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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Test yourselves! Examine yourselves! | 2 Cor 13:5 | Radioman2 | 84327 | ||
A hypothetical situation Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected? (AMPLIFIED 2 Corinthians 13:5) Far be it from me to judge anyone as to whether they are saved or to imply that a given individual is not saved. That's not for me to say. The Scriptures in 2 Corinthians 13:5 instruct the believers to "examine yourselves," not others. So what I write here is not meant as a judgment or condemnation of anyone. Consider this hypothetical situation. IF someone were to express the following doubts and uncertainties, then I would have reason to be concerned. I would urge that person: examine yourself to see whether you are holding to your faith. I would say to that person: you don't have to prove anything to anyone else. But are you yourself convinced that you really are in the faith? Have you had thoughts or feelings such as: "I know that Christians will do that. They dont like for anything to challange their beliefs, even if what they believe is ridiculous. Religious people have always been like that." "Starting to believe that all of what we believe is just plain crazy." "Am greatly wondering why God . . . how can he expect us to understand or rejoice at things so foreign to us. Why involve us . . . The Christian life, seems to be marred by "living to die". Why would we want such a thing, finding it necessary to enter into a life so foreign, that it defies logic. Certainly nothing to be happy about . . ." "I dont even know if I'm really saved anymore." "I have felt love for him [God] at various times, but mostly, I felt he hated me, so at times, I have hated him, because I was totally confused." "I do not love God for his majesty. I dont know why or how to. I guess because I originally came to him because I needed help. I didn't get it . . . In all that time, I have seen very little of God. Sometimes, I'm not even sure that he exist. " If a person were to say such things, then with all humility I would ask him or her: Are you in the faith? Have you examined yourself? Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected? (AMPLIFIED 2 Corinthians 13:5) 'The Bible says "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!" (2 Cor. 13:5). 'Well, are you in the faith? Have you examined yourself? It is easy to ask and sometimes difficult to answer. (...) 'You are to examine yourself, to test yourself to see if you are in the faith. This means that you must first know what the Christian faith is and what it means to enter into that faith. Furthermore, you must know and acknowledge that there is only one God in all existence, that Jesus is God in flesh, that we are sinners, that we need to repent of our sins, and that the only way to find forgiveness is to trust in Jesus alone, by faith alone, through grace alone' (CARM NEWSLETTER 03/13/2003, The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, www.carm.org). [This post was not submitted to hurt or embarrass anyone. Note that I have here addressed a HYPOTHETICAL situation -- IF someone were to have doubts and questions such as have been presented here.] |
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2 | Test yourselves! Examine yourselves! | 2 Cor 13:5 | Just Read Mark | 84349 | ||
Discipleship, not Orthodoxy. Looking though the list of hypothetical statements, I wonder what the core issue is for the struggling believer. There certainly are some doubts there -- but they are raised at the experiencial level, not about beliefs directly. I think that responding with a list of theological "corrections" could miss the point. Religious people "don't like for anything to challange their beliefs, even if what they believe is ridiculous." -- Hey: I'm a Christian, and I often find the attitudes of Christians embarassing -- and perhaps not embodying the mind of Christ. Some of the questions are more about people than God. "Starting to believe that all of what we believe is just plain crazy." -- It can be fruitless to argue from theology, if the person is questioning that authority. Being part of a faith community, where the gospel is vital and lived, is more convincing. " . . . how can [God] expect us to understand or rejoice at things so foreign to us. Why involve us . . . The Christian life, seems to be marred by "living to die". .. -- Again, I think this needs to be responded to in the "engaged with living" example of Christians. If the community is stiffling and inward looking (as Christians can be), it will fuel this kind of cynicism. If, however, people are genuinely freed by the gospel -- free to love despite societal expectations -- then these questions may desolve. "I dont even know if I'm really saved anymore." -- Is this a theological question of "correct belief" --- or a question of practice? By practice I mean dry prayer life, lack of anwered prayer, alienation from community, withdrawal from servanthood, etc. Often our intellectual questions relate to things much deeper in our hearts. To pound away about orthodoxy, and to miss the real motivating issues, can actually lead to cynicism rather than faith. Sometimes people need discipleship, accountability, and a prayer partner who can stand the ambiguity and questions. "I have felt love for him [God] at various times, but mostly, I felt he hated me, so at times, I have hated him, because I was totally confused." ---See, this is more about emotion than theory. "I do not love God for his majesty. I dont know why or how to. I guess because I originally came to him because I needed help. I didn't get it . . . In all that time, I have seen very little of God. Sometimes, I'm not even sure that he exist. " --- Here, perhaps, is a root issue. The person is expressing disappointment in God -- in unanswered prayer. Combine a sense of God's powerlessness with a sense that Christian community is not functioning well... and there is a powerful ground for doubt. This person needs a true friend to work through this struggle, and the root resentments. When someone has a deep cry of their heart -- and God doesn't appear to be answering -- it is a time for the Christians around to support - indeed carry -- that person through their grief. Peace. (P.S. -- I don't understand why Radioman2's post seems to be listed at different points, under different titles -- so maybe I am missing part of the context here. I hope this post is helpful.) |
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