Desert Island Theology

(I read the thread on miracles ceasing and thought I would post this short blog I wrote)

I think Christianity, to a great degree, could be revolutionized if believers had what I term “Desert Island Theology. What do I mean by “Desert Island Theology”? What I’m not talking about is a theology that is learned at a bible school, through Christian radio, through dead saints from past era’s, or even from modern preachers. This is what I mean by Desert Island Theology. Imagine if you were stranded on a desert island. You have no knowledge of anything Christian. You have no knowledge of what a church “service” should look like, you have no knowledge about how a Christian looks in behavior or what a Christian believes, etc. Your memory has essentially been erased of everything it knows to be Christian both in teaching and practice. You are stranded on this desert island and you have nothing but your food, water, and your bible – the Word of God. If you were to read your bible, having no prior perspective to taint your understanding, do you think you would see things differently? I’m almost certain that you would.

Could you read the bible and come up with the modern worship service and leadership structure, just by reading the scriptures? Could it be possible?

Could you say that gifts of the Spirit have passed away and are not longer in operation? Would that be possible by only looking at scriptures?

Could you say that women are to preach and teach men in the assembly and have authority over them? Remember, you have no denominational or current cultural influence. You only have God’s word.

Could you find tithing taught in the New Testament, after the crucifixion where the law was nailed to the cross?

I could go on and on……

I can only imagine how many wonderful truths and practices would be “re-discovered” if more people had some Desert Island Theology. The great thing is, you don’t have to go to a desert island to think this way. It should be, and can be, your common practice when reading the word of God. Simply throw out any preconceived ideas you have about a biblical subject, anything you’ve read about it, or what you’ve seen practiced, and start reading the word of God with a clean slate in your mind. You will be surprised at how many issues are cleared up when you can really look at the word of God alone and see what it says, without any other doctrinal influences.

This is one of the practices the Lord taught me when I came out of the institutional church that I was born again at. Of course, prior to coming out of the church the Lord had showed me many truths that put me at odds with that church. But after I came out, I had to essentially unlearn what I had learned and re-read the scriptures as if I had no knowledge on any biblical subject. What an eye-opening and blessed experience it was and continues to be.

So today I’m promoting Desert Island Theology. Not that it needs to be your only method of theology, but it certainly should be your primary one. As I said above, I’m sure there would be a revolution of sorts in Christianity if people approached God’s word this way and believed it for what it simply says.

If you have never approached God’s word this way, then I encourage you to do so staring today. I know that you’ll be blessed by what you discover.

http://preachingjesus.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/desert-island-theology/

Scott you have articulated what I have been thinking about. But for desert island theology to work one would have to leave organized Christianity behind. Nit a problem since I am PNG in mist established churches around here.

I like this new Desert Island Theology. Except I would probably call it Bear Cave Theology. But I love it.

Bearmaster.

I envy the persecuted believers in restricted nations in that they have the simplicity of Christ and his word. They have the Holy Spirit to teach them. If they see something taught in the word. They readily believe it. They are not distracted or weighed down with the complexities of religious culture.

I am reminded of a statement Bunyon made. When he said pray and read and read and pray. For a little from God is better than a whole lot from men. Meaning pray nd read your Bible. God will teach you from his pword. The only theological library Bunyon ever had was his Bible. His teacher was the Holy Spirit. Spurgeon said were Bunyon cut. He would bleed scripture. Yet he probably had a grasp of theology better than most. He certainly communicated it to the common man.

I had often dreamed of another movement of God. One rooted in Christ and the New Testament. What would happen if a group of believers read only the New Testament. Or listened to it. No preconceived notions. Just read or listened to the word. And come together to share what they learned. I think you would have something of a first century church. This is already happening in third world countries. God grant that it would happen here.

From the bear cave.

Upon his servants both men and women the Spirit is poured out. Also there is neither male nor female. All are one in Christ Jesus. Something tells me the woman would be more free with the word of Christ on a desert island. Than say in the established church.

Just ny thoughts.

Bear.

1Ti 5:17,18 Let theG3588 eldersG4245 that ruleG4291 wellG2573 be counted worthyG515 of doubleG1362 honour,G5092 especiallyG3122 they who labourG2872 inG1722 the wordG3056 andG2532 doctrine.G1319 ForG1063 theG3588 scriptureG1124 saith,G3004 Thou shalt notG3756 muzzleG5392 the oxG1016 that treadeth outG248 the corn. And,G2532 TheG3588 labourerG2040 is worthyG514 of hisG848 reward.G3408 [Luke 10:7]

Scott has done a service to bring this thread to the forum. The question whether one can learn from Jesus and him alone may be put to the test and quite soon. A few in this forum have been saying that persecution will soon come to N. America. Actually it is already here in a small measure. With persrcution will arise an apostate church. This church will be the evangelical 501c3 structure. As traditional pastors give way to political correctness the remnant will be driven out.

