The Next Question

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess athat Jesus bChrist has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4: 1 - 6 NKJV

There was a catch phrase back in the late 1960's counter culture hippie movement which claimed "never trust anyone over 30!"  I would expound on that statement a bit and proclaim that we should question everything.  For when we question those things around us, we may just learn more along the way.  That is never a bad thing in my book.  Now, one of the main reasons for the young generation of the 1960's to make such a outrageous claim was most likely due to the fact that it was those people over 30 who were at the time running things and telling these kids what to do.  Who likes being told what to do, right?  It's my belief that the current strife in our own culture began with that strife in the culture of the 1960's.  While I don't disagree with the fact that the youth of that time questioned things, I do disagree with how it was that they went about making those changes they thought needed to be made.  A better question might be, if I disagree with something, do I have that right to change it for everyone around me?  I'd say no.  Then again, there will always be those who disagree with me.  So, how does this thinking fit into christiandom?  Simple, our christian faith is filled with those who will always have different views of the faith than we ourselves have.  In fact, the protestant reformation may never have occured had it not been for Martin Luther himself questioning the practices of that holy church of his day.  See, in Luthers time there was but one church where we could worship...and it was controlled by the state.  The state itself told you what, how and when to worship the heavenly Father.  To Luther, that needed to be questioned.  I agree.

2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
Romans 14: 2 - 6 NKJV

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14 that we ought to receive our brethren who do not practice their beliefs as we do.  For indeed God is able "to make him stand."  Paul was not talking about questioning ones faith here, but of avoiding the disputes that inevitably will come in this christian faith of ours.  Indeed, some may be set in their ways of worship while others will seek to worship another way.  It is not the method of worship which i would question, but what is being taught in the house of worship.  This was what brought forth Luthers questions of the church of his day.  Paul also warns his young apprentice Timothy that there will be those in the faith who will have "itching ears" and will thus raise up for themselves teachers who share their point of view.  It is these itching ear teachers who we must, in my opinion, question.  One main point by which I use to question any church pastor is how they teach Christ Jesus.  Do they teach a seperated Christ who simply rose into heaven after His resurection?  Or, do they speak of the truth of Christ which Paul tells us in Galations 2 that Jesus lives and exemplifies Himself through us today?  Unfortunately, many a church leader continue to hold to that belief that there is a seperation between our heavenly Father and us and that we need to "be more like Jesus."  My friends, we ARE Jesus {Galations 2:20}!  It is this belief by which I will question any church leader.  In my opinion, the question shouldn't be trust nobody over 30...but trust no one who doesn't  know the real Christ Jesus.

2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4: 2 - 4 NKJV

~Scott~