GR Randy’s message is a message that praises suffering.
And also this, as Lydia said, “Paul, I think it would behoove us all to understand that Calvinism has very cultic tenants. Yes, they manifest themselves in a myriad ways. One is that it is predicated upon “authority”. Forget relationship or love. It is all about power/authority from God to the human leader. Divine right of kings is the thinking. Passed onto God equips the guy with the title/position to lead the ignorant masses.”
Suffering in one hand, submission to power/control/authority of a human leader in the other hand. Suffering & submission masquerading as Christian Christ-likeness.
paulspassingthoughts said, on February 15, 2014 at 12:49 PM
Right, the material world is evil. The more we suffer, the more we are detached from it and endeared to the stargate of the pure forms, “the gospel.” It’s all a bunch of stinking Gnosticism.
lydiasellerofpurple said, on February 15, 2014 at 1:04 PM
“Suffering in one hand, submission to power/control/authority of a human leader in the other hand. Suffering & submission masquerading as Christian Christ-likeness.
It is a culture of death…..for the followers.
If suffering is so pious why did Jesus bother to heal anyone? Why didn’t He simply teach their suffering was God ordained and they would become more Holy because of it? Why would Jesus reverse something God had foreordained for that person? He could have performed miracles that did not include relieving suffering, right?
Thanks, but I will take believers who prefer to relieve suffering in any way they can for others whether it is helping a dying friend or finding a cure for cancer.
It is indicative of that religion they considered relief from the pain of childbirth to be sin and to be punished sometimes with death calling it witchcraft. They don’t dare say that anymore but the tenants of that thinking remain.
If we had not moved away from the tenants of that religion, there would have been little medical progress to save lives. Even Ben Franklin was accused of evil by the Puritans for his lightening rod. The culture of death and authority. Never a culture of progress or the value of the individual. You can see it clearly if you can strip away the Gnostic talk.
I said, “Suffering & submission masquerading as Christian Christ-likeness.”
I meant to say it is paraded by Randy, not masqueraded.
Randy doesn’t yearn to suffer & obtain so-called “Christ-likeness”.
There are those who really are suffering. The point is their suffering should be alleviated, if possible. We work toward that end. We do NOT encourage for others like Randy does.
GR Randy isn’t listening. But it may not be because he’s stupid. It may be because he thinks this belief system serves him or provides a place for him in some manner. The problem is this belief system doesn’t attract love. Just ask John Piper. I don’t think he feels true love much (worshipped yes, loved no). And Maybe GR Randy, if he allows himself to think on his own life, can confirm this in his own experiences.
Can laptops love their programmers? Does force produce love? In the end, it’s a lonely lifestyle if truly lived out. It’s a relationship ruiner. Will suffering achieve Christ-likeness? As GR Randy admitted, he doesn’t deal with suffering well. He avoids it, dislikes it, etc. That’s good & natural. Otherwise, leave your hand on the hot stove burner. Burns rank right up there in the suffering department. I promise, you don’t need to be hurt in order to do loving Christ-like action.
What is awful is GR Randy knows this, but continues to praise it for others. And then puts the “Christ-like” label on it. Go out and suffer, folks – so you can be more Christ-like. That is a bunch of phoney baloney. Christians work to end suffering. Period. Full stop. Even nonChristians know this. GR Randy’s theology will send you backwards.
You people are amazing. You can’t find a single post either here or on my blog where I have stated that authority resides in ” a spiritual hierarchy.” Lydia, the reason you can’t understand what I write is that you don’t pay any attention to what I write. You have your mind made up, so you can impute to me whatever you wish. Do I believe different people have different functions within the body? Of course! But every believer is equal in his/her approach to God. There is no spiritual hierarchy. I believe authority resides in the sacred Scriptures alone.
paulspassingthoughts said, on February 15, 2014 at 2:14 PM
“I believe authority resides in the sacred Scriptures alone.” But Randy, you have said right here on this blog, and in fact, I think in this very comment stream, that when Christians disagree on interpretation of the Scriptures, SOMEONE must have the final say to prevent chaos–or something similar to that. That’s what you said. Again, like all Gnostics, you continually play word games. Moreover, “authority” in regard to what? You believe that the Bible is a Christocentric narrative.
paulspassingthoughts said, on February 15, 2014 at 2:21 PM
Furthermore Randy, lets talk about New Covenant Theology. That is the stripe of Gnosticism that you are from. It teaches that the “law of Love” or the “Law of Christ” abrogated Old Testament Law. But here is the rub, only elders can really understand what that law is in any given situation. The Law of Love is ambiguous, and according to the “conscience” of the elders. NCT theologians have stated this to me personally.
