Humanizing God. | SermonIndex

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poet Jan 29, 2008

Since listening to the featured sermon,
I started thinking about how humanism has crept into the church.
I dont mean secular Humanism, but the kind of Humanism that causes us to preach or teach or study the bible and intreperet scripture in such a way as to get a meaning out of it that God had not intended.
We feel God may think a certain way so we in turn intreperet scriptue in that line of thinking.
When our definition of scripture does not line up with the old testament way God dealt with his people we will say ohh thats old testament.
I not sure what Im trying to say here except that when I read Revelation 2,3 . I start to wonder if some of the popular views of scripture intrepertation is due to Humanism's encroachment on our minds and beliefs.
Any thoughts on this or good writings on this would be eagerly studied.
thanks and God bless.

D

davym Jan 29, 2008

When our definition of scripture does not line up with the old testament way God dealt with his people we will say ohh thats old testament.

A great book which deals with dispensational teaching is Dispensational Truth by Clarence Larkin. Much of the book contains charts which are absolutely superb. It's expensive, but well worth having in your library.

~~[url=http://www.amazon.com/Dispensational-Truth-Gods-Plan-Purpose/dp/0766184277/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201611462&sr=8-1]~~Link to Amazon[/url]

PS If you can get a hardback, it's far better.

sermonindex Jan 29, 2008

A great book which deals with dispensational teaching is Dispensational Truth by Clarence Larkin. Much of the book contains charts which are absolutely superb. It's expensive, but well worth having in your library.

I believe that the point was being made that peoples shrug off the old testament as if it were another dispensation and those things don't happen anymore. But that is not true God is the same God, his promises are the same. Larkin is a "hardline" dispensationalist, I believe he goes beyond the boundaries of scriptures in this teachings. Yes his charts look nice but they change people's mindset and view of scriptures which can be a very dangerous thing.

I encourage others to listen to this sermon:

~~[b]~~Humanizing God by Lou Sutera[/b]
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=11448&commentView=itemComments

D

davym Jan 29, 2008

I believe that the point was being made that peoples shrug off the old testament as if it were another dispensation and those things don't happen anymore. But that is not true God is the same God, his promises are the same. Larkin is a "hardline" dispensationalist, I believe he goes beyond the boundaries of scriptures in this teachings. Yes his charts look nice but they change people's mindset and view of scriptures which can be a very dangerous thing.

Fair point. I should have mentioned that Larkin's teachings are somewhat controversial in that they correspond to his own interpretation of Scripture which in the main I believe is sound. It's his lifetime's work and I trust he was a prayerful man.

If read prayerfully and with the Spirit I think the charts can be very enlightening and he does back up his thoughts with Scripture references enabling us to draw our own conclusions.

Of course God hasn't changed. God never changes, but the way He deals with man clearly has changed. The grace that God is currently showing to mankind is mesmerising in its mercy and love. Sin is now out of control and the world is ripe for judgment. But Romans teaches that the Law was done away with at the Cross as Christ fulfilled the Law so my understanding is that we're in a new dispensation of Grace rather than Law and hallelujah for it. The Law is now written on our hearts and we keep it by Christ living in us because fallen man on his own could never keep the Law. God's view of sin however has not changed and repentance of sin is essential to receive Christ.

sermonindex Jan 29, 2008

If read prayerfully and with the Spirit I think the charts can be very enlightening and he does back up his thoughts with Scripture references enabling us to draw our own conclusions.

Agreed there is much people can gleam from his charts, I have done so personally.

The Law is now written on our hearts and we keep it by Christ living in us because fallen man on his own could never keep the Law. God's view of sin however has not changed and repentance of sin is essential to receive Christ.

Many dispensational views of darby and schofield would say that repentance is not necessary for gentiles, because of us being in a new dispensation. I feel these teachings "can" be dangerous if believed to their full extent. But there is much truth in them, thank God for that.

sermonindex Jan 29, 2008

Fair point. I should have mentioned that Larkin's teachings are somewhat controversial in that they correspond to ~~[b]~~his own[/b] interpretation of Scripture which in the main ~~[b]~~I believe is sound[/b].

WOW, you believe that "his own interpretation of scriptures" is sound??

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On to the topic at hand.

Without the Old Testament there would have been no New Testament. All of the sayings of Jesus is derived from the Old, and He takes that which has been hidden and opened to His disciples and others including Paul. It's a foolish idea for men to think that the Old Testament is not necessary, it's these people that I often question whether they truly have met the LORD. Not all of the Old Testaments hidden treasures have been exhausted, there is much there to discover, much much more.

sermonindex Jan 29, 2008

It's a foolish idea for men to think that the Old Testament is not necessary, it's these people that I often question whether they truly have met the LORD. Not all of the Old Testaments hidden treasures have been exhausted, there is much there to discover, much much more.

To give some clarification, dispensationalists do not totally negate the old testament. Perhaps some very HYPER and extreme dispensationalists do. But must just put the weight upon new testament revelation and still some spiritual principles from the old convenient apply to modern day christians.

I personally do believe every word of the scriptures is applicable to us as christians, we are ingrafted into spiritual israel which is the true church of God.

D

davym Jan 29, 2008

WOW, you believe that "his own interpretation of scriptures" is sound??

In the main. What exactly did you not understand with what I said? Surely when we read any commentary or bible study guide we have to assess whether the interpretation is sound??