There is an absolutely outstanding chart of how core beliefs of our Christian faith transition from Biblical Christianity through a Transition stage to the New Spiritually, courtesy of Kjos Ministries, located here, that begins with this introduction:
“The hope of the New Age faith, or New Spirituality, is that when this One Humanity has achieved its ‘divine potential’ and all separation has been purged from the world, then world problems such as ‘tribalism’ and poverty and hatred and violence will be left behind. The world will then be transformed by this New Humanity into a divine new world of peace, love, good will, and sharing where everyone can be free to worship his own inner (immanent) ‘God’ of his own understanding in his own way.
“The call for this New Age ‘kingdom of God’ is now being so widely heeded, even in today’s Christianity, that the building of humanity’s Ark of Oneness is suddenly nearing completion.” Tamara Hartzell
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception….” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.” Jeremiah 14:14
The belief topics presented include Truth, Jesus, Incarnation, Salvation, Faith, Sin, Gospel, Fellowship, Service, Separation, Persecution, and the Kingdom of God. To pique your interest, here is the entry for the Gospel:
Biblical Christianity:
The “good news” about the suffering, redeeming death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus — that we might be saved from sin and joined to Christ. Those who deny His Gospel will face His judgment.
Transition:
The old Gospel is replaced by a more “positive” gospel: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you. Just agree and accept in His love. Don’t dwell on sin.
New Spirituality:
“…this message is the only message that can save the world.… That message is The New Gospel: WE ARE ALL ONE.”
The links in this post will lead you to additional sites/articles well worth reading.
The Battle Cry 
Those who believe in this “New Gospel,” (that is “more positive), I wonder upon what basis they suppose that it is God’s will that the old one should become obsolete?
I am tempted to still believe Romans 1:16:”For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (NASB).
That was written by Paul, who also wrote the following:
“But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8; see also v. 9).
Jude put it this way: “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (v.3).
It looks to me like the Bible indicates there is only one Gospel for all time. Unless someone can show me where the Bible has been superceded by another book, then I think that I better stick to the Gospel recorded in the Bible.
LikeLike
Jeremiah, Now I like that name! Thanks for stopping by. I’ve seen this particular ‘transitioning’ taking place as well as others at the site I linked to.
LikeLike
forgive me for not being the sharpest person in the world, but after viewing several articles on this blog I am confused as to what message the authors are attempting to get across. Are you against what is happening in Christianity today or are you kind of in the middle about things or do you just not know what to think or feel? I would be interested to know. I am a young person who still has some questions herself so I would love to know what your world religion views are.
LikeLike
Mdot,
Please don’t apologize. I am taking a stand for the Christian doctrines of the Protestant Reformation, the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. Evangelical Christianity in America today has abandoned much of that truth. Have you heard of the book by John MacArthur “The Truth War”? It expresses much of what I believe about the church in America these days. Therefore you can say I am against what I see happening all across America (and elsewhere. Much of what passes for gospel is not God-centered Gospel of Scripture (1 Cor 15:1-5),but rather a false, man-centered gospel based on the humanism of pop-psychology. In short, true Christianity says the the end of all being is the glory of God, while humanism (and Christianity in America these days)says the end of all being is the happiness of man, to paraphrase a preacher from the early 20th century.
I hope that has been helpful… feel free to ask me just about anything.
LikeLike
Thanks, Born4Battle, and thanks for clearing your positon up for me too. I am sure it is clear throughout your site, but I had not looked elsewhere on your blog at the time I read your post. The transitioning that you speak of is not surprising to me, knowing the kind of thinking in general that it stems from, but your post is informative. I had not heard of this particular view before. Thanks!
LikeLike
thanks for the link.
The number of parallels in language and stated intent between that chart and what I have read from people I thought I knew is eerie.
The pressure to conform to the gospel of the big nice has become too much for some, I think.
LikeLike
What happened to the table that was here earlier…I can’t seem to find it now. I believe with all my heart the left side of the column…looking at your example here..I’m wondering why don’t dwel on sin would be considered “transitional”. You mean we’re suppose to dwell on sin after sincere repentence? splain please
LikeLike
That’s a good question, and the topic of ‘sin’ in the graph adds more explanation to ‘not dwelling on sin’- “Sin and guilt are ignored, minimized, redefined, or replaced by unbiblical tolerance.”
