Complicated

[Randyc46]

Do any of you ever think that maybe, just maybe we are making EVERYTHING Christian too complicated? :confused
Consider the Sermon on the Mountain. What Jesus said to those people was not available for them to dissect, read between the lines, ask anyone about and He didn't explain a whole lot. He just kind of laid it out there and moved on.
Today, we have methods, processes, studies and dissections of the original language and books galore telling us how to do EVERYTHING Christian 15 different ways. Is it REALLY that complicated?:giveup:
I mean, I've written some of these as many of you have, and it just seems like we pile stuff on when Jesus made it seem so simple. Of course, Paul got more in depth, but are we going a bit too far?
Or is it just me?:B

[ilovemetal]

i am a huge advocate of simplicity. so i fully agree in some sences. in others ways however, at least for me, i've learned alot more life changing lessions in studying a scripure thuroughly. so yeah, there's definaly a time and a place for simplicity, but all in all, as we mature in the Word, and i think as well, it was God's intention to make us examine stories more in depth.

for instance, the lady at the well. i never thought about it like, Jesus was at the well waiting. so the lession is, He is always there, waiting for us, to offer us the water of life. usually i wouldn't have thoguht about that just skimming the story. but that's just me.

anyways. good times.

[Sold Out]

Do any of you ever think that maybe, just maybe we are making EVERYTHING Christian too complicated? :confused

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Apostle Paul was a very smart man, but he was clear that his only goal was to preach the gospel:

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." I Cor 2:1,2

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." II Cor 11:3

[Huck]

You have to consider the culture Jesus lived in. Many of the people would of memorized Jesus entire sermon (Yes its amazing but it was a different culture) and then they would have repeated it to each other to make sure they had it exactly right. At least that's what I understand.

But I agree. People make it to complicated. We're just supposed to be like little kids and do what God says.

[ServantofTruth]

I guess i'm lucky having 5 children. 3 big enough to read a simple plain english CEV. A 6 year old to stuggle with ideas and stories - the whole chapter a night failed! A 3 year old to teach me to see things like the child, small words and total belief.

Even i get stressed and bogged down by study - at those times i switch to the same CEV i read with the children and go back to basics.

Excellent topic. But have you looked at the original Greek for John 1:12 lately? :rofl: SofTy.

[Mercy4Me]

I agree, Randy...I think we do make things too complicated! One issue, though, is that the original words and the original writings were given to another culture, in another language. Trying to understand the full meaning of Jesus' words, or Paul's, involves a little more mental effort for us, removed by time, space, and culture.

However, I, too, think we've added much to the simple gospel of Christ...by our own human reasoning, we've often made it much too complicated!

[Randyc46]

I appreciate your replies. And of course, I am glad that I am not the only one that feels that way.
I do understand it being a different culture. In fact, I think a lot of what we misunderstand, or try to explain, is really cultural issues...but that's another topic altogether.
But just take that same Sermon and here are my thoughts.
If the Gospel or living the Christian life is so complicated that it takes books and books for us to do it, Jesus did those people a great disservice by simply telling them to, oh I don't know, "love your neighbor."
On the other hand, if Jesus told them enough so that they could: a) come to a saving knowledge of Him, and b) live the way God wanted, do we really need to make such a big deal about EVERYTHING?
That's what started me thinking about this.
I mean, He said "you will know them by their fruits." Period. I know who He was talking about but I think if you ask your average church-going Christian what "fruits" He meant, they will immediately go over to Paul's list of the fruits of the Spirit. Which might be correct but that list was composed for another 30-40 years! They didn't know anything about the fruits of the Spirit that Paul mentioned. Jesus did, of course, but He didn't give them the list! LOL!
So I am not just going way out on a limb by myself, right?
And one more thing....if we are making this way too complicated, don't we take ourselves way too seriously, too?

[Sold Out]

A lot of Christians major on the minor.

"Unity in the essentials, liberty in the non-essentials, and charity for all."

[livingwaters]

When Jesus came into my heart, it was like HE put everything in there that I would need till HE came back for me...Amen

Of course, as I mature, I understand the Word better....but, all in all, I know what Jesus expects from me.....for me to recieve God's grace by faith and to be born-again Christian and live a righteous life through Christ Jesus. The main point being LOVE, which HE IS!!!!

That's not complicated at all....HE will further your education as you seek more of HIM!!!Glory to God.:pp

[1of7000]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." II Cor 11:3

hah took the words right out of my bible!! did you ever notice as soon as eve added to the Word of God and changed it she had to resort to her senses then she ate the fruit. Spirit left her even before she had the snack attack.

