It’s a false gospel because of its unbiblical traditions.
We aren’t holding up Jesus return because of lack of unity. Jesus doesn’t need our unity to return...that’s false.
I have my own thoughts thanks...and if I do parrot anything it’s what I’ve read in the Bible.
I’m not an agitator but I do believe in contending earnestly for the faith and that’s what I’m gonna do.
Maybe I'm confused about your use of the word "gospel." The Gospels, of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John should be essentially the same in every Bible. Can you help me to understand what unbiblical traditions I am following so I can correct myself?
Welcome, Toulouse.
I have to admit-- I'm not familiar with this thought (doctrine?)...
We are holding up His return with our bickering and turf-protecting...our Pride.
... we're holding it up by our lack of unity..
On what are you basing this?
Hi elsbet. Thank you for the welcome. Forgive my slow response. Sunday was filled with church, relatives and today I was unwell.
So, is it stated verbatim? Not exactly. When the two extremes are used, then we run into trouble: using Scripture only (Sola Scriptura), and only using tradition. Somewhere in the middle is the truth. Undoubtedly, we need to be grounded in Scripture - it is the Word of God. The Catholic Church (RED FLAG!!! RED FLAG!!! BEWARE, WILL ROBINSON!!!) - there are more than just the Roman Church - more precisely, the Church Fathers had the ability to read between the lines with many passages in Scripture. This was especially true in the early Church with all of the heresies. Imagine what that must have been like!!!
The most logical place to start would be with the
Trinity because it is an obvious example of unity in diversity. By "diversity" I do not mean a mamby-pamby "politically correct" use of the term - I am definitely not of the politically correct ilk. I don't think I need to break this down too much, but for the sake of the conversation...One God, Three Persons, all distinct in function, yet united to do God's Will.
Next, if we must look at the Lord's Prayer in
Matthew 6:9-10: "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, They Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." This has very strong implications that we are to live as they are in Heaven - united.
God wants it no other way. Then there is
Ephesians 4:3 "Make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. This is not going to happen if we tear each other down over who is or who isn't following the letter of the law - again, "on Earth as it is in Heaven."
Ephesians 4: 11-13 "...until we all reach unity in the faith."
John 17:23 "...that they may be brought to complete unity..."
Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity."
1 Peter 3:8 "...be like-minded..."
1 John 4:12 "No one has seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
1 Corinthians 1:10 "...but that you are perfectly united in mind and thought." Romans 12:16 "Live in harmony with one another..." In
1 Timothy 2: 3-4 we read "This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." In
2 Peter 5: 8-10 we are warned about satan, who wants to "devour us...be steadfast knowing that fellow believers around the world undergo the same sufferings." Lastly, from
Ephesians 1: 8-10 "...In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him, as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth."
And then, there are the prophesies about Israel and the Jews returning to their homeland and to Christ. We can get involved in this through the Toward Jerusalem Council II movement.
Again, it is not directly stated, but it should be evident that God wants us united before he comes back. These forums were described to me as a "spiritual battlefield." I can see people of other religious backgrounds disagreeing, but between us Christians, yes, we can disagree but not to the point of attacks and insults. This grieves the Holy Spirit.