That speaks to the transition attitude toward sin that is reflected in preaching the gospel, and how sin is treated in Christian living. For instance, instead of the plain gospel that teaches that Jesus died for our sin, was buried and resurrected, we have ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.’ The mention of sin takes a back seat to something that never once appears in scripture as a point of the gospel. Does that help?
LikeLike
I forgot to mention that I have read several accounts of traditional churches that have adopted a popular church growth movement and then began exploring the emergent movement. I know of one such church here in Colorado Springs.
LikeLike
But God does love me and does have a wonderful plan for my life. I’m not understanding I guess why being set free from sin and living in that freedom is wrong. Because I have been set free from sin doesn’t lessen what He did on the cross nor the depravity from which I came…but I can choose to live without condemnation, we are suppose to live without condemnation…
LikeLike
That He does, but is discovering that plan to be a main focus of our lives as believers? That’s not to be found in scripture, neither is the ‘wonderful plan’ as a method for evangelism. When we read what Jesus taught his disciples their lives would be like as his followers in this world, it’s ain’t a ‘wonderful plan’, but quite the opposite.
The whole thing about the ‘transition’ in the church is moving from God-centered Christianity to man-centered Christianity, and that’s not true Christianity.
Yes, God has a wonderful plan – to bring all of His elect into His kingdom as a precious love gift to His Son. That we are blessed in this life is a by-product.
Try and preach ‘the wonderful plan’ to Christians being arrested and jailed, if not tortured and killed in China, the Sudan and innumerable other countries at this moment. Where is there ‘wonderful life’? Is God’s plan for His children somehow different there than it is in the ‘rich’ West?
Believe me Deb, I’ve been caught up in the purpose-driven, seeker friendly, prosperity ‘stuff’. They are ALL man-centered. And the preacher said – “Christianity says the end of all being is the glory of God – humanism says that the end of all being is the happiness of man.” If you would care to listen, is the sermon from which that thought comes.
http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=282
So Deb, thank you so much for continuing to question and ask. I wish more would. Love you!
LikeLike
I really do understand what you are saying Dan. I think there needs to be balance. No, I don’t believe God’s plan is different although every single walk before and after me will be. If people in the rich West believe that they will never have to sacrifice their lives for their walk, they are decieved. What I’m saying is that if the Lord decided to bless physically, monitarily, etc. that does not mean someone has become man-cenetered as I believe there is a purpose in that too. Talk to me about healing, and no I’m not going with Todd, I have issues with him….but I mean in general. Do you believe that He still heals today? And that again would not be limited to the physical….
LikeLike
Balance is key. . .as long as we let scripture define ‘balance’
God says, ‘YES I want to bless you, YES I have plans for you, YES, YES, YES! Didn’t I choose my elect before the foundation of the world? Didn’t I send my Son to pay for YOUR sin? Didn’t I open your eyes so you could see me when you were blind? And didn’t I give you a heart to desire me when you saw me and hated me because you were born my enemy? Didn’t I do it ALL? YES!!!!!!!!’
God might also say that ‘I did ALL this for mine elect out of fallen humanity, but I did it FIRST for my SON!
The gospel speaks in various places about those whom the Father ‘gives to the Son’. Before I am awesomely blessed here on earth (and I am), I am part of a precious gift from the Father to His Son called the Bride of Christ.
And yes, I believe God heals and does whatever else He wants to do. When all the doctors told my wife she would never have children, she fasted and prayed, and she gave birth to three. Do I believe that the same level of ‘signs and wonders’ should be normative for today? I do not, for what I believe are very scriptural reasons.
Concerning ‘balance’ and today’s church, we are seriously OUT of balance . I use the terms ‘me-centered’ instead of God-centered a lot. – that’s humanism, not Christianity. I sound out of balance because I don’t have a lot of positive things to say and am not very concerned about building self-esteem along the lined of how ‘self-esteem’ is defined by popular psychology. I don’t see that in scripture. I see Paul, even after years of ministry, saying I AM the ‘chiefest’ of sinners.
