Posted on 01/18/2015 1:45:26 PM PST by Faith Presses On
There are many passages of Scripture that seem to be commonly brought up in the Church today. Just for one example, Romans 8:28. It is a particularly important passage, but considering the time we live in, where the powerful worldly culture encourages people to feel entitled to nothing but good things, and to blame or deny God if something bad happens, then it can be expected that we might have more need to hear Romans 8:28 today.
Then it seems that there a lot of Scripture passages that aren't heard that much in the Church today. Here are a few that come to my mind:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6)
How important this message is, since it instructs us to put the spiritual first in every part of our lives, a belief which our world today is especially rejecting, but it's not very often brought up.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22)
I used to wonder about this part of the parable, until I eventually read that the wedding guests were provided clothing by the king. That made a lot of sense. I've never heard this discussed in church. For a couple of commentaries on the parable:
http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-wedding-feast.html http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0976.htm
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24)
A lot to consider here since the parable is about the lord's servants. I've never heard this parable talked about in church, either, though.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mark 4)
These are passages about two of the four different types of soil in the Parable of the Sower. The two not excerpted here deal with the person who hears God's Word but rejects, and the other is the person who is like good soil, bearing fruit. These two types of soil, though, aren't fruitful though the Word gets sown in them. The dangers here are being offended by the Gospel when troubles come, and allowing worldly concerns and pleasures to take the place of living by the Spirit.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11)
This is from the "Hall of Fame" chapter of Hebrews, and what I found particularly of interest to wonder about is what's said about these faithful people "obtaining a good report," and some "not accepting deliverance" so they could "obtain a better resurrection." While it's not hard to get a sense of what's meant in each case, not much seems to be in the Bible about either one. I wonder exactly whom they "obtained a good report" with, and what's meant by refusing deliverance and obaining a better resurrection.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3)
Another passage of Scripture, dealing with the Lord's return and the end of this world, that I've not heard talked about in Church.
I wonder, too, about passages from Scripture that other people find are frequently talked about, and why they believe they are, and others which they believe aren't talked about enough.
Your point is well taken. Studies have shown that only 7% of Catholics are actively involved in their faith. Steps are being taken to address this issue. I do not know how widespread this is, but our Archdiocese has initiated a program to encourage Catholics to become more dynamic in their faith. Each parish is called on to hand out a book to every family for them to read and act on. It is a four year program, starting with improving prayer life and bible study. It is a recognition that the Bible readings at Mass are only a starting point that we need to build on outside of Mass.
“I myself never give any thought to the 30,000 plus Protestant sects. I don’t care what they do.”
Yet here you are, having given enough thought to learn the “30k-plus” meme and parrot it derisively.
This is the FR Religion Forum. People come here to engage each other and contend for their respective faiths. In day to day life I don’t chase the skirt tails of the Catholics I know or obsess about them, and I seriously doubt anyone you know is doing that to you. Here we can hash things out freely and roughly, and I find that stimulating.
Engage? LOLOLOLOLOL! Curious that you are the one objecting, when you are not even known to me.
Once more, with FEELING:
YOU’RE HERE AIN’T YA?
I wouldn’t think Hebrews 6 causes the OSAS crowd any problems at all. It starts out warning about people like Michael Rood and the likes of the Catholic Church trying to put people back under Old Testament law.
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Its uncanny how you always mention Yehova’s servant Michael Rood when you have your foot in your mouth!
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Paul's expressed confidence in his sheep was based in the fact that he constantly rooted out the “dogs returning to their vomit.”
Really the dogs outnumber the sheep in every congregation; that is exactly why Paul and Peter issued those stern warnings to the sheep they loved.
Matthew 7:
[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
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Does Michael Rood still deny the deity of Christ?
Not really. I attended weekly RC Mass for many years and in the summers went with my mother during the week. 30-45 mins once a week for the average RC is not going through the Bible in one year. Not even close. Reading the Bible from cover to cover each year is an individual Christian's responsibility if they truly want to learn more about God's Words, Ways and holy living.
In a typical Protestant/Evangelical church one will have somewhere from 60-90 mins on a Sunday morning of a Worship/Lord's Supper service. Then about a 30 min break for fellowship in the basement and off to Sunday school for the youngsters and the adults go back upstairs for the Gospel hour (usually longer) which includes an indepth sermon on Scriptures. Of which the week prior you know what is coming up in the series and, wait...do some homework and read up before entering. After this the kiddos are rejoined with their parents, some more fellowship ensues and people depart for their homes and Sunday afternoons.
However, wait, it's not over...Most folks have an early Sunday dinner and then come back around 6pm for the evening Gospel hour. This is usually a slower paced Bible study led by a pastor, elder or teacher and the subject can span weeks or months.
It's not over! On Monday the ladies have a Bible study rotating locations from homes to sandwich shops.
Tuesday evening is the weekly Gospel hour (in the South this is sometimes on Weds. Never schedule baseball practice down here on Weds...NO GO).
Wednesday evenings starts out as the pastor/elders meeting to conduct church business and pray for the assembly members. The assembly I attend does not have a full time pastor so the elders have jobs save two who are retired and full time in caring for the needy of the flock. After the elders are done the rest of the men assemble and it's the men's weekly Bible Study.
Thursday the retired ladies and stay at home ladies visit the elderly shut ins and in nursing homes. They sing to them, read the Bible to them and tend to their needs.
Friday-Saturday no official functions. This is the time one should be reading up and taking notes, praying for understanding on the upcoming week of feeding on God's Word.
Taking note, the above is a lot more than 45-60 mins a week.
Kindly deal with the scripture that YOU posted and I addressed (Hebrews 6). Quote the warning, fine. Quote the encouragement too. That book is full of hope, the purpose of the warnings is to bring correction. The purpose of correction is to bring life and represents the love of God. “He is treating you as sons.” That said, i hope you have a blessed day. I’m at work and dreaming of being on my bike because the weather here in Dallas is lovely!
Going systematically through the bible is one way to prevent avoiding of any scripture.
The book, like all the rest of the books of the Bible, is full of hope for those that keep his commandments, and horror for everyone else.
Chapter 6 is descriptive of those that take Yehova’s offer lightly, just as 2Peter chapter 2.
Of course they are purposed in warning, as was Matthew Chapter 7, and the post to which you responded so sarcastically.
But warnings are never taken in the spirit in which they are offered. Instead attacks are always mounted at the messenger, as though they are the threat.
I was being genuine, editor-surveyor, about having a good day. And with that I bid you farewell!
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