory concerns took place  seeking to avoid a way of inventing ever increasing adjustments to Scriptures meanings.

What we are dealing with here are changed definitions,  of words describing actual events. This produces confusion. It also provides the false sense of mystery and hidden knowledge. The hearers sense that the whole thing is incoherent. Some reject it outright and leave. Others, worried that it only appears incomprehensible because they are not smart enough to grasp it, go ahead and accept it.

EARLY ANCIENT ORIGINS OF SPIRITUALIZING

This  changes actual information into some kind of secret code, comes from the pagan Greeks, was common practice, IT;s where we get Circe, Kirke, the black sun themes out of it all.

Philosophers used it to convince their countrymen they were very intelligent, and able to delve into the secrets of the universe.Still going on today, trans humanism , a large part of the public conditioned state to be without question or told they will get some thing which ever shows,...

This is where sophistry comes in they were expert speakers used to persuade the people, I agree with angebert {they exchanged the revelatory for the gnosis}.The road to possible big trouble started here  in these practices.

Greek philosophy made its nearest approach to Christianity in Plato (427-347 B.C.). He elaborated the concepts of Socrates and wrote them down. Later, the teachings of Plato greatly influenced liberal Jewish and Christian writers. They were deeply impressed by his grasp of what men called esoteric (hidden) knowledge.

Origen (c. A.D. 185-c. 254) was the first to extensively bring Platonic error into early Christianity, became major practice inuse. The Neo-Platonic philosophy was just coming into prominence under the leadership of Ammonius Saccas.

Origen studied his methods carefully. Soon his reputation was widespread, and heathen and Gnostics in large numbers were attending his lectures. Because he taught a mixture of Christianity and Platonism, many heathen were converted to his worldly brand of Christianity, which can be referrede to as modern churchianity, or institutionalism.

Your question getting back to spirit led one has to remove many of the grids in the way of truth.  It;s doable and requires a personal relaitonship with Christ and in his requests for getting close not Eypt or greece. much after 300Ad was no longer related to the ecclesia of the past where God worked mightly, that would be shifted over to human control,men who asigned themselves divnity. Today revivals which term ndicates the state of death or slumber is sought, no the ability quenchteh spirit by merging him inlegalism of cultic practices out side the actual words and origanal scriprtures,,plus the relationship which was made free to all of his people needs to take  regaining the preisthood of the believers,  apart the spectorial nature by mere bystanders.  There is no indication he has left his body it;s the  other way around the body has left him in the tradtions of men and may be stuck as an innocous condtion over the centuries to soem degree.

Origen mastered the Hebrew language, gone to Rome, Arabia, Palestine and Greece for further enlightenment, and then wrote extensively, I have  no doubt exposure to the esoteric world was extensive it was very common that to seek the mystery religions base truths..

Because Origen was willing to dabble in Platonistic and Gnostic learning.  Origen was the first to reduce the allegorical method of Scripture interpretation to a organized systems, this would be passed onto our time to this day in various degrees requires people avoiding them as end in themselves..

Origen stood with Augustine as the other of the two most effective theologians of the ancient church world using these methods, Sophistry and hiearchy was added for human control to suppress the spirit led by the states new artifical religious inventions. 250Ad Carthege onward the Spirit would be subjected to silence by decalaration of the only the leaders who took those positions over for themselves.

Both taught these ways and are used today to support  like ideas and practices.The early mss was chanegd from ecclesia, to the hiearchal terminology to gather power for people who felt they could improve upon the work of the Holy Spirit. Amazing isn't it all?? The desire to be Spirit led over an esoteric broom ride is a far better choice.

The spiritualizing, or allegorical, method frees a person to be able to read into a passage anything he wants it to sayappears to be part of the desire in this! Why denominantions exist?aquestion ask,?, The Bible no longer is a message from God, but a collection of assumptions and theories devised by people chaneg as they continue to progress away from the truth.This is good reason we're deeply interested to what the truth is in all this.MS.

test it to see if it is true or not/..... getting back to Christ alone, only.

NW

1peter a look at words.

The word “foreknowledge” therefore refers to that counsel of
God in which after deliberative judgment, the Lord Jesus was to be delivered into human hands to be
crucified. In I Peter 1:20, He is the One who was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be theLamb who was to take away the sins of lost humanity. Thus, in I Peter 1:2, the word “foreknowledge”
refers to that counsel of God in which after deliberative judgment certain from among mankind were
designated to a certain position, that position being defined by the context.Thus, the second step in the salvation of the s inner is taken by the Holy Spirit who brings the one chosen to the act of faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour.

walking

The first one is, “be sober.” The Greek word means, “to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate,
dispassionate, circumspect.” It speaks of the proper exercise of the mind, that state of mind in which the
individual is self-controlled, and is able to see things without the distortion caused by worry, fear, and
their related attitudes. The second admonition is, “hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The words, “hope to the end,” do not refer to the Christian living ina state of hopefulness to the end of his life. The word “end” is the translation of teleios (ôåëåéïò) 5 which means “perfectly, completely.” The root idea of the word refers to that which is in a state of completeness. don't be afraid it;s there for you now.
Thus this adverb qualifies the verb “hope” and describes this hope. It is to be a hope that is complete, a
perfect hope, wanting nothing, being in its character an assured expectation. One could translate, “set yourhope perfectly, unchangeably, without doubt and despondency.” sadly the last word here is often the condtion  of groups, jsut what is going on comes to mind.