My dear Deborah, all I want is to see ‘scriptural balance’ return to God’s church.
Perhaps that is helpful. I am TREMENDOUSLY encouraged that you are really trying to get at my heart. Words frequently fail in ‘heart matters’ when all we see are words, at least mine do.
Love you, Deb!
LikeLike
“What I’m saying is that if the Lord decided to bless physically, monitarily, etc. that does not mean someone has become man-cenetered as I believe there is a purpose in that too”
You are right, Deb, 1. what God does and 2. what people think about what God does are two different things.
But how do people arrive at wrong ideas about what God does?
LikeLike
“My dear Deborah, all I want is to see ’scriptural balance’ return to God’s church.”
Then we are in total agreement…I think we’re both trying to achieve the balance from the opposite ends of the spectrum. It’s offensive and I’m weary of being picked apart because I’m not familiar with Calving etc. and their opinions about GOd’s Word. Or if I say something like “God is a risk taker” while writing a post, for Pete’s sake, we don’t need to start a theological world war three over it…in fact, I won’t. I feel like you’re asking me to be perfect, and I’m far from it. But I love and respect both you and J. And the learning for me will come when you can talk with me like this, instead of at me…hope that made sense.
I also believe that if God blessed you and wife that way, it wasn’t just for you, it was to give others hope as well… it’s ok to tell people things like that, helping them reach for the best possible outcome, while staying grounded in the reality that it may not be Gods will….
I love you too Dan…and I pray my son will get in touch with you and stay in touch while he is in Iraq. 😉
LikeLike
The idea that God does what He does first and foremost for his glory and for His Name’s sake instead for us, rankles many these days who preach and teach from their pulpits/stages, etc. that it’s all about US! When is the last time you heard something in your church about ‘other that love’ attributes of God like his righteousness, justice, and wrath? That’s what I mean by balance. That’s kind of what I am trying to bring to the table – the rest of his attributes for at least a little consideration.
Me 2 about your son! And by the way, you are helping me be a better communicator about what I think the Bible tells us about why God does what He does.
LikeLike
J: Regardless of what I say, it’s not going to be what you’re looking for, why not just tell me what ur thinking?
🙂
LikeLike
Dan: Hopeflly you can see that we are on the same page theologically…and I believe that Gods needs to be, and is not portrayed correctly in the church today. When I witness to someone I have to be sensitive to where they are in their walk…if I’m holding a drug addict who has been sexually abused and told they are worthless their whole life, I’m not going to tell them about God’s wrath right away…on the other hand if someone is “joy riding” in their walk, I most likely will be speaking to them about the righteousness and justice side. Discresion is key with me. That’s what I’m saying about getting yourself into where people are and bringing them to where they need to be. It’s getting rid of self, and letting the Holy Spirit guide.
You help me too….otherwise I wouldn’t keep coming back! LOL 🙂
LikeLike
Deb,
So we are on the same page about a lot of things – hopefully those ‘same pages’ are the pages of scripture, or we are both in trouble! 🙂
Granted. We to meet people where ‘they are’. Concerning the ‘evangelistic encounter’, we can trust the Lord of the Harvest (the Holy Spirit) for everything connected with it, from beginning to end. It is He who compels us to share the Gospel, He who must prepare a dead heart to receive it, and He who causes the Word preached to a prepared heart to bear fruit.
It might mean getting to the point of sin, judgment, and God’s wrath rather quickly when dealing with that sexually abused drug addict, but that’s OK if the power of God is present in our preaching of the Gospel. In the same manner, we can talk about the righteousness and justice of God to the ‘joyriding’ false convert all day long to no avail if the power of God is not present.
The power is in the Gospel, not in our approach, not in our words, not in anything temporal we bring to the encounter. We are the merely the ‘means’ that God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to use to spread the Gospel that contains the power. That is our great privelege.
A last thing about ‘where they are’. Regardless where that might be temporally – sexually abused drug addict or joyriding false convert – they are all in the same place spiritually – DEAD. If the truth is that ‘Christ died for their sin’ I can say that, using those words (in love) in any circumstance , for that is the Gospel.
