Beyond All Question - to a Christian at University
Beyond All Question - to a Christian at University
Originally written: March 25, 2009 at 3:16pm
1 Tim 3:16
BEYOND ALL QUESTION, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
The main thing that I need to advise you about is to guard yourself in the Holy Spirit. Pray for a cleansing, protection, and discernment from ideas which aren't true; pray for power and boldness in Him. Remember that Jesus is your first and primary Professor; you became His disciple (student) when you first trusted in Him and you are always in enrollment in His school. Remember that those who do not embrace Him as Savior and Lord have ulterior motives when they teach about Him and when they teach about the Bible; they may even teach things which are factual, but in such as way as to try to bring spiritual attacks against you and your trust in Him. This is a trick of the enemy. Question everything else except Him; trust Him completely and study to know Him first and foremost above all else. We know that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" because He put the Holy Spirit inside of us, which confirms in our hearts that we are God's children. You have a living, personal experience with the living God, with Jesus, which confirms to you everything that Jesus did and said and also what He is doing and saying. No one can debunk this. Jesus confirmed that He was sent from heaven because He performed impossible miracles, left the biggest mark anyone has ever left on history, astounded everyone with His teachings, and He did something no one else had ever done - came back to life. His close followers, who wrote the New Testament, were a direct product of Jesus' teaching. Some professors and students do not have as valuable of a seed of wisdom as you have.
"I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes." - Psalms 119:99
The other part of the proof of Jesus is something most Christians, unfortunately, do not realize: it is us, His people. We are the Body of Christ on the earth today, sent by God in the same exact way that Jesus was sent from His Father, to perform miracles like Jesus, to teach with the same authority as Jesus, and (as He said) to do greater works than He did. You will and even already are doing this without realizing it. I could give you Scriptural proof for all that I am saying, but part of following Jesus is learning how to discern the voice of God, how He speaks to us, and confirms truth to us in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is trusting and believing the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us, whether it is through the Bible, through other Christians, though prayer, or through circumstances.
It is good for you to allow the Holy Spirit to question church tradition and to test everything and hold unto what is good (1 Thess 5:21) - this is what Jesus did to the religious people of His day and is still doing today. This is different, however, from allowing people who are anti-God to question what to believe about Jesus, the Bible, and our customs.
"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." Col. 2:20-23
It seems very presumptuous and futile for those who don't believe in Christ to try to teach us about how to follow Him, what the Bible means, or ethics. It is a form of false-humility and pride. Do not let the intimidation of what others think dictate to you what you wish to follow and what you do not. Let the Holy Spirit decide this. Pray and He will give you wisdom. Beware of anything that tries to restrict your freedom in Christ. You do not have to answer to them for how you live your life - only to Jesus. People without God often are a voice of accusation from the enemy - always questioning what we do, how we do it, and our motive in doing it. This is the Holy Spirit's job, not theirs. Satan wants people to live in fear; God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. If the Holy Spirit questions something you are holding to but don't need to, let it go, but don't take the advice regarding this from people who don't know Him. You will be happier for it.
"Blessed is the man [or woman] who doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly..." - Ps. 1:1
Romans 14:22 - “Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he allows.”
Not everything that is supposedly rooted in paganism came from the devil - some of it may in fact be part of the natural revelation of God to all mankind. As well, not every tradition which is "Christian" came from the Spirit of God or is even necessarily based in Scripture.
Some of what the professors teach is out-right lies; some of it is factual, but presented with a motive to try to undermine peoples' trust in Jesus as the superior teacher or limit their freedom. They are assuming that learning their "context" of the Bible and their understanding of history or other knowledge supersedes the Holy Spirit's ability to reveal truth to everyone from the very Word Himself. They try to superimpose their understanding upon us, upon Jesus, upon the Bible and interpret Scripture out of their own understanding. This is faulty reasoning. For one, those who don't know God can never accurately interpret the Bible (1 Cor 2:14). The Scriptures interpret us and the world, we do not interpret them. They are a mirror to us, showing us who we truly are (James 1:23). Those who dare question the Scriptures to be completely true are claiming they are superior to Jesus, and superior to the direct product of Jesus Himself (the apostles).