I know you are impressed with yourself, but I am not impressed with you. I have never lost an argument to you because I have never engaged you in an argument. As stated above, I will not do so because you and have two radically different bases of authority. Discussion would be futile. Additionally, you would invariably be arguing against something I don’t even believe.
“What Randy means is that Randy has decided that his friend doesn’t meet Randy’s mystic standards to have “authority” over him. So Randy can “learn” from him, and yet decide to disagree with him if what he says doesn’t meet Randy’s approval. This is different than the “gifted” teacher which Randy thinks speaks from an AUTHORITATIVE position. Meaning Randy is not free to disagree with him because he has been given special right to speak for God.” Argo
Right. It’s authority, authority, authority. Who is over whom.
Randy has super-glued authority eyeglass lens onto his face. He looks at everything & everyone this way. In what order does someone spiritually fall in a chain of command… under or over him.
A body working together (no over or under) VS. a pyramid or ladder hierarchy chain of command. That’s the difference.
Just as an example, for some reason you have wrongly imputed to me a belief that there is some virtue in suffering. Perhaps you can point me to a post where you think I indicated that I believe that. What I believe is that there is virtue in a person’s proper reaction to suffering. It is the result of suffering in which we rejoice, not the suffering itself.
“I believe authority resides in the sacred Scriptures alone.” But Randy, you have said right here on this blog, and in fact, I think in this very comment stream, that when Christians disagree on interpretation of the Scriptures, SOMEONE must have the final say to prevent chaos–or something similar to that.”
Those are someone else’s words, not mine.
And, authority re: what we are to believe and practice.
Re NCT: I do not believe the law of love abrogated the Old Testament law. I believe Jesus fulfilled the law as covenant made with National Israel and ratified a new covenant by his death. His new covenant commandments are clearly set forth in the NT Scriptures.
I have asked you to interact with my statement of NCT since I am in radical disagreement with what the new branch of NCT teaches.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
GR Randy’s message is a message that praises suffering.
And also this, as Lydia said, “Paul, I think it would behoove us all to understand that Calvinism has very cultic tenants. Yes, they manifest themselves in a myriad ways. One is that it is predicated upon “authority”. Forget relationship or love. It is all about power/authority from God to the human leader. Divine right of kings is the thinking. Passed onto God equips the guy with the title/position to lead the ignorant masses.”
Suffering in one hand, submission to power/control/authority of a human leader in the other hand. Suffering & submission masquerading as Christian Christ-likeness.
LikeLike
Right, the material world is evil. The more we suffer, the more we are detached from it and endeared to the stargate of the pure forms, “the gospel.” It’s all a bunch of stinking Gnosticism.
LikeLike
“Suffering in one hand, submission to power/control/authority of a human leader in the other hand. Suffering & submission masquerading as Christian Christ-likeness.
It is a culture of death…..for the followers.
If suffering is so pious why did Jesus bother to heal anyone? Why didn’t He simply teach their suffering was God ordained and they would become more Holy because of it? Why would Jesus reverse something God had foreordained for that person? He could have performed miracles that did not include relieving suffering, right?
Thanks, but I will take believers who prefer to relieve suffering in any way they can for others whether it is helping a dying friend or finding a cure for cancer.
It is indicative of that religion they considered relief from the pain of childbirth to be sin and to be punished sometimes with death calling it witchcraft. They don’t dare say that anymore but the tenants of that thinking remain.
If we had not moved away from the tenants of that religion, there would have been little medical progress to save lives. Even Ben Franklin was accused of evil by the Puritans for his lightening rod. The culture of death and authority. Never a culture of progress or the value of the individual. You can see it clearly if you can strip away the Gnostic talk.
LikeLike
I said, “Suffering & submission masquerading as Christian Christ-likeness.”
I meant to say it is paraded by Randy, not masqueraded.
Randy doesn’t yearn to suffer & obtain so-called “Christ-likeness”.
There are those who really are suffering. The point is their suffering should be alleviated, if possible. We work toward that end. We do NOT encourage for others like Randy does.