I think we err when we think WE need to pursuade them to consider Christ in such a manner that He seems likable and they make the right ‘decision’ that will save them or damn them. Therefore we try and get them to like us so that they will like and ‘accept’ Jesus when we get around to telling them about Him. If the Lord of the Harvest is in control ours is to ‘speak the truth in love’ and trust God.
🙂
LikeLike
Deb,
That’s one way of getting out of saying anything.
Seems to me I’ve seen Christian write the same thing before.
(insincere smilerguy)
LikeLike
J, when you put on your big boy panties and can have a real conversation, let me know…
Dan, thank you…;)
LikeLike
Actually, I share a lot of the same frustrations as Jason concerning the state of today’s ‘postmodern’ church. There is great danger on the horizon, I fear. I see the church sunk deep into the transition phase as described in Berit Kjos’ table. The New Spirituality is on the way with a full head of steam. Unless we return to the concept of the God of the Bible,and not the one of men’s imagination (just a kindly grandfather with handfuls of candy); as well as the Christ of the Bible and the same gospel Paul preached (1 Cor 15:1-5), we are in big trouble.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll mention it again, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” was not then, nor should it be now, the first point of Gospel presentations. I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason it was never used in the book of Acts is that when anyone called by God unto salvation (that would be His elect)realizes his/her condition in sin, when the rel first point of the gospel is presented (Christ died for our sins) that person WILL come to Christ (John 6:37-39). God’s awesome love and grace becomes crystal clear without the word ‘love’ being used once.
I heard it said once that it’s OK to tell folks that God loves them when sharing the gospel, but you have about 20 seconds to get to the sin issue.
Deb, so let me ask you, at what point to you approach the ‘sin’ issue? In many a ‘seeker-friendly’ church (another non-biblical approach to ‘doing’ church)I see great lengths gone to, great enticements offered, to bring dead folks into the church (Eph 2) and keep them there, with only part of the gospel ever preached (all love, no judgment or wrath)! If thousands walk the aisles because God loves them and has a great plan for them (the issue of sin never being scripturally addressed), how many of them are false converts? Just a question.
I’ve heard it called building the church of the ‘tares’ where the seats are filled with unsaved tares and a few weak stalks of wheat scattered about because God saves His elect wherever they might be. It’s OK to meet people where they ‘are’ but it is always wrong to ‘soften’ the topics of sin, judgment, and the wrath of a just and holy God. We don’t beat people over the head with it, but we don’t water it down either.
LikeLike
“We don’t beat people over the head with it, but we don’t water it down either.”
That’s my problem..you do beat people over the head with it. Look through your posts…it’s constant wrath talk with little love…the other extreme. When do I speak to people of sin and God’s wrath? All the time..as HE leads. It’s that simple. It’s as HE leads….I present the facts…all of them..to the best of my ability, and let God work. J runs on ego and I doubt has little concern who ends up in Hell as long as he can spout what he’s learned in his latest theology class…it’s sad because there’s a wealth of information to be learned and gleened but people are driven away instead and unresponsive because of the pride. That’s why I won’t have it on my blog anymore..and it gets deleted.
Anyway Dan..I do deal with the sin issue, all of it, and most of the time when God brings people to that point, they do need to be loved on, and God needs to be praised because He has done the work of breaking and begun the restoration…I will witness the way the Lord leads me…He’s the one I answer to.
LikeLike
please Deb.
critiques of a real conversation from you ring a bit hollow.
LikeLike
Deb,
Finally! How you really feel!!!!!!
I know I don’t do ‘tit for tat’ postings speaking to the goodness on one hand and severity of God on the other. That is intentional, but not giving beatings. In many of my posts about the ‘unpopular subjects’ I present them with a plea to consider ALL of God’s attributes. I have paid special attention to communicating God’s love in the process. In fact, one could conclude that I spend far more time speaking of the love of God than the Apostles and early disciples ever did in the New Testament and the prophets in the Old Testament.
There are plenty of folks talking about how much God loves, loves, loves. “God can’t imagine His heaven without you!” “Jesus would rather die than live without you!” “It was just love that held Jesus to the cross.” Poppycock – all three! NOWHERE to be found in Scripture!
