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Old Paths Disclaimer:
All thoughts and biblical perspectives presented on this website
will not be agreed upon by all.
God will provide the truth to all those who are honestly
seeking to find it.
In order for someone to honestly pursue the truth one must start
with the right spirit and frame of mind.
Scripture states,
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life.
All truth must start with the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit will never run contrary to the truth.
Those seeking truth honestly will do so with the right
spirit. A question
must be asked, “How do I determine whether something starts with
the right spirit?”
According to the Word of God found in Galatians, it states,
Galatians 5:22-25
22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with
the affections and
lusts.
25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The right spirit is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.
In other words, all truth must start with an attitude of
love. Christians
often debate biblical topics and state their position not from a
position of love and concern for the truth and the other(s)
they are contending
with, but rather from a position of pride, and refusal to hold
the other in higher esteem than self.
Education is not a qualifier in a discussion and does not
excuse away valid observation of truth.
Humility and awareness that all are blind to the truth
until God reveals it, must always be kept in mind.
Paul writes in Philippians,
Philippians 2:1-5
1
If there be
therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if
any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one
accord, of one mind.
3
Let nothing
be done through strife or
vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better
than themselves.
4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also
on the things of others.
5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Several points are presented in this scripture: Love,
fellowship, and compassion must always take precedence.
Some principles to follow are…
Principle #1:
(vs.2) Like-mindedness
Principle #2:
(vs.3) Refuse to exalt self, and desire to lift up another
Principle #3:
(vs.4) Strive to see as others see it, rather than how I see.
Again love, fellowship, and compassion must always be the
foundational motivation for what we do.
Many will seek to dispute, contend, argue, and villianize
due to their refusal to follow the biblically based principles
as stated in Philippians.
If your desire is truly to find truth, start by asking
God to give you a desire and ability to unconditionally love
another first, then the truth will be easier to ascertain
(find). Some due to
their flesh are incapable of loving (unconditionally as God
states) therefore, a desire to villianize, separate, run-down,
and exalt one’s own opinion will reign in their hearts.
According to Galatians 5:20, several words are used to
describe this type of spirit which in fact is of the flesh:
Hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies. It is
very interesting to note that most of this is found within the
average, Bible believing, church.
Let us define according to Strong’s what these words
mean.
Hatred:
G2189-hostility,
or reason for opposition
Variance:
G2054-a
quarrel or contention
Emulations:
G2205-zeal and
jealousy
Wrath:
G2372-passion
Strife:
G2052-contention
producing factions or division
Disunion:
G1370-disunion,
dissension
Heresies:
G139-sects or
in the vernacular cliques.
Due to pride many are blinded by their own ways.
The desire to know truth no matter what it may lead to
must start with the right spirit of love not a fleshly desire to
argue, divide, separate, or as is so evident politicize to
garner support against instead of desiring to understand.
Some, viewpoints on this site will certainly be foreign
to many but certainly not unbiblical.
The fundamentals of the faith are very much upheld and
will continue to be.
Those who sincerely love and desire others to know truth,
please use the Old Paths
Discussion Board to state viewpoints and
concerns so that others may be edified and learn and be willing
to allow your own ideas or viewpoints to be challenged.
God bless you and I love you and will prove it by my
actions not just empty words.
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