I wanted to share this with everyone here and see what they think. This also relates to that other topic I made on advice and dating "Date a non-believer/backslider...." the friend in that topic I mention is really my ex girlfriend from the Philippines who I feel is making the wrong decision. I would have prefered she come back to me or at least date another good Christian. These notes are from my study Bible, dealing with what Samson went through with Delilah. I share this experience also and it's painful and not worth the heartbreak it brings. I wish I remembered this sooner. Here it is:
Samson was decieved because he wanted to believ Delilah's lies. Although he could strangle a lion, he could not smother his burning lust and see Delilah for who she really was.
How can you keep your desire for love and sexual pleasure from deceiving you?
1. You must decide what kind of a person you will love BEFORE passion takes over. Determine whether a person's character and faith in God are as desirable as his or her physical appearance.
2. Because most of the time you spend with your spouse will NOT involve sex, your companion's personality, temperament, and commitment to solve problems must be as gratifying as his or her kisses.
3. Be patient. The 2nd look often reveals what is beneath the pleasant appearance and attentive touch.
You attacked me personally and I felt the need to respond. I also stated that I would be responding to your lies. Ironically, several times in the past you have said you won't be responding and then do. Are you somehow a better man of your word than me? The very reason you chose to attack me personally was not because you felt you were right. It was because you wanted me to respond so that you could then call me out for it. I knew you would do this even at the very time I was typing that I wouldn't be responding anymore. To you that is license for manipulation. That's because your heart is dark. You ask where my word is when you know good and well you have been caught in several lies. Knowing that your posting style is manipulation to try to discredit and demean others, I should have never said I would no longer respond. I apologize for going back on my word. I plan to point out your lies everywhere I find them, because the children of God are dear to me and I will not let you manipulate them. As scripture teaches, we are to contend for the truth.
Oh and the verses you are trying to apply here....they were in reference to preaching the gospel. You can't just apply whatever context you desire to verses.
"Those who seek to just appose me are just wasting my presious time and I dont allow that. So I give little time to them time wasters."
No, you just start whole threads about them....more lies....
Oh and that bit about you know scripture and it's not about doctrine, it's about Christ...Well it is all about Christ and He has spoken to us through His word. We learn of Christ through His word. We learn of doctrine, through His word. Criticizing doctrine is like criticizing the word itself. On top of all of that, you've never shown that you truly do know the word. What on earth have we ever seen from you that would make us believe you when you say you know the word? You take verses out of context all the time. You outright deny scriptures that don't support your "practical" view of marriage. When have we ever seen you rightly divide the word?
Michael - I am going to get real and raw with you here brother.
You said: "You guys know the bible and do I. I used to be like you and only spout scripture." - This is more self aggrandizement.
You said: "Scripture is what leads us to truth who is a person, right? Jesus tells us He is the way the TRUTH and the life. No one comes unto the father except through Him. We dont come to God through doctrine." - This is more confusion.
This statement is unintelligible. Being candid, much of what you write and express is just like this - unintelligible. Why? Because you suffer from a good deal of confusion in your own mind that prevents you from articulating things clearly and precisely. Now, others might think that my last statement was a bit harsh. Let me explain further. One does not have to have a quality education or a gift of writing to be able to communicate in a lucid and cogent manner. For example, the statement "Jack went up the hill." is easily understood despite it's simplicity.
Shall we try to untangle your statement now? "Scripture is what leads us to truth" - I agree. But watch what happens now.... "We don't come to God through doctrine". What? Then what is the Scripture? Is it not doctrine?
Here is a definition of doctrine: "Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system." (wikipedia)
It looks like the Scripture is doctrine. So, you stated that doctrine is not how we come to God and yet you also stated that it is what leads us to truth who is God. This is indicative of a confused mind. Again, setting aside your obvious confusion, lets examine some Scripture and see if we can set aside the Bible and it's doctrine and still somehow come to God.
First off, who or what is God? You can not cheat and use the Bible or doctrine to tell us. Your answer must be based only on the person of Truth. Wait, how do you know that Truth is a person? Isn't that a doctrine? I think you cheated, my friend. Do you see how fast your statement gets utterly ridiculous?
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
The Gospel (doctrine) must be preached for men to come to Christ. The Gospel is a series of doctrines. For example. look at the following passage and notice that the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead sets apart the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the teaching of the Sadducees who rejected the belief in resurrection of the dead. (Mark 12:18)
1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
KJV cited from Bible Gateway :)
Another fine example of the relevance of doctrine to knowing Christ is the distinctions made between Protestants and Catholics (Grace/Works) Both groups claim to know the truth, right? I don't think I need to multiply examples at this point.
You said: All that I speak are biblical truth and if you cant see them my trying to convince you through doctrine will not make a difference either. This is why I dont battle over docrine any more.
The statement is simply not factually accurate. There maybe some biblical truth sprinkled among your articles and posts but there is also much of your own reasoning and understanding that is not in line with Biblical truth. This has been shown to you many times. The reason why you don't battle doctrine is because you cannot. You are not equipped to do so at this point in your life. The few attempts that you have made thus far have been futile. The only way that you will convince others of truth is to show them the truth of the Word of God itself. Making a case through doctrine is the right way to persuade others. Go read Acts 26.
"Those who have come to me serious about learning what I am talking about are those who i spend the time with. Those who seek to just appose me are just wasting my presious time and I dont allow that. So I give little time to them time wasters."
It was already pointed out to you that you mishandled the verses that you used in support of your case. Here is a relevant passage of Scripture for you to meditate on brother.
2 Timothy 2
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
Rebuke and harassment have totally different meanings. Maybe you aren't held accountable for things in your everyday life. You will be held accountable here.
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Actually LTM2, I probably would not have ever entered into this thread but I found the comments that you left for another member here VERY INSULTING.
As you can see my responses are very detailed and they are mostly responses to your own words, often times, quoting you verbatim. In addition to which, I provide Biblical support in some cases for the benefit of all of the readers.