I have said over and over again that God loved us so much He sent His Son to die for our sins and in our place – penal substitution – propitiation (appeasing God’s wrath) -that’s LOVE!!!!! NOT Grandpa and a new dance partner!
I don’t have the time or the inclination to talk about the ‘mushy mushy’, unscriptural, God insulting,’romance filled, tiptoeing through the tulips’, self-centered, humanistic brand of today’s ‘Christianity’.
I do spend a lot of time applying contextual scripture to discussions (where there is little or none at all), asking questions to provoke intelligent thought and discussion, pleading for someone to give me a verse or two IN CONTEXT instead of just ‘throwing it in’like a ‘right jab’ in a boxing match, all in an attempt to get professing believers in here to get out of the wading pool!
Why do I bother? God’s children are being fed so much spiritual junk food all across the land it makes me sick! The precious Bride of Christ has cancer! It might be called ‘purpose-driven’, ‘seeker-friendly’, ‘spiritual transformation’, a ‘new thing’ – it’s cancer! Oh how I long for my brothers and sisters to really know God, not some weak, impotent grandfather who sent His own Son to a bloody cross for what ‘might’ be.
Deb, have you ever thought that the main thing God saved you from is Himself – His holy and just wrath? We will go so far as say we are saved from Hell, but we are loathe to even consider that the reason we should wind up there is because of the just wrath of a holy God? Have you ever even thought that way?
Would you serve Him all your days even if at the end of your days you would wind up in Hell, just because He is WORTHY to be loved and served and obeyed for who He is, no matter who He saves, if any at all?
Well. . .now I have talked some of the character of God and His God’s wrath, before I was being polite. that we are spared from His wrath – from Himself is the GREATEST act of love in human history!
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” – John 17:3
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” – Romans 11:22
LikeLike
“Deb, have you ever thought that the main thing God saved you from is Himself – His holy and just wrath?” Honestly, no, and thank you Dan. I thank Him daily that He has pulled me up, that I was one of the chosen, I have no idea why..but I serve Him to the best of my ability…and learn daily what that means. He’s teaching me, and reaching me..
I find that most of the people I deal with, or that He brings along, are extrememly wounded the way I was..and for whatever reason, He has me witness to them (most of the time not always) about His goodness leading them to repentence. His wrath is huge, His judgment is huge as well…but it has to be an individual case. I understand that most churches today love to be warm and fuzzy, I understand what you’re saying about that. I think the best “church” I’ve been in for awhile was the one under the bridge a couple of weeks ago. THAT was church!…and yes, they were very blunt about things..you would have like it. I’m looking for balance, and listening to His voice, how He leads with individuals. If it’s across the board witness…I think there is something wrong with that..
LikeLike
I hear what you are saying, I am not sure what you mean by ‘listening to His voice’. His voice is loudest from the pages of inspired scripture. If scripture says that the first point of the gospel is that ‘Christ died for our sins’, I need to approach that, in any evangelistic encounter. If a ‘voice’ tells me ‘better not talk about sin or judgment’ – he/she might not be ready yet’, I would question the source of the voice. the message we have is for the elect of God and God prepares their hearts for the whole story.
There is a term that was birthed, I think, on the mission field. The term is ‘rice Christians’. I do not know if it was in India, or China, or somewhere else. It refers to those ‘Christians’ who remained in churches as long as they were getting something from the ‘colonial’ missionaries who who gave them rice, established hospitals, schools etc. When those missionaries left and in some cases were banned in the countries in which they served, many reverted back to their pagan or native non-christian roots.
A.W. Tozer once remarked “I wonder how many people would be in our modern churches if the only interest was God.” (or something to that effect).
There is a story of young Moravian missionaries who sold themselves into a lifetime of slavery to be able to spread the gospel in the midst of a large slave colony in the Danish West Indies. The names of these two, the first Moravian missionaries, were John Leonard Dober, a potter, and David Nitschman, a carpenter. Why would anyone do such a thing? As their ship slipped away, they lifted up a cry that would one day become the rallying call for all Moravian missionaries, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.” The Moravian’s passion for souls was surpassed only by their passion for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
The souls of the elect of God are the “reward of His suffering” and we are blessed with this great privilege of spreading the Gospel of Christ to God prepared hearts.
