“When Sola Scriptura (i.e. Scripture alone) is your war cry… you have no choice to make for yourselves a Bible-centered life that is disconnected from Christ the living Word. A faith built on a passion for doctrine… demands the same attitude that put Jesus on the cross.

“In this kind of life… the Bible becomes an end unto itself. And whatever a person needs to do to further “correct” doctrine and defend the Bible… is permissible in certain circles of evangelicals today. They are quick to denounce the sincere pursuit of others who seek a Christ that is more than a few theological bullet points and sin-centered sermons littered with meaningless clichés.”

This was me without the degree!
The one thing that I distinctly see in “theology, theology, theology” and “doctrine,doctrine, doctrine” is that it robbed me of the joy of my salvation. Knowing and rejoicing in the fact that I am one of the elect is not the same as the “joy unspeakable” that comes from loving and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:8). Praise be to Him for all of His goodness toward all of His people.

We both have experienced the hurt, abuse, and so on that occurs among God’s people. Yet, we never lose site of the tension of the Kingdom of God. It is among us… and ought therefore to be seen more often as the days come to a close. The reality is indeed that physical death has yet to free us of the natural man that we might receive that full and glorious resurrection of our bodies, but we press on toward Christ; the author and perfecter of our faith. We hope in a day that is coming that is absent of man’s imperfections… while at the same time experiencing that Life in this present evil age.

I like your closing statement, bro. It is Christ’s love that holds us fast and reminds us that nothing shall separate us from Him who has died so that we might live.

Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Blessings in our wonderful Lord who is nearer to us than a brother.

David D. Flowers

There have been a great many movements, across the span of Christian history, whereby adherents to the prevailing religious structure sought to deepen their relationship with God and to connect with Jesus in a more tangible and meaningful way. At least, that is how they started. Really, that is how most revolution is started, with dissatisfaction or a feeling of disenfranchisement.

Here’s the thing, people hurt people; people abuse people; people use people; people mislead people; people are just people, and the funny thing about the church, at large, is that it is full of people who have the capacity to hurt, abuse, use and mislead other people. It sucks, but it is what it is.

We are all in different stages of our development as believers and God calls all of us differently; placing on our hearts a message meant just for us. We ought to listen to that message. Sometimes it says go, sometimes it says stay. Neither is any more correct than the other. However, contained somewhere therein will be the message “I love you more than anything.”

Thanks for a great post.

T. Michael Cart

Richard, I’m encouraged you made it here to the blog. It is always good to connect with a brother who has tasted of the Living Word. Grace and peace to you.

I came across your blog via someone who had mentioned you, I love hearing and seeing once again the Word being fleshed out in another of my siblings!

I too was one who knew better than most “the Scriptures” but did not truly know the Word…much like Jesus when he opened the minds-hearts of those that day on the road to Emmaus. The WORD opened their minds so that they might truly understand what and who the Scriptures we are all about…everything revolving around the Son!

I look forward to reading more of His heart being written (fleshed) into your life, in your forth coming discoveries of His intense longing for you.