Comments for The Sword Room

Comment on The Law Of The Christian by Jim g

Jim g — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:22:44 +0000

The mirror works great when I am looking for fellowship with God. I look for the fruit of the Spirit when I meet strangers, hoping to find a believer to fellowship with. “Inspecting,” (your term) carries an inference of judgment of fellow believers. I agree with you that it should be avoided.

Comment on The Law Of The Christian by Pete Holdaas

Pete Holdaas — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:18:23 +0000

I don't consider myself to be a fruit inspector. I'm not sure I am in a position to evaluate the fruit or lack thereof in my own life many times. But there is one very famous passage that at least hints that we can recognize fruits in the lives of others:

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:15-17).

Comment on The Law Of The Christian by L. Galt

L. Galt — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:50:16 +0000

Who appointed you fruit inspector of other people? Take a look in the mirror.

Comment on The Law Of The Christian by Pete Holdaas

Pete Holdaas — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:16:39 +0000

Mormons are a great example of outward squeaky-clean-ness. But the first part of the law of Christ is loving God, and this is not possible if you have the wrong god. In other words sound theology is ideally a part of loving God. While the two-fold great commandment is simpler in terms of being a succinct statement, it is a much taller order than any of us can fill.

Comment on The Law Of The Christian by Jim g

Jim g — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:58:07 +0000

“The defining mark of a genuine believer,”is a very interesting way to put it. It makes me realize something about my own technique for finding fellowship. Since I don’t belong to a regular church, my search for fellowshiip involves observing or descerning the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of those I meet. Theological discussions may follow, but they are almost never first. This may explain my de-emphasis of the written word or it’s use as a defining mark of believers. I meet far to many LDS and others who can measure up to the defined commands for outward behavior, but with whom I find very little basis for fellowship and do not descern that we share the same Holy Spirit.

Comment on What Law Is the Christian Under? by Jim G

Jim G — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:57:17 +0000

Amen Brother. We can’t escape or ignore God’s laws because, as promised, He has written them in our hearts. If they are not there He is not your God.

Comment on Antinomianism Explained and Examined by Pete Holdaas

Pete Holdaas — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:18:06 +0000

There is no doubt that Calvinists can be cold, detached, and arrogant, and the same could be said for a few Arminians. Jerks will be jerks regardless of their theology. I don't know how tidy adhering to the word is. I think sometimes it is more easy to just go with how you feel than to wrestle with scripture. God's people have always been a people of the word. My question about something being rational or reasonable was the claim that God gives commands in scripture for the reasons stated, and that was what I was asking readers to interact with.

Comment on Antinomianism Explained and Examined by Jim g

Jim g — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:45:35 +0000

I can understand your attraction to critiquing another’s faith based upon how “sensible and reasonable” it is. Discerning truth based upon an adherence to the printed word and knowledge of original languages is far more tidy than trusting a still small voice or looking for the fruit of the Spirit in a fellow believer’s life, but like it or not, we are called to do that as well.
Any belief taken to its extreme ends up at the ridiculous and/or the dangerous. You know full well that Calvinism can turn onto a freeway straight to legalism where God picks out what color underwear you choose and sin is His perfect will.

Comment on Jesus and the Law–2 by Pete Holdaas

Pete Holdaas — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:16:26 +0000

Thanks for having the balls to mix it up a little. Iron sharpens iron.

Comment on Jesus and the Law–2 by Jim g

Jim g — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:31:11 +0000

Thanks for the preview. And, thanks for all the time and effort it takes to present this kind of study. I really appreciate it. It’s my only church.