Remember that not necessarily everything that is challenging for you is good for you. Secular university is a battle field, not a classroom. Often the behavior and teachings of those outside of Jesus are hostile to Him. I advise you to seek that which challenges you to grow deeper in love with Jesus, to trust Him more, to follow Him more closely, not what challenges you to doubt Him, to question Him, to leave Him. There is a place for battling against false ideas, but this is not our place of learning. We learn when we are with Him. When we are strengthened and ready, He puts us into battle. Martial arts instructors do not train their students in the midst of a war; they do it in a secure place, in a studio. When they are fully trained, they will be like their Master and will fight in the same way as He fights. Your secure place is when you are with Him and He can speak to you without any distraction. He has not left you alone, nor abandoned you in the battle, but I strongly believe that you are there to teach them and help them, more than they are there to instruct you. Earnestly contend for the faith (Jude v.3).
There are two major opponents to Jesus and His followers in the modern marketplace of ideas: godless science, and godless philosophy.
1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science [knowledge] falsely so called.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
As His Kingdom advances against the gates of hell, these are replaced by godly science (an investigation of the natural and supernatural world); and godly philosophy (a love for the wisdom of Christ) - 1 Cor 2:6. If God tells you to pull back from the battle to be strengthened, listen to Him.
I have crafted a proclamation for you and for your school. This I encourage you to pray in secret with the Lord:
We bind every demonic force in this place in the name of Jesus; we bind every false and anti-God teaching. We expose the things hidden in secret and the attitudes and behaviors which defy God and bring them before the light of His glory. We expose people's twisted, dark motives and call them out of darkness into Light, out of bondage into freedom, out of sickness into health, out of death into life. We advance the glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ - His power, His reign, His love, and His glory in this place. We uproot every form of false wisdom and plant God's wisdom. We uproot anti-God science and plant the knowledge of God. We proclaim Him as the superior Teacher, the sole governing authority here. We are subject to Him. Everything else is subject to Him, and to us as His servants.
Most anti-God teachers and/or Cults will deny one or more of the following. If you are discerning that anyone intends to undermine any of these, pay attention:
Virgin Birth of Christ - Matt 1:23
Deity of Christ - Rom 9:5
Humanity of Christ (even his existance) - 2 Jn 7
Death, burial, and resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor 15:1-8
Inspiration of Scripture - 2 Tim 3:16
Second Coming of Christ - Jame 5:8
Rom.16:17,18 - I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
1 Tim. 6:3-5, 20
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Here are some other general passages about anti-God teachers:
2 Peter 2:1-17
Jude
Originally written: March 25, 2009 at 3:16pm
1 Tim 3:16
BEYOND ALL QUESTION, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
The main thing that I need to advise you about is to guard yourself in the Holy Spirit. Pray for a cleansing, protection, and discernment from ideas which aren't true; pray for power and boldness in Him. Remember that Jesus is your first and primary Professor; you became His disciple (student) when you first trusted in Him and you are always in enrollment in His school. Remember that those who do not embrace Him as Savior and Lord have ulterior motives when they teach about Him and when they teach about the Bible; they may even teach things which are factual, but in such as way as to try to bring spiritual attacks against you and your trust in Him. This is a trick of the enemy. Question everything else except Him; trust Him completely and study to know Him first and foremost above all else. We know that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" because He put the Holy Spirit inside of us, which confirms in our hearts that we are God's children. You have a living, personal experience with the living God, with Jesus, which confirms to you everything that Jesus did and said and also what He is doing and saying. No one can debunk this. Jesus confirmed that He was sent from heaven because He performed impossible miracles, left the biggest mark anyone has ever left on history, astounded everyone with His teachings, and He did something no one else had ever done - came back to life. His close followers, who wrote the New Testament, were a direct product of Jesus' teaching. Some professors and students do not have as valuable of a seed of wisdom as you have.
"I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes." - Psalms 119:99
The other part of the proof of Jesus is something most Christians, unfortunately, do not realize: it is us, His people. We are the Body of Christ on the earth today, sent by God in the same exact way that Jesus was sent from His Father, to perform miracles like Jesus, to teach with the same authority as Jesus, and (as He said) to do greater works than He did. You will and even already are doing this without realizing it. I could give you Scriptural proof for all that I am saying, but part of following Jesus is learning how to discern the voice of God, how He speaks to us, and confirms truth to us in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is trusting and believing the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us, whether it is through the Bible, through other Christians, though prayer, or through circumstances.
It is good for you to allow the Holy Spirit to question church tradition and to test everything and hold unto what is good (1 Thess 5:21) - this is what Jesus did to the religious people of His day and is still doing today. This is different, however, from allowing people who are anti-God to question what to believe about Jesus, the Bible, and our customs.