Furthermore, they were not tocover up their characters as Christians by outwardly assuming a masquerade costume patterned after their former worldly garments or ways. The second use of the word “holy” is in the plural. They were to become holy in their personal experience. “Conversation” is the translation of a Greek word meaning “behavior.”
Today the word “conversation” means “talk.” In a.d. 1611, when the a.v. was translated, it meant “manner of life, behavior.” One must be careful to take into account changes of meaning in the case of certain words in the English Bible.\\learningto experience the inner lead can not be discovered by asking others but by exercizing faith in action. It;s prime reason we define it as a relationship not by sitting about but each tasking oneselve with faith to be used and going, the calls is to everyone not just what fits our agenda matter in fact I am willing to say give your self up all the way not just part of it, till than ity might not be faith at all.

PART TWO, Escape from legalism.

Legalism invariably leads to quarreling, and apparently it had done so in Galatia.  How strange!  Here were people who wanted to be under the law.  The law requires them to love their neighbors.  Yet the very reverse has happened.  They have been backbiting and devouring one another.  This behavior springs from the flesh, to which the law gives a place, and on which it acts.

(The Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald)

Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. FITS TODAY.

Galatians 5:22-26 BACK TO THE ECCLEISA

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Paul beseeches the Galatians to avoid that which is contrary to “walking in the Spirit,” which is a life under the bondage of legalism that can only give rise to conceit, provocations and envy.

The Christian is responsible to routinely confess (own up to, acknowledge) repent any known sin in his life (1 John 1:9); this clears out any hindrance to the control of the Holy Spirit from acting on our part, the all done outside of faith is sin,.  The second is to procure the control (empowerment) of the Holy Spirit by faith alone (Colossians 2:6). 2 Chronicles 16-9 This is in effect the being submissive to God’s Spirit in one’s daily living.

It;s nto hard to see the groweth your asking for just have to avoid the pitfals of bondage self and any of thee bondage religions or practices which are merely added by man as an absolute.

The real differnce .

• Love—that which God is (1 John 4:16) and which is preeminent in every believer led by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 13; Romans 5:5)
• Joy—extraordinary inner happiness and delight with God’s plan, which is fueled by the anticipation and assurance of the believer’s glorification upon Christ’s soon return.
• Peace—total contentment with God and His plan, which bleeds over on all fellow believers.
• Longsuffering—patience in afflictions, annoyances and persecutions.
• Kindness—compassion toward others.
• Goodness—the basic quality of the divine nature (God’s righteousness), which is the opposite of evil and which seeks to duplicate itself in all others.
• Faithfulness—abiding trust in God and His Son, which produces confidence, fidelity and reliability in the Christian life.
• Gentleness—the quality of humility and the expression of kindness.
• Self-control—the ability to avoid self-indulgence, which can only be achieved by walking in Christ.  It is used of the control of sexual desire in 1 Corinthians 7:9.

Same old dangers just new names.Grace abounds

Per your question, the spiritual illness associated with distorted truths are best answered here in your desire to know what real freedom is, The most destructive patterns found into our times as it was than, the spirit is quenched by so doing or is missing the other side of the complacy  state to a rigid spirit dead  dogmatist  how to do responses. NW I think ken is dead on.

In 1:11-2:21, Paul shows that he was divinely commissioned as an apostle and as such was not answerable to the Twelve in Jerusalem.  In chapters 3 and 4, he defends his doctrine of justification by faith alone, against the Judaizers who added works to faith as the necessary conditions for salvation.  In 5:1-6:10, the inspired apostle presents practical teaching and exhortation designed to correct the havoc which the teaching of the Judaizers was causing in the personal lives of the Galatian Christians.  In 4:19 Paul expresses the wish that the Lord Jesus might again be outwardly expressed in their lives. 

The Galatians had lost His beauty which before the coming of the Judaizers had been so prominent in their experience.  The Lord Jesus was not being expressed in their lives as heretofore.  This was the direct result of the Judaizer’s legalistic teachings.  The Galatian Christians, instead of depending upon the indwelling Spirit to produce in their lives the beauty of the Lord Jesus, now were depending upon self-effort in an attempt to obey law.  Accordingly, Paul’s practical teaching emphasizes the ministry of the Spirit, and the Galatians are exhorted to put themselves again under His control.

