Sound doctrine will keep us in sound mind ..
And a sound mind will keep us from harm, foolishness, and lawlessness.
I read the story of the tragic death of a victim who killed her mother and then plunged to her death from six floors this morning. One of the captions in the link strikes me. It says, "Deaths could be prevented, say doctors".
I never know that people of unsound minds or psychiatric patients can end up in such a tragic manner - harming themselves and others (I've decided to removed the link to the incident from my post due to consideration for the family of the victim). The victim had been hearing 'voices' and thinking that people were all trying to harm her, accuse her, and cast a spell on her. If the victim refused to go for 'sound' treatment and became so disillusioned, how much more we, the people of God, need sound doctrine? We never know when the 'spiritual tragedy' will strike. But there are symptoms. If we keep thinking or believing that other churches, other believers, or other preachers of God's words or repentance are trying to condemn us, judge us, or curse us, we need to see the 'doctors' and have 'sound' treatment. Don't keep 'ignoring' the problem; but confess it, admit it, and ask for 'help'. God can still deliver us if we are humble:
Yes, I agree with the doctors on seeing them; but ..
Yes, if we have mental problems, we should see the psychiatrists. But, if we have spiritual problems, we don't see the psychiatrists or the preachers who act like the psychiatrists or preach like the psychiatrists. We see God's preachers who deal with the spiritual problem squarely; not 'ding dong bell' preachers or eloquent preachers who can only deal with the thinking or mental problem.
Yes, I agree with the radical grace preachers on preaching the good things; but..
if the gospel is just about making people feeling good, relaxed, or positive, it is no different from the mental treatment given by the psychiatrists. God's preachers must do something more. They must know that they are not called to do a psychiatrist's job. They must know that the sinners are called to repentance; but they are called to preach it. I will tell the radical grace preachers, I am not bothered if we should preach grace first or repentance first, but we must preach both. It's because grace cannot replace repentance, neither can repentance replace grace. Yes, you may prove that you must preach grace first, it doesn't mean that preaching of grace is more important, and therefore it can replace the preaching of repentance or the need to repent. We need both.
Although radical grace preachers seem to be more spiritual than the prosperity preachers who 'hard-sell' the gospel, they are worse than than the prosperity preachers. They may argue vehemently that they preach only grace or Jesus, but they are more deceiving than the prosperity preachers. It's because when they preach only grace to 'blur' the gospel of repentance or the need to repent, they become worst than any preachers who preach only health and wealth that 'blur' the gospel and the need to repent too. They could have abused the Spirit of grace. I believe that only some preachers and believers will sin wilfully when they take advantage of grace and block the message of repentance. They may just want to use the blood sacrifice, the holy communion, the miracles, and the prosperity, to justify themselves against the need to repent and the need to preach repentance.
And a sound mind will keep us from harm, foolishness, and lawlessness.
I read the story of the tragic death of a victim who killed her mother and then plunged to her death from six floors this morning. One of the captions in the link strikes me. It says, "Deaths could be prevented, say doctors".
I never know that people of unsound minds or psychiatric patients can end up in such a tragic manner - harming themselves and others (I've decided to removed the link to the incident from my post due to consideration for the family of the victim). The victim had been hearing 'voices' and thinking that people were all trying to harm her, accuse her, and cast a spell on her. If the victim refused to go for 'sound' treatment and became so disillusioned, how much more we, the people of God, need sound doctrine? We never know when the 'spiritual tragedy' will strike. But there are symptoms. If we keep thinking or believing that other churches, other believers, or other preachers of God's words or repentance are trying to condemn us, judge us, or curse us, we need to see the 'doctors' and have 'sound' treatment. Don't keep 'ignoring' the problem; but confess it, admit it, and ask for 'help'. God can still deliver us if we are humble:
- 1Jn 1:5-10 KJV This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Yes, I agree with the doctors on seeing them; but ..
Yes, if we have mental problems, we should see the psychiatrists. But, if we have spiritual problems, we don't see the psychiatrists or the preachers who act like the psychiatrists or preach like the psychiatrists. We see God's preachers who deal with the spiritual problem squarely; not 'ding dong bell' preachers or eloquent preachers who can only deal with the thinking or mental problem.
- Eph 4:11-23 KJV And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (17) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Yes, I agree with the radical grace preachers on preaching the good things; but..
if the gospel is just about making people feeling good, relaxed, or positive, it is no different from the mental treatment given by the psychiatrists. God's preachers must do something more. They must know that they are not called to do a psychiatrist's job. They must know that the sinners are called to repentance; but they are called to preach it. I will tell the radical grace preachers, I am not bothered if we should preach grace first or repentance first, but we must preach both. It's because grace cannot replace repentance, neither can repentance replace grace. Yes, you may prove that you must preach grace first, it doesn't mean that preaching of grace is more important, and therefore it can replace the preaching of repentance or the need to repent. We need both.
Although radical grace preachers seem to be more spiritual than the prosperity preachers who 'hard-sell' the gospel, they are worse than than the prosperity preachers. They may argue vehemently that they preach only grace or Jesus, but they are more deceiving than the prosperity preachers. It's because when they preach only grace to 'blur' the gospel of repentance or the need to repent, they become worst than any preachers who preach only health and wealth that 'blur' the gospel and the need to repent too. They could have abused the Spirit of grace. I believe that only some preachers and believers will sin wilfully when they take advantage of grace and block the message of repentance. They may just want to use the blood sacrifice, the holy communion, the miracles, and the prosperity, to justify themselves against the need to repent and the need to preach repentance.
- Heb 10:26-29 KJV For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
- Heb 6:4-12 KJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (7) For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: (8) But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (9) But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (10) For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (11) And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (12) That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Yes, I agree that we must preach the gospel of grace, or ..
grace that can lead to repentance. But preaching of grace will also lead to preaching of repentance too. We can never omit or deny the focus of the Lord's message and His commandment to preach repentance. Although the Lord always healed the sick and helped the poor, the main focus of His message is still repentance and it is always His commandment for us to preach it.
If we reverse the focus or switch the focus by saying that we do not need to know repentance or do not need to have the will to repent, we are not preaching the true grace of God; we are preaching lies.
- 1Pe 4:17-19 KJV For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.. 1Pe 5:2-5 KJV Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble .. (12) By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
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