Away from the traditional teaching venues the remnant may have only tbeir New Testament and the Spirit of God to teach them. Whether the believer is alone or perhaps blessed with one or two others. Desert island theology may be more near than we realize.

Just some thoughts from the bear cave.

I have experienced the reality of what effect Desert Island Theology has on your spiritual understanding and consequently, your spiritual life. When I first got born again, I was locked in a cell for months just fasting, praying, and eating God's Word most all day, day after day. I was shocked that I had gone to church for 23 years of my life, Christian school as a young elementary school boy, etc., and this God, His Word, and His Gospel seemed so different than my experience as a culturally religious church-goer all my life up to that point.

I was "put away" for almost 2 years with God, His Word, and His Spirit. When I came out of that place, I joined a "church" that I sensed the Spirit of God doing a work in at the time. I did notice though, that there were many things subtracted from God's Word in the reality of the fellowship, and many things added. Then, I went to Binle college. I spent 2 years earning a Bachelors degree in Biblical Studies, but slowly and unknowingly accepted several things that seemed to ignore plainly declared scriptures, in the experience of the NT. Women like Beth Moore teaching over men in the assembly (Paul specifically forbids this more than once in scripture), John Garlock's "Keys to better preaching" which took polls that said people can only listen engagingly (to God's Word, no less) for a max of 15 minutes, Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church (God gave His true church a purpose already in scripture and it wasn't to see how many tithes you get in one building), no real true Body fellowship with the probability of NT Body Fellowship as laid out in I Corinthians where prophets contribute in the assembly, and the gifts were given place to contribute through the Body (just one man in total control preaching message after message to a building full of listeners), etc., etc., etc.

It really fogged up the spiritual lens for a few years. I always got a check in my Spirit about all these things (cause I knew God's Word and had His Spirit), but I just figured I must not be as mature and understanding as these people (after all, they were quick to let you know they were from a long line of "pastors" generation after generation - though not many fit true descriptions as NT biblical "shepherds", but rather, Lorded it over the flock). Then, the Lord laid His hand upon me at 4:30 a.m. One morning with fire and opened my eyes. I saw it for what it was - "a system of man's traditions which sought to nullify the Word of God".

So, what did I have to do about it? First, I had to go back to the "Desert Island Theology" and re-learn what the Lord had taught me in the beginning, and then I had to unlearn all the non-Biblical religion of men's traditions I had picked up along the way (like letting Jesus wash my feet again. My head and whole Body was already cleaned by Him, but my feet had picked up some of this world's mess along the walk).

It made me stand out like a sore thumb in the "Nicolaitin System". Not because I wanted to stand out and "make some show of myself" either. I didn't have to. The Sword of the Lord made a division between me and the system and the intent of my heart (to follow the Lord with a pure heart according to His Word and His clearly laid out pattern for the NT Church) was made clearly apart from he intent of the system (to keep the show going, to keep the tithe dollars rolling in, and to keep everyone "under control" happy to be part of the Babylonian Nicolaitin system that the Holy Spirit had already placed over the doorpost in the Spirit, "Ichabod", for the Glory of God had already departed.

I had to go back to the Desert Island of God's Word and unlearn and relearn according not to what man says, but what the Lord says. I am still doing that in measure today. In a New Covenent, NT pattern of Elder-Led Body Fellowship which must have as it's goal to praise, Worship, Honer, and preach Christ and be led by the Spirit of God and honor the Word of God and it's decrees as the light unto our path.

The American remnant Bride must do this. We must just throw out all ourreconceived notions, our religious background, our cultural influence, and just go back to the simplicity and power of the pattern laid out in God's Word for how the NT Body should operate and function, what our daily life and actions should look like, and what the true purpose of our life remaining on this earth shall be.

In China, there are 2 different "churches": the official state church which leaves out much of scripture, takes its orders from the govt., and fills dead pews with dead people to hear dead teachings each week. Then, there is an underground church. She has endured much tribulation and trial. She answers to no one but Jesus. She loves the Lord with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength. And she knows, there is nothing more precious than the Holy Spirit of God in her midst, and the full counsel of the Word of God as her guide. She lives on a desert island, and that desert island is the same one that God ordained for His Bride through the ages over 2,000 years ago.