(Galatians in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest)



Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage

It is the same for the Christian.  The spiritual life, the life of “rest,” is centered in faith—faith in God’s Word.  It is not a life centered in a person’s self-efforts to keep any law.  Just as a person receives Christ Jesus in the matter of salvation (by faith alone in Christ alone), so is that person to walk (live) in Him (Colossians 2:6). 

The last verse of chapter 4 describes the believer’s position—he is free.  This first verse of chapter 5 refers to his practice—he should live as a free man.  Here we have a very good illustration of the difference between law and grace.  The law would say: “If you earn your freedom, you will become free.”  But grace says: “You have been made free at the tremendous cost of the death of Christ.  In gratitude to Him, you should stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made you free.”  Law commands but does not enable.  Grace provides what law demands, then enables man to live a life consistent with his position by the power of the Holy Spirit and rewards him for doing it.

(The Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald)

The believer is free from the law in three respects.  First, he is free from the condemnation it imposes upon the one who would disobey it.  Second, he is free from the law as means of justification.  Third, he is free from the obligation to render obedience to its statutes. (Galatians in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest)

this sets grace apart the caustic tendecdy of self works  quenchingthe spirit or external medium imposing guilt  as ministry of condemnation on an ongoing basis to hold one in fear or bondage to the law..the law of Christ is love, that love judges as well and sees the intent of all human hearts, what we desire is seen here.. thanks.

In depriving themselves of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the living of a Christian life, they have fallen from grace.  The words “fallen from” are from “ekpipto” which means “to fail of, to lose one’s hold of.”  The Galatian Christians had lost their hold upon the grace for daily living which heretofore had been ministered to them by the Holy Spirit.  God’s grace manifest itself in three ways, in justification, sanctification, and glorification.  The context rules.  All through chapter five, Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the believer.  Therefore “grace” here must be interpreted as the daily grace for living of which the Galatian Christians were depriving themselves.

But because they had lost their hold upon sanctifying grace, does not mean that God’s grace had lost its hold upon them in the sphere of justification.  Because they had refused to accept God’s grace in sanctification is no reason why God should withdraw His grace for justification.  They had received the latter when they accepted the Lord Jesus.  That transaction was closed and permanent at the moment they believed.  Justification is a judicial act of God done once for all.  Sanctification is a process which goes on all through the Christian’s life. 

Just because the process of sanctification is temporarily retarded in a believer’s life, does not say that his justification is taken away.  If that were the case, then the retention of salvation would depend upon the believer’s works, and then salvation would not depend upon grace anymore and we find ourselves in the camp of the Judaizers, ancient and modern.  Paul uses the symbol of the immoral conduct of a few in the church which was endangering the life of the entire local assembly. . .

The insidious work of these Judaizers was slowly permeating the . . . Galatian churches.  The verb is in the present tense, indicating that the process of doctrinal fermentation was going on, but that it had not yet corrupted the entire church structure.  It had made but a little progress.  Paul was more alarmed over its insidious nature than over the extent to which it had permeated the churches. (Galatians in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest)

(Galatians in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest)

Dear MS,  I waste very little time out side of grace and faith on  with doubt, legalism, spiritual procrastination or committees seeking to conjure up a complexity. I would take Christ at his word,the joy one may seek is not found in an endless sea of  if and maybe.. personally  faith can only grow by using it,,,,,!!!! not by titles or make believe status God wants us to be servants, therein the reality of seeing a manifesting God actually work on your part exists 2chronical's 16;9the rest is hot air, as you mentioned, I HAD  to learn it by going.

faith is living forth going process by which ever greater sight is granted in the going.NW.

kj3, Young's literal Nt here.

listening?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MlGmO_6EoE

It;s something dear to me,prayer here is relationship it;s a great  article and hope you get allot out of it, it;s something I do all the time as I go out, I send hours often in deep solace, it;s where real stuff happens.The lord is a manifesting God and requires us to listen at times for hours, before I act...  it;s always personal. 1 corinth 11,12,13 and 1Peter1.


 Pope, ask me  about the ecclesia it;s what it relay was before we added lot of extras the core is God first us and taking the it out, it;s simple, intimacy with God is the determining factor between a life giving faith or mechanical legal religion. My delight to share some really good discussion here for your benefits,


Over the years narrowway  I used to use new wind was ref to the spirit moved on my life to come out of routine into action, a pursuit of living God not just a theology or philosophy  but a living relationship. Love to you join us in prayer for our nation, it; serious  trouble the massive decline is at all levels, it reminds me of Rome in so many ways. Thanks peace to you all.

In christ we stand a solid rock.

