Why do we pick and choose what we believe in the Bible? Everyone is on board when Jesus says go make disciples.
Why not when He says the signs that follow believers will be these: lay hands on the sick and they will recover, speak in tongues, and raise the dead.
Even if we don’t see someone get healed or come back to life, it doesn’t change the truth of His words.
Faith is believing God over our experiences.
Chris Martin Writes 
It іs basic, natural, feels wonderful аnd you can forrever enjoy thе healthy alterations.
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
A few people have told me that God does not heal now a days. I guess they weren’t looking.
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Hello, your words mean a great deal. You speak of cafeteria Christians. Picking and choosing, I have found it is just the nature in us all. I confess myself included, only because there is the time to grow and add to principles, and teachings.
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Thank God He had faith in me at a time when I didn’t have faith in Him. Love your post. It reminds me of how much faith has changed my life. Thank you!
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Our sinful human nature lets us think we can interpret the Bible rather than it interpreting us. Pride makes us think we know more and the Bible is antiquated and irrelevant. Brother I wish it were not so, but in Academics they quote commentaries instead of Scripture. My seminary professor would dock you a full letter grade for quoting a commentary. You had to go back to the Greek and Hebrew and tell him what you thought after reading the original languages! A lot is lost in translation!
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Chris, could I ask you for a reference please, I can’t find Jesus saying “speak in tongues” anywhere. I really am looking, but I can’t find it.
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Mark 16:17-18 “17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
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Thank-you, I realized after hitting send that I have those particular verses blacked out in my study Bible because of the amount of evidence showing that section as a much later addition, which, before you get all bent at me, was over 10 years ago, and I no longer am of that opinion (I also have a new study Bible, but its not here right now.) So then, I only have one other question for you (I’m trying to determine if I should be following your page or not), do you believe a person MUST speak tongues to be in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, despite everything that Paul has said to the contrary in 1 Corinthians?
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No worries at all. I don’t believe a person MUST speak in tongues to have Holy Spirit. The HS that dwells in us has all the gifts, but He chooses when and through whom they work.
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Thank-you for the very clear answer. I love your writing, but in my life I’ve had some serious run-ins with people who felt I had no claim to being one of God’s children because I didn’t speak in tongues. They went so far as to have me removed from teaching a Sunday School class after telling my students that I couldn’t be their teacher because God was still mad at me. The same church that had sponsored my Bible College, supported that parent. I agree whole-heartedly that the in-dwelling Spirit possesses all the gifts, they are His to give, but I also agree, as Paul so clearly states, He gives some gift to this one, He gives another gift to another. We don’t all exercise all the gifts, at all times. If we did, we would all have the strength that Samson had when the Holy Spirit “came upon him in power”, or temporarily, granted him the gift of strength. But I do thank you again, and it is a relief, because I really do admire your writing and I feel you are very blessed in this area, so i would like to continue following your page.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Nice to have you aboard. God bless!
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You’re welcome.
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Amen! I like the saying, ‘Believing is seeing.’
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Sent from my iPad
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With faith we do not need to see it to believe it. If you have to see it do you really have faith?
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Exactly
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Truthwillwin1
I would say yes it is faith if you believe and trust in God. Even if you had to see it like Thomas did. John’s Gospel says he “believed” based on what he saw. And he was counted as a Saint by most churches I know who take a stance on it.
Anyway here is the bible passage:
“Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Now Thomas (also known as Didymusa ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believeb that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
What do you think? Jesus admits he believed and John thinks belief is a key to everlasting life. But Jesus does not specifically say he is “blessed.”
It seems to me some people come to believe and trust in God through reasoning and even seeing (like Thomas) and others don’t. I would not say that people who come to believe in Jesus through reasoning or even seeing something don’t have “faith.”
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