Pick a Passage?

[tsth]

It's easy to pick and choose those passages that make us feel good isn't it? And I'd be willing to say that for those of us who happen to mark in our Bibles, we most likely would have Jeremiah 29:11 highlighted, wouldn't we?

29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

But, how about Jeremiah 26:13? Do you have that one highlighted as well?

26:13 Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you.

It's very easy to settle for those passages that make us feel good. That is exactly what Hananiah went for, wasn't it? He went for the feel good focus. The problem was, it was the wrong time, for that right kind of message. God's Truths must be received in the time He intends them for. There was an order that was ignored. There was a requirement, that had not been met before Hananiah pronounced what he did. It was a time for repentance FIRST.

What time is it for us? Time for dancing in this nation? Or mourning and repentance?

Our churches have systematically left out part of the whole Truth, they've got the believe part down, they're just forgetting the repentance part.

Mark 1:14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Note the "repentance" came first?

(note to Brother Dave.......the above was excerpted from a message "preached" this morning by Pastor Terry.........The Lord is sending him out elsewhere. Praise God!)

In His Truth,

Suzanne

[IslandRose]

A lot of it come from how you read a verse, doesn't it?

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven , and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

[Andrew007]

Ohhh Suzanne...

I am so glad you posted this. So many people, including myself, pick and choose which verses we like. And I know pastors do the same thing from the pulpit! I know that its sometimes hard to get good faithful people in the church sometimes, and I know pastors sometimes have a hard time stepping on peoples toes. God says in his word that he doesn't want to spoil us and that He punishes us because He loves us.. we need to know what we're doing wrong from the pulpit..... I guess I got off topic and I guess i just said what everyone already knows but whatever.

[Guest pr-eyea]

It's easy to pick and choose those passages that make us feel good isn't it?

Certainly blessing.

Also this verse

26:13 ....."amend your ways and your doings"....

Edited June 13, 2004 by pr-eyea

[Guest pr-eyea]

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Edited June 15, 2004 by pr-eyea

[nebula]

I remember when Steve Camp (Christian singer) came out with an album (pre-CD days) with a lot of hard-hitting messages:

"Don't tell them Jesus loves them

'Till you're ready to love them, too"

"Hell is burning while the Church is asleep"

"We've been playing marbles with diamonds"

"Are we servants without scars?"

A famous Christian music magazine began a review of his album with:

"Steve Camp is angry...."

It then went on to criticize his album for lacking songs about God's love and mercy and all that wonderful stuff.

My thoughts:

Conviction is good for the soul.

Proverbs 25:12

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

[tsth]

A lot of it come from how you read a verse, doesn't it?

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn  from  their wicked ways; then will I  hear  from  heaven , and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Yeah, it's that "humble" part that gets us isn't it. I have to say that this is a very strange time for me in my Christian walk and my husband's ministry. We are having a church "identity crisis" right now. We belong to a church that's outwardly disowning us, the Lord has not told us to leave it yet.............and we're apparently being sent out on interim pastoring adventures. All that to say, that we just got home from being sent to a little small town church, membership 40, in a town with a population of 500. It was a true blessing to go. We saw humble, and it was very refreshing! Especially in the children. I am wondering about our youth programs today? Are they gettting any "humble"? Oh well that's another topic.

pr-eyea:

QUOTE 

That is exactly what Hananiah went for, wasn't it? He went for the feel good focus.

I cant say for sure the person you are refering to in that paragraph, the point is well presented though.

You ought to go and read that particular story, it's a very interesting study on 2 completely different messages preached, and what God thought about them.

I guess I got off topic and I guess i just said what everyone already knows but whatever. 

No you didn't Andrew, it's the truth of today's preaching for the most part. It's a fine line many are walking.

nebula:

My thoughts:

Conviction is good for the soul.

Yep, mine too! That's what got my eyes open to the TRUTH! A real Truthful message does that.

:il:

In His Love,

Suzanne

[BigJer]

I agree with the original post, especially when it comes to doctrinal issues. People love to grab a verse, or even a part of a verse, and make it their doctrinal stand. I believe it is vital to take a look at an entire passage, especially with Paul's methodical writings, and keep it within context.

A book I read puts it well.... You can pick apart a verse, define the words in that verse. come up with a tightly defined meaing of that verse, but it has to fit the setting in which the verse has been written. If it doesn't fit with the surrounding verses, start over again.

[refugepsa91]

I like the advice I got once on this topic...."NEVER put a period where God put a comma." I liked that one...I have always remembered it and always read the whole chapter to learn from not just one verse.

Good thread tsth.... :hug:

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[Guest aka_mary]

I was told once by someone to always read the verse before and after to get a better picture. This advice has proved very useful.

While we are on the topic of picking a verse, what about those who sorta hold the bible up let it fall open, randomnly run their finger down a page, and 'BANG' there sits the verse of the day.

I've heard the joke regarding this....then he died etc, but people really do this