“His wrath is huge, His judgment is huge as well…but it has to be an individual case.” . . .If it’s across the board witness…I think there is something wrong with that..” could you clarify what that means? A prepared (by the Holy Spirit) will not shrink from that truth.
LikeLike
What kindness could possibly be greater than having been spared from God’s just wrath? What resulting repentance from realizing that kindness could possibly be more genuine?
LikeLike
No, I’m not speaking of the enemy whispering in my ear which is where I think you were leading in your first paragraph…I was simply thinking on John 10:27 when I wrote that. Believe me I know the difference.
“”And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so. when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”—1 Kings 19:11-13.”
You don’t always have to be rumbling and firey to get through…I’m learning alot Dan….
LikeLike
This isn’t about being ‘fiery’, or ‘gentle’, or being sensitive to the situation’, or getting to where people ‘are’, it’s about the integrity of the gospel we present and the sovereignty of God in salvation. That’s what it’s always been about. When God is in charge it the method of presenting the gospel might be fiery, or gentle, it might not even have a human in it. Whatever it is, it must be the Gospel.
I put up this post to draw attention to the transition from Biblical Christianity to the New Spirituality. I think today’s church is pretty much caught in ‘transition’, to varying degrees, in just about every area covered.
I don’t know why you are hung up on ‘wrath and judgment’ meaning pulpit pounding and loud. I’m told Jonathan Edwards first preached “Sinners in the Hands of Angry in a quiet, almost monotone fashion, yet people fell weeping at the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
LikeLike
“This isn’t about being ‘fiery’, or ‘gentle’, or being sensitive to the situation’, or getting to where people ‘are'”
This language is the language of emergent, it is the language of seeker sensitive, it is the language that, once, a friend of mine would decry and denounce
but no longer.
http://1godsgal.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/emerging-to-what/
LikeLike
Pingback: The Effects of Pragmatism on Today’s Church « The Battle Cry
Found this comment on another blog post, that maybe, just maybe illustrates the ‘transitioning’ of the Gospel. I did not comment there because I would have been, once again, unkind, hurtful, condemning and judgmental:
“He loves you so much that He sent His son to die to build a bridge to himself, so that you and I could come into fellowship with Him.”
Did God build a bridge to Himself by sending His Son, because I was separated from Him? OF COURSE HE DID! However, I was separated from Him because of MY SIN, and He loved me SO MUCH He sent His Son to bear my punishment because I deserved Hell!
LikeLike
Please do a commentary on 1 Cor 6:8-11 and Gal chapter 5; “those who DO such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. To me these scriptures are clearly saying that Christians will not commit these listed sins. Is there “no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted… but will also make a way of escape…etc.
Also, the KJV uses middle English personal pronouns not in the modern English vernacular. Middle English gives greater clarity by using two plural second person pronouns (YE and YOU) and singular pronouns (THEE, THOU etc). John chapter 3 Jesus to Nicodemus ” marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again” Nicodemus began their conversation by stating that “WE know that thou art come… from God”. Jesus’ response was for Nicodemus (thee) and those whoever the WE were. Modern texts blur the Middle English clarity. In Charity
LikeLike
The passages:
1 Corinthians 6:8-11: “8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Gal 5:19-21: “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Nowhere in in the text of either passage is it “clearly saying that Christians will not commit these listed sins.”
It does say however that: those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The words “do” (KJV) comes from the Greek term:
πράσσω, pras’-so, (Strong’s & Thayer G4238) the definition of which is:
“A primary verb; to “practice”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act)”
Other terms in different translations are:
“practice”(NKJV/NASB/LSB/Amplified Bible/NET/HCSB)
“who live like this” (NIV and others)
Context is everything! Galatians 5:16-25, from which your Galatians passage comes is about walking in the Spirit as opposed to walking in the flesh.
I think your comment concerning “middle English” pronouns wasn’t necessary for your argument. I’m old and, I grew up on the KJV and have never had problems with (YE and YOU/THEE, THOU etc.) and what they meant in modern English.
Thanks for the opportunity to chat with you!
LikeLike