Foolish Doctrines

FOOLISH DOCTRINES AND OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT READ.

There are many people today who are not satisfied with
understanding the Word of God. They must constantly find new
obscure interpretations of Scripture - These I call foolish
doctrines. While I must admit that every once in a while one of
these "doctrines" makes sense (maybe is even true), I must also
caution you that God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit of God has
never in the Holy Scriptures told us to figure out what we are to
do based on "our own understanding" of the way things appear to
be. The bible is a very clear book, if we take it as it is
presented we can understand the things of God very clearly
(Jn.5:19 clearly says only do what the Father says to do or shows
you to do) -IF-our heart and relationship to our Lord Jesus
Christ is correct and pure. Unfortunately most of the people who
spend their time on these "doctrines" feel that they must have a
mailing list to send their "great revelations" out into the
church. The purpose of this study is to help you learn to
determine if a study (teaching, paper) will be of benefit to you
or not as you pursue your relationship with our Lord.. If it will
not help you in your pursuit of holiness why read it? The
following points are a means of judging any teaching that is
presented to you for this determination.

1. Does this cause me to LOOK at MYSELF and MEASURE MY MATURITY
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE?

Any teaching that is based on scripture should as one of
its main objectives cause us to look at our life and measure our
present condition against the scriptural parameters concerning
this subject.

2. Does it bring conviction to me?

Any teaching that does not bring conviction,(it may even
"hurt") is not of much use to us unless it pertains to an area of
our life that the Lord has already purged and purified or to an
area of understanding such as proper church government that is
necessary to our growth, but not necessarily directly personal.

3. Does it have a useful practical use in MY life

Any teaching that does not have a useful, practical,
present purpose in changing me to be more like Jesus Christ is
not something that I should spend my time with. If I cannot put
it in to practice now it would probably be best to set it aside
until I have a present need for it. (If I ever do)

4. Does it help to bring me to the PLACE of MATURITY that
Scripture shows I need to be pursuing? The whole idea of
Christianity is to become Like CHRIST, who Scripture says is our
example. If this is not the purpose of the teaching, then why
should I waste my precious time with it?



Does it increase my desire to be involved with my brethren ?
Or does it cause me to foster an "Elitist" attitude?

The most important growth process for a Christian occurs
when we must interact within a close personal relationship to our
brothers and sisters. Only when we must associate closely with
other imperfect people can God show us what we are really like
and convict us to change. Many (most) false and useless
teachings cause people to develop an "elitist" attitude (the
feeling that you walk on a "higher level" than others do with
God), instead of promoting humility and solid relationships.
Though there are some things we cannot fellowship with
(catholicism, mormonism, jehovah witness and others that do not
follow the Real Jesus Christ), we should be able and desire to
have fellowship with our real brothers and sisters in Christ.
Anything that does not promote these proper relationships is not
worth reading.

6. Does it have a POSITIVE SCRIPTURAL influence TOWARD the Lord
Jesus Christ?

Does it advance the place and influence of Jesus Christ
in my life? Anything that does not as its main purpose lead me
to a closer more intimate relationship with my Lord is not worth
spending my precious time with.

7. Does it allow "GOD to BE GOD" or does it limit Him?

We must understand that there are scriptural laws and
principals that govern EVERYTHING - INCLUDING what God can and
cannot do. God said so. Outside of these God given principals -
We MUST NOT LIMIT God. We must allow Him to do things AS HE
WISHES.

Any study (teaching) that does not fulfill the above 7
points is probably a waste of your time (at least for now). SO
WHY READ IT? Instead get out your BIBLE and let God show you by
His Holy Spirit, something that is presently useful to you -
something to enhance your relationship to Him - to help you
mature to the stature of the fullness of Christ. To become a
complete man in Christ.