LikeLike
Argo,
GR Randy isn’t listening. But it may not be because he’s stupid. It may be because he thinks this belief system serves him or provides a place for him in some manner. The problem is this belief system doesn’t attract love. Just ask John Piper. I don’t think he feels true love much (worshipped yes, loved no). And Maybe GR Randy, if he allows himself to think on his own life, can confirm this in his own experiences.
Can laptops love their programmers? Does force produce love? In the end, it’s a lonely lifestyle if truly lived out. It’s a relationship ruiner. Will suffering achieve Christ-likeness? As GR Randy admitted, he doesn’t deal with suffering well. He avoids it, dislikes it, etc. That’s good & natural. Otherwise, leave your hand on the hot stove burner. Burns rank right up there in the suffering department. I promise, you don’t need to be hurt in order to do loving Christ-like action.
What is awful is GR Randy knows this, but continues to praise it for others. And then puts the “Christ-like” label on it. Go out and suffer, folks – so you can be more Christ-like. That is a bunch of phoney baloney. Christians work to end suffering. Period. Full stop. Even nonChristians know this. GR Randy’s theology will send you backwards.
LikeLike
You people are amazing. You can’t find a single post either here or on my blog where I have stated that authority resides in ” a spiritual hierarchy.” Lydia, the reason you can’t understand what I write is that you don’t pay any attention to what I write. You have your mind made up, so you can impute to me whatever you wish. Do I believe different people have different functions within the body? Of course! But every believer is equal in his/her approach to God. There is no spiritual hierarchy. I believe authority resides in the sacred Scriptures alone.
LikeLike
“I believe authority resides in the sacred Scriptures alone.” But Randy, you have said right here on this blog, and in fact, I think in this very comment stream, that when Christians disagree on interpretation of the Scriptures, SOMEONE must have the final say to prevent chaos–or something similar to that. That’s what you said. Again, like all Gnostics, you continually play word games. Moreover, “authority” in regard to what? You believe that the Bible is a Christocentric narrative.
LikeLike
Furthermore Randy, lets talk about New Covenant Theology. That is the stripe of Gnosticism that you are from. It teaches that the “law of Love” or the “Law of Christ” abrogated Old Testament Law. But here is the rub, only elders can really understand what that law is in any given situation. The Law of Love is ambiguous, and according to the “conscience” of the elders. NCT theologians have stated this to me personally.
LikeLike
Argo,
I know you are impressed with yourself, but I am not impressed with you. I have never lost an argument to you because I have never engaged you in an argument. As stated above, I will not do so because you and have two radically different bases of authority. Discussion would be futile. Additionally, you would invariably be arguing against something I don’t even believe.
LikeLike
“What Randy means is that Randy has decided that his friend doesn’t meet Randy’s mystic standards to have “authority” over him. So Randy can “learn” from him, and yet decide to disagree with him if what he says doesn’t meet Randy’s approval. This is different than the “gifted” teacher which Randy thinks speaks from an AUTHORITATIVE position. Meaning Randy is not free to disagree with him because he has been given special right to speak for God.” Argo
Right. It’s authority, authority, authority. Who is over whom.
Randy has super-glued authority eyeglass lens onto his face. He looks at everything & everyone this way. In what order does someone spiritually fall in a chain of command… under or over him.
A body working together (no over or under) VS. a pyramid or ladder hierarchy chain of command. That’s the difference.
LikeLike
Just as an example, for some reason you have wrongly imputed to me a belief that there is some virtue in suffering. Perhaps you can point me to a post where you think I indicated that I believe that. What I believe is that there is virtue in a person’s proper reaction to suffering. It is the result of suffering in which we rejoice, not the suffering itself.
LikeLike
Paul,
You wrote:
“I believe authority resides in the sacred Scriptures alone.” But Randy, you have said right here on this blog, and in fact, I think in this very comment stream, that when Christians disagree on interpretation of the Scriptures, SOMEONE must have the final say to prevent chaos–or something similar to that.”
Those are someone else’s words, not mine.
And, authority re: what we are to believe and practice.
LikeLike
Not so Randy–you said it.
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Re NCT: I do not believe the law of love abrogated the Old Testament law. I believe Jesus fulfilled the law as covenant made with National Israel and ratified a new covenant by his death. His new covenant commandments are clearly set forth in the NT Scriptures.
I have asked you to interact with my statement of NCT since I am in radical disagreement with what the new branch of NCT teaches.
LikeLike
So Randy, Do any of the Ten Commandments apply to us today?
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