The problem would be far less if church leaders obeyed inspired counsel. Most notably - "There is need of a more thorough preparation on the part of candidates for baptism. They are in need of more faithful instruction than has usually been given them. The principles of the Christian life should be made plain to those who have newly come to the truth." {6T 91.4}


"The minds of many are clouded with unbelief because those who unite with the church as the chosen of God do not reveal the virtues that are the fruits of the Spirit. Joining the church is not a sure evidence that a man has joined himself to Christ. The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ. {12MR 51.1}

Jesus advised that the wheat and the tares grow until he sends his angels for the harvest. But I perceive that you wish to take that responsibility on yourself.

///

James, why do you think so?

Uh, could it be that James thinks you do from the statements you have made?

What statements?

Kland, please back up your accusation. Or, retract it. Thank you.

Very good Biblical text and point to bring in this discussion. That's exactly what I see the Lord has done 'till this day with a purpose in mind.


I don't have time to comment right now, but there's also the story of King Saul(that represents "the Church") that persecuted David(who represented "the overcomers") for 12 years. The purpose was to form the overcomers

From Dennis Herman:

Chapter 45 Rule of the Levites

Numbers 8:1-4 NLTse The LORD said to Moses, (2) "Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand." (3) So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (4) The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the LORD had shown Moses.

I've never noticed this before. The lampstands were designed to direct light in one direction. Moses had to set them up so the lamps directed their light shined forward. We're not told which way was forward. We can assume the proper direction to toward the Ark.

But we should have learned not to assume anything with God. He always seems to have a twist to teach us a lesson. To see if we are paying attention. The first thing to do is what we've always done. Look back for the answer.

Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward.(Exodus 25:37 NLTse). The first thing we learned is we missed a detail. Or at least I missed this detail. Did you catch it in the first book? Did you notice the light pointed forward? I didn't. My mind was stuck on all the images, paintings, and drawings people created showing the lamps shed light equally in all directions. This may be one of the most difficult things to put aside, widely accepted concepts the world created. This is one of the rays of light shed on Bible Study in general.

This may be one of the most important concepts of Bible Study considering the fact, the vast majority of what people call Bible Study today has nothing to do with learning. It has nothing to do with approaching God's throne to find out what the Infinite Creator of the Universe is trying to teach. The majority of what the world calls Bible Study today is little more than searching scripture to prove a point. To reinforce a preconceived idea. The common concept of the lampstand is a perfect illustration showing how preconceived ideas and popular belief blind people to the most obvious lessons in scripture. Those lessons only become obvious when we carefully look at scripture, accept the way it was recorded, then ask why whenever we see something unusual, and does not agree with the status quo.

I've seen some people claim this type of Bible Study, looking deep into details, and questioning every unusual detail is a type of spiritualism. They claim it is emptying the mind. Something the enemy noticed, distorted, and created a different religion out of. Common sense should tell everyone, you can't expect to dictate the out come of any Bible Study to the Infinite God and expect to get anywhere past the concepts you already know. Then you have to consider where you got those concepts from. To be honest, the only logical and fair answer is from the world. Someone told you what those details. The questions is and always will be, who you gonna trust? Your Creator, or someone who most likely picked up a Bible with the same concept of study they ingrained in everyone following them. Those people claim to have answers, give little if any credit to God, and couldn't explain how to communicate with God to save their lives. So they take one of the devil's lies, and turn it into another lie. To keep the spotlight on themselves, they do all they can to turn souls away from God.

No one can claim to know all the truth. If they did, they would have no problem teaching the over three hundred prophecies Jesus fulfilled, and the recorded fulfillment for each and every one of them. If they had all the answers, they'd be able to explain every problem we see in the world today. If they did know everything, we would see the world flocking to those people to be healed. If they did know everything, they would preach nothing but their eyewitness account of their personal relationship with Christ, His plan of Salvation, and the wonders He shows them in scripture everyday. But I don't know of anyone with that kind of relationship with Christ. All I know is what He shows me everyday. And all of it is amazing.

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened--those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come-- and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. (Hebrews 6:1-8 NLTse).

But that seems to be the way of the world. Write a set of fundamental beliefs and preach it till your last breath. Never learning. Never seeing how God's Word constantly expands with new truth everyday. Never knowing the real God who patiently waits to share something new everyday. Not knowing the God or His creation designed to fascinate us at every glance. Not know His creation and Word are designed to slow us down, to make us want to spend time with Him. Those people skim over creation never realizing, God created mankind to spend time with us. God planted a garden by hand for Adam after speaking everything into existence. God didn't want Adam to see His power, the way He spoke and everything sprang up. No! The first thing God showed Adam was how He spend time forming the most important things by hand. God wanted Adam to realize, time may be the greatest gift of all. And how you spend that time.

The problem would be far less if church leaders obeyed inspired counsel. Most notably - "There is need of a more thorough preparation on the part of candidates for baptism. They are in need of more faithful instruction than has usually been given them. The principles of the Christian life should be made plain to those who have newly come to the truth." {6T 91.4}


"The minds of many are clouded with unbelief because those who unite with the church as the chosen of God do not reveal the virtues that are the fruits of the Spirit. Joining the church is not a sure evidence that a man has joined himself to Christ. The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ. {12MR 51.1}