"evolution" of doctrinal understanding

God created nature before He created man. Man slowly dissects nature and his scientific understanding grows over time. I'm glad I get surgery in the 21st century and not the 1st century. How about you?

Question: is it similar with our doctrinal understanding? Jesus came and walked, talked and lived in the past. Records of His life and teachings have been dissected ever since. Are we in a priviledged position as a 21st century church? Enjoying the benefits of 2 millennia of "scientific" theological research? To what degree?

thanks

Thank you for that. I think you nailed it. Honest research, dissection and scrutinty never hurt... if done honestly. Yet they don't guarantee that we will live out what we understand.

Honestly, I agree whole heartedly with the notion that "getting back to the early church" is a bit naive. Getting back to Christ, no matter what generation you are in -- remember, God put you in this generation for a specific purpose (Acts 17) -- is the challenge. And "nothing has befallen you that is not common to man" as Paul said.

It will always be hard to be Christ-like. There is no magic formula and every generation of Christians have had ups and downs. To believe that the church was healthier overall in some past century is to deny the ongoing power of God through the Holy Spirit. Our batteries are not old! They are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Praise God!

Yes, the emergent church is a cancer.
Yes, baby boomer Christianity has ushered in a fat cat mentality of compromise and materialism.

But nothing is happening that hasn't happened in the past. James' epistle was aimed at rich Jewish Roman Christians. Hello? That's us in the West today.

Scripture. Go back to Scripture, not some early century hymnal, dress code, hair cut, gestures, etc. The Holy Spirit's direction through the principles of Scripture!

Amen! Bless you and may God light a fire underneath you that fumes peace, joy, love, patience, wisdom and righteousness.

over and out

And, remember that gates are defensive weapons

So true! We need to be lovingly hammering truth into the lives of our co-workers, family, friends and strangers at the bus stop.

Hell fears the Christian who realizes "greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world."

God Bless

Hello spinalmanu.

This is an interesting question you've asked - "Question: is it similar with our doctrinal understanding?"

I'd surely have to answer yes, but not based on "scientific" reasons, nor would I use the word 'evolution', but from observation and personal events - I would say it is, because of "the Days" we are living in - as in "those days" spoken of by Daniel and John.

It is going both ways - the Apostasy increasing in strength daily - but HIS Sheep, hearing HIM more clearly and HIS Word becoming more alive to them than ever.

I'm reminded of a verse here - "Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

A.T. Robertson explains that the language here is more accurately --- "let him [b]be made[/b] _______ still."

To be "made" unjust, filthy, righteous or holy still/or further, is something that seems to be manifesting in these days more than we've ever witnessed in the last 50 yr.s.

It appears also that as He said in 2Thess2 - that those who do not love the Truth, will be sent into the strong delusion.
That also seems apparent with this merging religion and mix of the church with the world.

But on the flip-side, we've met more Saints within the last few years that have testified to having that experience of HIS Word becoming more alive to them and their understanding of it enlightened or brought to deeper understandings of the times/current events, etc., as they relate to these last days.
All quite amazing if you ask me.
As it gets darker - His own are shining brighter and The Light is from HIM - His Grace and revelation of Him and His Word is His Grace.

The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.
He is fulfilling HIS Promise to guide us into all truth and even show things to come.

Those who are HIS sheep hear Him, follow and won't follow another and HE is speaking through His Word and The Comforter.

HE is opening the understanding, spoken of by Daniel - that which had been sealed until these days.

Hard times ahead will require that sureness of a fine-tuned ear/spirit.

That "sure Word" that can be fed to those who need His comfort or salvation, during the present and coming darkness.

GOD Bless you.