"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." Col. 2:20-23
It seems very presumptuous and futile for those who don't believe in Christ to try to teach us about how to follow Him, what the Bible means, or ethics. It is a form of false-humility and pride. Do not let the intimidation of what others think dictate to you what you wish to follow and what you do not. Let the Holy Spirit decide this. Pray and He will give you wisdom. Beware of anything that tries to restrict your freedom in Christ. You do not have to answer to them for how you live your life - only to Jesus. People without God often are a voice of accusation from the enemy - always questioning what we do, how we do it, and our motive in doing it. This is the Holy Spirit's job, not theirs. Satan wants people to live in fear; God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. If the Holy Spirit questions something you are holding to but don't need to, let it go, but don't take the advice regarding this from people who don't know Him. You will be happier for it.
"Blessed is the man [or woman] who doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly..." - Ps. 1:1
Romans 14:22 - “Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he allows.”
Not everything that is supposedly rooted in paganism came from the devil - some of it may in fact be part of the natural revelation of God to all mankind. As well, not every tradition which is "Christian" came from the Spirit of God or is even necessarily based in Scripture.
Some of what the professors teach is out-right lies; some of it is factual, but presented with a motive to try to undermine peoples' trust in Jesus as the superior teacher or limit their freedom. They are assuming that learning their "context" of the Bible and their understanding of history or other knowledge supersedes the Holy Spirit's ability to reveal truth to everyone from the very Word Himself. They try to superimpose their understanding upon us, upon Jesus, upon the Bible and interpret Scripture out of their own understanding. This is faulty reasoning. For one, those who don't know God can never accurately interpret the Bible (1 Cor 2:14). The Scriptures interpret us and the world, we do not interpret them. They are a mirror to us, showing us who we truly are (James 1:23). Those who dare question the Scriptures to be completely true are claiming they are superior to Jesus, and superior to the direct product of Jesus Himself (the apostles).
Remember that not necessarily everything that is challenging for you is good for you. Secular university is a battle field, not a classroom. Often the behavior and teachings of those outside of Jesus are hostile to Him. I advise you to seek that which challenges you to grow deeper in love with Jesus, to trust Him more, to follow Him more closely, not what challenges you to doubt Him, to question Him, to leave Him. There is a place for battling against false ideas, but this is not our place of learning. We learn when we are with Him. When we are strengthened and ready, He puts us into battle. Martial arts instructors do not train their students in the midst of a war; they do it in a secure place, in a studio. When they are fully trained, they will be like their Master and will fight in the same way as He fights. Your secure place is when you are with Him and He can speak to you without any distraction. He has not left you alone, nor abandoned you in the battle, but I strongly believe that you are there to teach them and help them, more than they are there to instruct you. Earnestly contend for the faith (Jude v.3).
There are two major opponents to Jesus and His followers in the modern marketplace of ideas: godless science, and godless philosophy.
1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science [knowledge] falsely so called.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
As His Kingdom advances against the gates of hell, these are replaced by godly science (an investigation of the natural and supernatural world); and godly philosophy (a love for the wisdom of Christ) - 1 Cor 2:6. If God tells you to pull back from the battle to be strengthened, listen to Him.
I have crafted a proclamation for you and for your school. This I encourage you to pray in secret with the Lord:
We bind every demonic force in this place in the name of Jesus; we bind every false and anti-God teaching. We expose the things hidden in secret and the attitudes and behaviors which defy God and bring them before the light of His glory. We expose people's twisted, dark motives and call them out of darkness into Light, out of bondage into freedom, out of sickness into health, out of death into life. We advance the glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ - His power, His reign, His love, and His glory in this place. We uproot every form of false wisdom and plant God's wisdom. We uproot anti-God science and plant the knowledge of God. We proclaim Him as the superior Teacher, the sole governing authority here. We are subject to Him. Everything else is subject to Him, and to us as His servants.
Most anti-God teachers and/or Cults will deny one or more of the following. If you are discerning that anyone intends to undermine any of these, pay attention:
Virgin Birth of Christ - Matt 1:23
Deity of Christ - Rom 9:5
Humanity of Christ (even his existance) - 2 Jn 7
Death, burial, and resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor 15:1-8
Inspiration of Scripture - 2 Tim 3:16
Second Coming of Christ - Jame 5:8
Rom.16:17,18 - I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
1 Tim. 6:3-5, 20
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Here are some other general passages about anti-God teachers:
2 Peter 2:1-17
Jude
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