With the bible we all have different interpretive frameworks, one of the skeptics of the Messianic Jewish Movement commented on the fact of the movement they still follow some of the talmudic festivals that are not biblical
If you understand anything about the talmud it was compiled to intepret the bible as guidelines and gates so people did not fall into sin
If you read the Talmud it says Rabbi X and Rabbi Y says this and they contradict one another
John 5:39 KJV
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
From one who has been reading bible commentaries for fun. What I have found is many of the same trends and it is worse
It is like when you go into a church there are unwritten rules or groups. To me that could fit vast volumes of text.
It is with some groups you have to be finely dressed and in other groups you have to be persuaded to certain positions.
I believe in orthodox chrisitanty that anything that denies the fundementals of christianity such as his deity and that is by faith alone and through grace alone, his death and resurrection, post mortem experiences.
When this christian skeptic said you have your talmud we have ours.
I really love commentaries when commentaries on the text and i think it is a really valuable resource as the holy spirit has inspired these men
Matthew 23:23 KJV
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment , mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done , and not to leave the other undone .
Do you have unwritten rules in your church? Maybe your are not aloud to question the pastor on his sermon? The chairs have to be laid out in a particular fashion? or it is Notices and it consists of standing up to worship then sitting down and then standing up again. Then a set amount of songs before the preacher comes to preach.
What would you say your unwritten rules in the church are? and sometimes they are biblical
Charles Spurgeon
“When you see a man with a great deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend upon it, he keeps a very small stock of it within”
How much of it is done without God and how much of it is.
I value the traditions of services but not when they get in the way of God.
How many people just put on a show at church, counterfeit christians.
I think it was someone who stated that the devils greatest feit was making counterfeit christians,
As with so many counterfeit things they look so like the real thing but counterfeit money does not get you anything if you are buying things in shops, real money does.
The devil has had years of perfecting his counterfeits and the only way is the focus on the true
Philippians 4:8 KJV
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We need fellowship to detect in us and people who dont agree with us to open are eyes to unreal christianity in our lives