Would you believe that the same separation is already making manifest in hearts in America today? The decisions to stay in Babylon or stand on the desert island with God, His Spirit, and His Word are already being made today in hearts and minds of those who profess Christ. The day that's coming will show clearly where we each really stand, in Babylon with the masses, or on a desert island with God. Better consider these things now. What is your lense for understanding/obedience to God's Word? Your experience/religious background/the theology of your denomination/cultural influence, etc? Or is it simply standing on an island with the Word of God and the Spirit of God listening/obeying only Him by His Word/Spirit? The father seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, not in word and works only.

This is a much needed word for the Body of Christ in America today!

Jeff you share an edifying testimony. It is possible for one to be shut away with Christ and his word and learn from the Spirit. You have already done this as our persecuted brothers and sisters have. But I fear for many in the established church the shock will be to great to leave the established system.

I remember when I began my walk with Christ the admonition was to be in an established church. You had to sit under men who expounded the word. If you were not in a chuch then you could fall into error.

Now I see the opposite to be true. It is becoming apparent that error and political correctness is coming into the structured church. In some ways one may be far better off alonewith God and his word than sitting under established preaching. Particularly as error creeps more and more into the church

Even into those gospel fellowships that Greg is encouraging. There will be a continual reliance on the Spirit and his word. I might add that this will not sit well with the structured church. Those who seek for God and him alone will be declared as heretics. They will be persecuted.

But those who find delight on Jesus will value nothing less than Christ himself. And all things will be counted as loss for the surpassing greatness of knowing him.

Just some thoughts from the bear den.

I prefer to receive what I read from the Desert Island and not from Commentaries. When I downloaded e-sword, I was only interested in word-studies and cross-referencing.

And those few men that actually do "labor in The WORD" are few and far between. Exegetical teaching and the such is a rare find. Endlessly we need to hear another's man opinion of what The Word is saying or one that quotes from others. That's sad to me and if I learn the Desert Island style and prefer that method - I'd see the these verses merely say what they say.
1Ti 5:17,18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. And that Luke 10:7 cross-references in where it agrees with " for the labourer is worthy of his hire". The traveling men that "labour in the word" - or Missionaries.

I can't help but notice in the last 10 yrs or so how the majority can only quote from others, or teach/preach in their own words - thus adding and subtracting from HIS WORD the more that they go on.

That's not Desert Island Theology - it's man putting themselves Above The Word.

The same men that the others quote - 'Sold' their commentaries or books.

"I've spent a lot of time developing this Desert Island theology and gaining insight from the Spirit but I think there is a need for balance here. God created His church as a body for some very real, practical reasons for which Desert Theology is not the Way."

Hi Jeremy,

I think you make a good point, and it's one that I definitely agree with. I tried to make that clear in my post when I wrote:

"Not that it needs to be your only method of theology, but it certainly should be your primary one."

I myself and currently reading a theological book right now called "Looking Unto Jesus" by Issac Ambrose. It's 700 pages written on the verse from Hebrews 12:2. I've also gained quite a lot of insight in my Christian life from teachers in the body of Christ and another believers. It's definitely important that we learn from other believers. It's a method that God has ordained for us to grown and learn.

However, my post was more to address the need for people to search the scriptures themselves, and not simply just accept everything they are taught. Ultimately we will all be accountable to God's word and not what other men have taught us. It is often because believers blindly accept certain teachings - either from their denomination or pastor, without really searching the scriptures, that they find themselves in all sorts of error; like the ones I mentioned my original post.

For the vast majority of professing Christians today, it probably would be beneficial for them to take a break from there "Church" for a month or two and do nothing but read and re-read the scriptures. I can remember a time right after I was converted that I turned of the TV for 40 days. I spent that time reading God's word instead. After 40 days I turned the TV back on, and my eyes were "opened". Having been removed from the TV for a season, allowed me to more clearly see all the filth on it when I turned it back on. Needless to say, the TV went out to the dumpster.

Many believers get born again, and probably through sincere trust, they just accept what they are being taught. They are never taught to be Bereans. Sometimes they need to put what they've been taught aside and search the scriptures so they can see things in clear light. That is what I'm advocating.

But for most people, to have this type of mindset, what I termed Desert Island Theology, you don't have to leave or remove yourself from fellowship. It's just a way of thinking and learning from God, testing everything against God's word, and learning from Him as you search the scriptures. I myself am involved in a local fellowship and wouldn't want to be apart from it. I love my brother and sisters in Christ, and learn quite a bit from them. And it's definitely the will of God for believers to fellowship with other believers and learn from them.

Hope that clarifies a bit.

God bless....

IN Christ,

Sean

Under the Old Covenant one needed the priest to expound the law to them. But in the New Covenant the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ through the scriptures. He is the one who brings the word to light into our hearts and minds.

Am I correct in my understanding of this?

Asked from the bear cave.