| martianunlimited | 1. How important is it to be right? | 2007-02-15 20:26:44
The past few week's reflection on the Letters to Timothy raised some thoughts on doctrine and the importance of doctrine. Just so that you will know in advance my own personal stand, i can tell you in all honesty that I do not like Paul, and when/if i meet him in the future, i will tell that straight in his face.
I always felt that some of his epistles (especially to Timothy, and the Corinthian churches) is imbalanced, and in an ironic twist... legalistic like the Pharisees. My thoughts were later turned to Revelations 2. (regarding the seven churches in Asia Minor) primarily on the Church in Ephesus.
1"To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
The church of Ephesus was impeachable in doctrine correctness, they tested false prophets and doctrines, they were even faithful and presevered when others would have given up. but yet.... as I read on, it may be possible that they are not even saved in the first place ("but for those who overcomes i will give them the right to eat from the tree of life").Honestly, that brings shivers down my spine.
Now where did they go wrong? The passage says that they lost their first love. The first love to God would is what most people assume. But i have a feeling that it the first love to God and their neighbour/fellow man. When Jesus gave the great commandmant, He gave it as a pair, Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strenght, and love your neighbour as yourself. I postulate that in the legalistic zeal for doctrinal correctness they forgot the "second" commandment. We have seen modern-day Pharisees in action they question everybody's motives, they demand others do as they do, they shun people who "sin" (eg smoke, drink, lie, etc) or less "holy" than they. And what is worse, they are deeply rooted in our churches.
So what is my stand? As much as I would hate to say this, but i must acknowledge that Paul was right in the doctrines, BUT it should never come down like a legalistic hammer judging and forcing everyone to adher to it. Adherence should come from genuine love and desire to honour Him |
