Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world
First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament
Webster has defined the word dogmatic as being "Characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts." In my time, I have been witness to many in the Christian faith who have displayed such qualities. Their consider their opinions on the way we worship, pray and tithe to represent the gospel of the Lord. I believe that this is why the apostle John calls upon us to "Test the spirits" of those who claim to speak the word of the Lord {First Epistle of John 4:1}. Indeed, there have been many false prophets who have come out into the world. In my time in the church, I ran into many of these dogmatic types of believers. Their minds could seldom be swayed to another view opposite of their own. In their mind, theirs is the just and righteous view of God, no matter what. For disagreeing with these dogmatic believers, I have been accused of blasphemy, lies and not following the true intent of the Lord. But what is the true intent of God? Indeed, we have the scriptures to guide us, but did God really intend for the rules and regulations found in the Old Testament to govern our lives today? Remember, it is Jesus who has called out the Pharisees of His day for exhibiting this very same dogmatic behavior {Matthews Account 23:13-16}. Many Christians agree that the Pharisees of Jesus' day were deserving of His rebuke, but they turn a blind eye to those very same behaviors today. The apostle Paul has spoken to the truth that "No one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit" {Paul to the Colossians 2:8}. Yet this is exactly what a dogmatic believer does. Their trust and faith in the scriptures and human traditions can and has led many astray.
One of the biggest stones which the dogmatic believer will toss around the neck of the believer is that of the unforgiven sin. For it is sin which keeps us in bondage and separated from God. This is also one of the lies spoken by the mainstream church and every dogmatic believer. The truth about sin is that Jesus has already dealt with this issue. Paul speaks to us that Jesus has indeed died to our sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. But the dogmatic Christian will wring his hands and proclaim, "what about my sin today?" Really? First off, would God dispatch His Son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sin if He intended sin to be an issue for His creation? The dogmatic believer truly believes that Jesus died on that cross for the forgiveness of sin, but still believes that sin is a big issue in his life. How does that work? It works because they buy into the teachings of the church hook, line and sinker. For without the false teachings of the church, there would not be those who adamantly defend it to the fullest. I've taken my share of push back for this belief, but I see the dogmatic Christian believer in the same light as those who have been radicalized by the Islamic religion. Of course, the one common factor in this is religion. The religion which places tradition over relationship with the Father. Religion which speaks to the sin bondage of the children of God. Something which Christ Jesus has already been sacrificed for {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. The dogmatic believer will never admit it as truth, but our sin debt has been paid at the cross. That relationship which the Father desires with His creation is void of any and all human traditions. The truth of our life is that we live life WITHIN the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. Within the Father, there is no guilt nor condemnation, only the love of God. It is this love of God which the dogmatic believer steals away from the innocent.
Beware that no one shall be despoiling you through philosophy and empty seduction, in accord with human tradition, in accord with the elements of the world, and not in accord with Christ
Paul to the Colossians 2: 8, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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