[dispen4ever]

Yes, we go a bit too far. Read John 14:6, John 3:16-17, Romans 10:8-13, then settle in to a life of Bible study, growing in Him. Read "the Roman Road" in the Book of Romans.

The error we make, as teachers and as babes in Christ, is to toss all the scriptures together, then ask why one doesn't agree with another, or force them to agree, out of context. Rightly dividing the Word of Truth is absolutely essential to Christian growth. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.

[ChristsCourage]

Do any of you ever think that maybe, just maybe we are making EVERYTHING Christian too complicated? :confused
Consider the Sermon on the Mountain. What Jesus said to those people was not available for them to dissect, read between the lines, ask anyone about and He didn't explain a whole lot. He just kind of laid it out there and moved on.
Today, we have methods, processes, studies and dissections of the original language and books galore telling us how to do EVERYTHING Christian 15 different ways. Is it REALLY that complicated?:giveup:
I mean, I've written some of these as many of you have, and it just seems like we pile stuff on when Jesus made it seem so simple. Of course, Paul got more in depth, but are we going a bit too far?
Or is it just me?:B


Thanks Randyc, I appreciate what you are saying. You are saying that we need to say/do simple things like our LORD,and, saviour Jesus Christ. We need to not make things complicated when they already are not. Thanks for posting this. If you want to talk we can. PM me, and, I would love to talk to you about trying to make things simple.

[Oregongrown]

Do any of you ever think that maybe, just maybe we are making EVERYTHING Christian too complicated? :confused
Consider the Sermon on the Mountain. What Jesus said to those people was not available for them to dissect, read between the lines, ask anyone about and He didn't explain a whole lot. He just kind of laid it out there and moved on.
Today, we have methods, processes, studies and dissections of the original language and books galore telling us how to do EVERYTHING Christian 15 different ways. Is it REALLY that complicated?:giveup:
I mean, I've written some of these as many of you have, and it just seems like we pile stuff on when Jesus made it seem so simple. Of course, Paul got more in depth, but are we going a bit too far?
Or is it just me?:B

I think that is why the verses on God using the foolish(in the "worlds" eyes)to confound the "wise":)

I just refuse to believe God would make Himself too hard for anyone to follow. He says He wants that ALL should come to Him. Yes, only Spirit can understand Spiritual things so we need the Holy Spirit:) But I know that I get carried away "thinking" too much. It isn't an "intellectual thing", its a "Spirit thing":) Silly to say but I can't help but think how much more loving we would all be without a brain, or atleast completely rid of ego:) Your heard this song by Newsboys?? I love it and it makes so much good sense to me:)

your sister in Christ, denise
Newsboys "Spirit Thing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-5rt3l_-sg

[Oregongrown]

hah took the words right out of my bible!! did you ever notice as soon as eve added to the Word of God and changed it she had to resort to her senses then she ate the fruit. Spirit left her even before she had the snack attack.

nailed it you did:) God bless, ysic, denise:bounce:

[Oregongrown]

i am a huge advocate of simplicity. so i fully agree in some sences. in others ways however, at least for me, i've learned alot more life changing lessions in studying a scripure thuroughly. so yeah, there's definaly a time and a place for simplicity, but all in all, as we mature in the Word, and i think as well, it was God's intention to make us examine stories more in depth.

for instance, the lady at the well. i never thought about it like, Jesus was at the well waiting. so the lession is, He is always there, waiting for us, to offer us the water of life. usually i wouldn't have thoguht about that just skimming the story. but that's just me.

anyways. good times.

the simplicity of it was revealed when I realized I need to allow the Holy Spirit to do the interpreting, not me. Even though the bible was opened up to me on the day I was saved, I learn something new every day. So for many years I strived to figure it out. It was only recently God opened my eyes to these verses:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:20-21

then..........
1 Cor 2:13-16
13 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?version=nkjvp&book=1Cr&chapter=002&navigated=yes#) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?version=nkjvp&book=1Cr&chapter=002&navigated=yes#) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?version=nkjvp&book=1Cr&chapter=002&navigated=yes#) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 (http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?version=nkjvp&book=1Cr&chapter=002&navigated=yes#) For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

So what I've learned I believe, is that on my own I can't "get it" but by the Holy Spirits lead, I can learn, discern and share.

Love to all, ysic, denise