One of the interesting things about Christian forums is that they can give exposure to all kinds of weird and not so wonderful beliefs that are being paraded in the name of Christ. They give a picture of what is happening outside of our familiar Christian environment.
It’s not surprising that Jesus warned that many deceivers would come in His name.
The latest thing to hit a forum that I frequent is the claim that working for money (that is, working to earn a living), is evil.
Paul’s insistence that he who doesn’t work should not eat is seen to be contrary to Jesus’ alleged teaching on the matter. Also the fact that Paul worked as a tentmaker is seen as weakness displayed by Paul.
These people* support their view by saying that Jesus’ words should take priority over any of Paul’s words. That is: the parts of scripture that record Jesus sayings are more reliable than the parts of scripture expressing Paul’s teaching.
Further to this it seems that some of these people are promoting the idea that the “mark of the beast” from Revelation relates to money – that those who work for money are in more danger of taking the mark of the beast.
I’m not sure how these people are supported, where their food and clothing comes from. They won’t say. They merely say “the Lord provides”.
It seems to me that scripture isn’t so reticent to say how God provided. Scripture tells of manna and quails in the wilderness, ravens feeding a prophet. It tells of a never ending supply of oil feeding a prophet and a widow. And there is Jesus feeding 5000 and 4000 people with a few loaves and fish.
The most dangerous thing being promoted by these people is the idea that we can pick and choose which bits of scripture are more truthful. They say they choose Jesus’ words over Paul’s words – but they ignore the fact that Jesus’ words have been presevered and given to us by the very same group of writers they deem to be unreliable.
Jesus Himself didn’t write down His teaching. Jesus Himself didn’t record His acts in writing. He entrusted this to men. If we can’t trust the teaching of these men. If we can’t accept ALL their writings as Spirit inspired and authoritative – then why should be accept anything they have written – even their accounts of Jesus’ words?
And on this point their arguments and their doctrine collapses.
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*it’s interesting how these controversial things always seem to be promoted by groups people who arrive on a forum at the same time out of nowhere
4 comments:
Ugh! Scary but interesting post!
The latest thing to hit a forum that I frequent is the claim that working for money (that is, working to earn a living), is evil
My oh my. Where do they claim Jesus taught that we should not work for money?
One of my favourite scriptures- 1 Thessalonians 4:11
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,"
Maybe they should have a read through Ecclesiastes too.
...and that's the reason why there's so many denominations presenting false teachings.
Paul said, "If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is the Lord's commandment", 1 Corinthians 14: 37. He received that authority from Christ as glorified!
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