Thanks kjos

“There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.

the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

has made me free from the law of sin and death. "

Romans 8:1-2

 

Thanks probe/

 

Religious Recovery--The Thirteenth Step

Many who become involved in studying The Course are active in self-help groups such as Twelve Step programs. They are seeking to make connections in their lives and discover who they truly are. They are willing participants in this transformation.

Many are desiring some form of "spirituality" and for those who see the Bible as being too harsh, The Course offers what they believe to be God's correction of our misinterpretation of the original message of Jesus.

The Course becomes the "thirteenth step" in recovery for those who are attempting to escape the rigid fundamentalism that has smothered them in the past. For them, the recovery process becomes a spiritual transformation.

The integration of psychology and spirituality becomes a lure that pulls them deeper into the web of deception and ultimately suffocates them. The biblical teaching of original sin is dismissed for the more palatable "original goodness."

This "thirteenth step" regards all faiths as a part of the whole; they are one, and a psychological unity of sorts is achieved. The Course becomes whatever the individual desires it to be, it is "Christian," but not if you don't want it to be. It's psychology, but more than psychology. It's not New Age, but then again it is.

The Course claims to have all of life's answers. It has become the "spiritually correct" solution to bring about peace and unity. However, in the end, this transformation brings spiritual death.

Helen Schucman's new do-it-yourself psycho-spirituality is not new. The Hindus have been taught for centuries that the world and all that is in it is Maya, or illusion.



 

Truth adrift, the false shores of entertainment sec1.

The ultimate goal of all ministry is to make every person who has submitted themselves to the gospel of the authority of Christ over their lives totally complete or mature in Christ; which is to say, spiritually whole not merely one sided and knowledgeable; which is to say, Holy made Holy In Christ righteousness.

This is the ultimate mission of all true ministry and every true minister, to make everyone to whom they minister spiritually complete in CHRIST.
 2 Corth 3, unto maturity the ability to discern and know the difference, avoiding the condition My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge spoke in Hosea, is there personal responsibility, sure is. Can't stay still.

As you can see the culture is in steep decline and many using the same thought process that Einstein  may of  hit it right on, when he said his definition of insanity was to have done so.
Is there hope, I agree the next generation, I hope is the only chance to avoid the   swayed state we're in.Recent radio discussion.
My personal hope is change in the non conditioned minds will  overcome the mechanisms of being washed out.

 Encouraged by the young, yes ms I am hearing they see it,good , hope good news, they are actually able to do something about it.One can hope, as the speaker said it may be  our only hope.



NARROWWAY is dedicated to out reach, we are also dedicated the priesthood of the believers,  an alternative to bystanders  we agree and hold to the form that came from the beginning it was purely a relationship, with out allot of the leanings to far over to the political structures and personal ownership issues, fabricated out of human government, but that we are servants rather than owners of others. Christ came as servant he will be the judging king, he will sever the lie from the truth and those who amassed injustice at all levels will account for the corruption, done....

I had read of how many millions are killed  unborn, freely by choice part of social engineering to safe the skin of those fearing over population etc.
Pray for our nation, and each other, to see what kind of people we are becoming. I like to thank  God for Francis Chan word this week I saw him discuss the shameful spin on creation loving God factor without  wrath , not the real picture he mentioned is all man kind died but the few, he said,
I am sure the sea was full, and they pounded on the doors of the ark for getting they had before the flood, sarcasm as the land flooded and realized to late they missed the mark, that's the real picture, God destroyed the wicked all of them.... he also punishes the christian for complacency, Sardis and Laodacia, he loves them to come out of it, but if not, ? if a person is innocuous to their condition before God as unaware, it;s a sign they  have lost awareness or never had it.

One of those groups had forms and titles and wealth and all the goodies but God saw other wise they had nothing he was interested in.Take the journey into their history the real deep material.You won;t see any of that spoken to today.

 I had to change in my own life the God of love is also the judge and tells us in scripture  don;t fly why we need Jesus. Legalism is often the back wash for the absence or neglect of being led of the Spirit, profiling and guilt create doubt and weakness,  it fakes the picture and is used  as replacement it;s man working sir.

His own righteousness.. , faith is scary like the spiritual gifts, it;s God doing what he does best the impossible he loves we're scared of it, man micromanaging God with his theology.

Once you dig deep it;s all there why we hold the priesthood of the believers here totally.Take the time to learn the truth thanks for the calls...

 We're praying for the drug abuse and other substances and their deadly impact on the minds of so many these days.What kind of people are we becoming, ??? crime drugs and killing, guns do not kill we do, isn;t it time for the truth? Gun bans are a mask for the condition of the human heart sirs. So is political tyranny, rail cars, gas chambers, and prison camps and death camps, brain-washing, taxation, profiling thought and speech. All practiced by men in history for complete control.No new thing under the sun.

NW