Archive for September 16th, 2008
Sep
16
Ardith Keef has some good things to say today about the basic first Commandment, and “how we must all remind each other of the beauty and value of Christian basics: “ She says, “The first commandment is to love the Lord. He wants intimacy with us- attention and obedience.” She talks about “time with the Master.”
These are all basically good concrete things for the believer to remember. But then we find four little words, very basic little words from Ardith Keef that are out of line with the Word of God, “You may not weaken” she says. This teaching is basically false, Biblically untrue, and a hazard and should raise a red-flag for the believer when testing the spirit of any Christian group. The Lord said to Paul, the Apostle, ‘My Grace is sufficient for you. My Power (strength) is made perfect in WEAKNESS.” and Paul said, ”When I am weak, He is strong.” 2 Cor 12:7-10 “In our own strength we can do NOTHING.” “The Lord is my STRENGTH and my song” , says the Psalms.
Everything we do as Christians: Loving God, Loving others, Helping each other, choosing eternal things, even “having intimacy with God ,and giving Him our attention and obedience ” comes as we lean upon Him and His strength, because we are weak. If we think we are strong and teach others ”You may not weaken” there is a serious, BASIC problem and flaw in our thinking. We are all needy, helpless and hopeless without Him and His strength. Our hearts are desperately wicked ,and if we think we must be strong it is a horrible pitfall! We are “wretched, miserable, poor , blind and naked” when we trust in our own strength. Jesus said we need “eyesalve to annoint our eyes” so we can see. Rev 3:17
One seemingly small heresy like this can infect our otherwise sound doctrine with an unhealthy blemish, or blight that will eventually spread and cause the fruit of our teachings to become unsound, unholy, untrue. It is especially serious when we are teaching a whole group our tainted version of truth. Jesus said “Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees.” A little bit of leaven spoils the whole lump of dough” Jesus said.