[Updated June 2016]
I’ve been running into this on Facebook — with guys who should know better — who previously experienced the good things of God — including having felt His presence.
I’ve seen especially one particular proponent strongly manipulate the discussion, keeping truth out by refusing to look at the facts (including my research here at ONEcanhappen) — making the ‘conversation’ the focus. The idea is to keep us in the conversation, instead of finding the truth that can set us free — ‘life in the Son.’
They claim they can now achieve a higher understanding by merely talking with each other about what is true, refusing not only to investigate the data, but also refusing to seek and worship God, the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus said would lead us into *all* truth.
The Greatest Commandment (loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength) is discarded. The Second Greatest Commandment (loving our neighbors as ourselves) then becomes the only commandment, but it’s impossible to carry out without also obeying the Greatest. Christianity then becomes man centered only, instead of God centered, so it’s not really Christianity.
Jesus did the things he saw his Father doing. He was submitted to and led by the Holy Spirit just as we are to be. “Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.” We must “take up our cross and follow Him.” “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
“My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” but liberal Christianity is a sweaty ministry because we’re designed to abide in The Vine from which His sap then automatically flows through us, producing fruit (John 15) — which is “life in the Son.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:28-30)
We can’t do Christianity apart from God, and the Holy Spirit won’t lead us to do things that contradict the written word of God — like saying we “shouldn’t meet together” so ‘ONE’ can happen according to Ephesians 4:11-16, John 17, and etc. — which they continually push against.
And then I’ve seen those who have carefully done the research to discover the absolute truth are labeled as ‘arrogant’ — a debate technique used to demonize those of us who still dare to say there is absolute truth — and to shame others into also rejecting what the Bible clearly says and what the Holy Spirit has clearly shown people.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” is a promise, as is: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” God won’t help people see who don’t want to see, but He’s eager to help those who do. Pride in liberal ‘Christians’ makes them actively resist life in the Son — real Christianity, where Jesus’ greatest commandment is practiced first and foremost.
I’m not sure why formerly Spirit-filled (at times) Christians are adopting and pushing this anti-Ephesians-4:11-16, disunifying lie as the better way. Liberal ‘Christian’ theology is a form of active rebellion, which the Bible says is as the sin of witchcraft. No doubt this is a doctrine of demons that opposes the will of God — that we would be ‘ONE’ with each other in Him, that the world would know!
In John 17, Jesus also said He’d give us His glory so ‘ONE’ can happen. The Devil is trying to stop this with every trick he has.
May we stand up for what’s right no matter what, so ‘ONE’ can happen — so we can be FREE in Him — “that the world will know!”
Abide in Christ, getting our life source from Him that fruit will remain:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27
“There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. … For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.” – Romans 8:1, 14
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'” – Mt. 16:24
Remain in Him.
jeff
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From: gotquestions.org
What is liberal Christian theology?
Question: “What is liberal Christian theology?”
Answer: In liberal Christian teaching, which is not Christian at all, man’s reason is stressed and is treated as the final authority. Liberal theologians seek to reconcile Christianity with secular science and modern thinking. In doing so, they treat science as all-knowing and the Bible as fable-laden and false. Genesis’ early chapters are reduced to poetry or fantasy, having a message, but not to be taken literally (in spite of Jesus’ having spoken of those early chapters in literal terms). Mankind is not seen as totally depraved, and thus liberal theologians have an optimistic view of the future of mankind. The social gospel is also emphasized, while the inability of fallen man to fulfill it is denied. Whether a person is saved from his sin and its penalty in hell is no longer the issue; the main thing is how man treats his fellow man. “Love” of our fellow man becomes the defining issue. As a result of this “reasoning” by liberal theologians, the following doctrines are taught by liberal quasi-Christian theologians:
1) The Bible is not “God-breathed” and has errors. Because of this belief, man (the liberal theologians) must determine which teachings are correct and which are not. Belief that the Bible is “inspired” (in that word’s original meaning) by God is only held by simpletons. This directly contradicts 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
[…]
5) Hell is not real. Man is not lost in sin and is not doomed to some future judgment without a relationship with Christ through faith. Man can help himself; no sacrificial death by Christ is necessary since a loving God would not send people to such a place as hell and since man is not born in sin. This contradicts Jesus Himself, who declared Himself to be the Way to God, through His atoning death (John 14:6).
[…]
7) The most important thing for man to do is to “love” his neighbor [while the Greatest Commandment, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength” isn’t even mentioned – editor]. What is the loving thing to do in any situation is not what the Bible says is good but what the liberal theologians decide is good.
[…]
Scripture speaks against those who would cry “peace, peace” when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14)—which liberal theologians do by saying that man can attain peace with God apart from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and that man need not worry about a future judgment before God. The Word of God speaks of a time when men will have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5)—which is what liberal theology does in that is says that there is some inner goodness in man that does not require a rebirth by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. And it speaks against those who would serve idols instead of the one true God (1 Chronicles 16:26)—which liberal Christianity does in that it creates a false god according to its own liking rather than worshiping God as He is described in the whole of the Bible.
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