To all doves: Forgive the length of this, as there is so much to this. Consider these words carefully as there is much meat in them, and can be hard to digest.I do not often recommend secular works to be read by believers on forums such as this. I am not here recommending that you read the following, but there is merit to this theory in our culture, and also in our churches.The following is a brief overview of this theory, and may still be a bit too complicated for some, but understand the part on institutionalization, and what the subsequent generations see this as.I am pointing this out to you, because so many in the church do not understand what are social constructs of men...or as the Jesus calls them, the "doctrine and tradition of man", and how these differ from the revealed knowledge of God. In Matthew 15:1-9, Is where Jesus discussed this.. read here;Note especially verses 8-9, where Jesus quotes Isaiah. A tradition of man is teaching of man that has been institutionalized, and thus appears to have a divine origin, as bigger than the individual person. In the churches, these are teachings of men that have usurped the Word of God, and become strongholds onto themselves. Thus Man's teaching has the appearance of God's truth. "Teaching as doctrines (divine truth), the commandments of man".Now Jesus is expressly dealing with the Pharisees here, certainly the church is immune to this as we have the Holy Spirit as our guide? Some would say yes, I would say that man is influenced by his culture irregardless of whether this culture is worldly, or of the fellowship of believers. But also, the fellowship of believers can influence society as a whole, in moments of revival and reformation. Our history is full of such moments. Jesus stated the following in his high priestly prayer in John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.So yes, we are not of the world, but we are IN the world. We are here as salt and light in a dark world. If we are his, we are being sanctified in his Wisdom and truth, not the traditions of man. Paul warns, that the opposite of this, is the dialectic relationship between the institutional church and the world.See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Col. 2:8-10)I Have witnessed many a believer fall into this trap. They worship in an institutionalized church, instead of the living Body of Christ. They have a set of teaching that they have commonly elevated to the position of commandments of God. They build strongholds around these teachings to defend them and call it apologetics. They call their teachings truth on parr with the revealed Wisdom of God, when in fact it is nothing more than opinion and theory. Then they dare to condemn those who do not think like they do, and do not believe this same doctrine like they do as people believing a lie. This is nothing more than the way of the world. The construction of a social reality around a teaching of man, thereby making it become bigger than the man from whom it came. And then subsequent generations see it as a truth, a stronghold, that cannot be overcome. Though they may see the flaw, or the error therein, There appears no way to take it down. Thus they in turn build a stronghold of their own, to fight against the other. As Isaiah puts it:8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Isaiah 29:13, as quoted by Jesus in Matthew 15)Yes this is talking of the Pharisees of Jesus day, but are we as the church any different? The Pharisees battling the Saducees over the resurrection of the dead, is just replaced by the debate over when the rapture will take place.This post ties into to numerous others at Kevin's site. The ones on strongholds, the wisdom of God, who are the saints?, The following is a link to his site, if you feel compelled to read more.Continued in next letter: