Likeminded

[Sue J Love]

Is the goal of being likeminded with other Christians even realistic? If we think about all the church denominations and all the various doctrines and theologies and practices which are out there, is it even possible that we could all be of one mind, united in spirit?

I mean, there are those who believe water baptism is essential for salvation, and there are those who believe not in this. There are those who believe in OSAS, and there are those who are certain this is not true. And, there are those who believe tongues is THE evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and there are those who think not. And, the list goes on and on.

So, who is right and who is wrong? Which way of thinking are we all supposed to be like? Who sets the standard of what is right theology?

The Lord Jesus led me to read Philippians 2:1-8 (NASB).

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Vv. 1-2​

Well, the obvious answer to the question posed above this scripture is God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. His is the mind we are to be like. He is the one after which we are to pattern our beliefs, doctrines, theologies and practices. And, yes, I know, we all have differing ideas of what that looks like, which is why we have all these divisions in the church. So, what do we do?

When I was a young woman in my 20’s, I had a pastor who was a great expositor of the scriptures. He was a godly man who taught holiness and righteousness and the fear of the Lord. I learned so much from his teaching, but one of the most profound things he taught me was to go into the Word of God fresh, with my heart willing to hear from the Lord whatever he wanted to teach me, and to not go into the Word with preconceived notions about what it said or with my mind already made up. I was just to let God speak to my heart, and He did! Boy, did he!

As I took this approach to scripture, I had to unlearn so many things I was taught by other humans who had taken scriptures out of context to make them say what they wanted them to say, but not in the context in which they were written. This is how we get so many varied doctrines, because people take scriptures out of the context in which they were written and they build entire theologies around them, which fit with the way they want to believe. But, this is not to say that I have everything right, either.

Test Them

So, we need to take this approach to scripture, and we need to pray to the Lord to speak God’s truths to our hearts. If we are challenged in our faith, then we should search the scriptures and pray that God will lead us to truth. And, then, we must obey the truth we know. We also must test everything we read, hear or see in prayer, asking God to reveal to us what is truth and what is lies, and test, too, all teachings against the scriptures to make certain that what is being taught is God’s truth, and not man’s truth.

I believe we also have so many differences in beliefs, because so many people are followers of man - which includes following denominations - more than they are followers of God/Christ. And, so they end up following a denomination rather than Christ, who is the head of his body. And, so they have the mind of men, and not of Christ, or a mixture of both, and this makes it very difficult, then, for all of us who follow Christ to be likeminded.

So, we do really have to be diligent in making certain that what we are being taught is truth according to Jesus Christ and his Word, remembering that, as followers of Christ, we are to follow after the teachings of the New Covenant.

With Christ

If we are to be likeminded with other Christians, we have to first of all be likeminded with Christ. The “same love” we are supposed to have is God-like love, which prefers what God prefers, i.e. what is righteous, holy, and upright. The same purpose we are to have is God’s purpose, according to what is written in his Word. And, the same mind is the mind of Christ, which is revealed to us also in scripture. But, if we are in Christ, by faith in him, and his Spirit lives within us, then we have the mind of Christ also within us.

So, since the Holy Spirit dwells within those of us who have trusted in Christ as our Savior, we also have the Word living within us. And, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, but we have to be listening, and then we have to obey what he says. The biggest drawback for most Christians, I believe, in knowing and understanding what God has for them is not that they don’t know, or that they don’t have access to that knowledge, but that they are not willing to act on what they do know and follow it with obedience.

But, if we are in tune to the Spirit’s voice, and we are walking according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh, and we are walking in the light that we do have, I believe we will begin to understand more and more, not just intellectually, but in reality, the mind and heart of Christ. And, then, if we unite with God’s heart and mind, and we follow in his ways, then we will also be likeminded with other believers who are also likeminded with Christ.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Vv. 3-8​

So, this is what we should all be like. We should have the same attitude, mind, and thinking of Jesus Christ. Even though he was God the Son, he left his throne in heaven, came to earth, humbled himself, took on the likeness of man, and became obedient to death on a cross for you and for me.

So, why did he do this? Because we were all born into sin, with sin natures, separate from God, and unable to attain God’s acceptance, i.e. his divine approval, in our own flesh. Thus, we were destined to live our lives on this earth without hope and without the life of God in us, and without the promise of eternal life with God.

So, Jesus gave his life up for us so that we could be saved from our sins, be delivered from our bondage (slavery, addiction) to sin, and be set free to now walk in his holiness and righteousness. He didn’t come just to free us from sin, but to give us new life in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. He came to give us abundant life in the Spirit of God, that we might walk in his ways and in his truth all of our days.

So, when we are Christ-like in mind, in heart, and in attitude and actions, we will empty ourselves of what is selfish (deny self), and we will consider the legitimate needs of others above our own. And, we will reach out to meet those needs in the power of the Spirit living within us, and as directed by the Holy Spirit. Our lives will be committed to Christ and his kingdom work, and we won’t be focused on just doing what brings pleasure to ourselves.

To Be Like Him / An Original Work
March 16, 2014 / Based off Scripture

Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into your life,
Giving life with Him endlessly.

Oh, what plans He has for your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about Jesus,
How He died for them on a tree.

Purifying hearts, He saves them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!

When He comes again to take us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord evermore.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 4:21 p.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from your word. May we all be Christ-like in all that we do.

 

[Lanolin]

Well, if you not sure about something, ask God.

 

[At Peace]

Is the goal of being likeminded with other Christians even realistic? .

Yes it is realistic.
As God is the source of everything, for Christians, you can be sure that things that counter what God wants are not from Him.
By study and prayer, we are all allowed to see that when places we visit, or hear about, are off kilter, they are not of God.
The real believers all think alike...in things pertaining to Godliness.
We may have different favorite colors or breakfast cereals, but we see important things through the same lens...the Spirit of God.

 

[Lanolin]

Yes it is realistic.
As God is the source of everything, for Christians, you can be sure that things that counter what God wants are not from Him.
By study and prayer, we are all allowed to see that when places we visit, or hear about, are off kilter, they are not of God.
The real believers all think alike...in things pertaining to Godliness.
We may have different favorite colors or breakfast cereals, but we see important things through the same lens...the Spirit of God.

I dont know if all believers have the same discernment though or at the same level like maybe some havent read all the bible yet or only read the parts that they want to read!
But I do think its possible to be likeminded and in unison, obviously it easier to agree with one person than 50 other people. 50 people would make a better choir than 10 though, well think of an orchestra everyone playing different parts but all in harmony.

Jesus gave us a picture of his body with various body parts members saying they dont need each other which is silly, everyone is important. The toe cant say to the eye I dont need you. The toe has to know where its going, but the eye wont be going anywhere if it werent for the toe.

As for denominations I have noticed different churches emphasise different things but of course they have Jesus in common.
But instead of boasting well our church is the better than all the others itsnt it better to say well that church down the road is doing well too, praise the Lord! The people down the road dont need to come all the way to ours if that one is closer to them. More glory to God!

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Hi Sue,
Did you ever notice we were not instructed to test the doctrine of man but the spirit?

It's easy to see truly how many Christians are actually operating under something then the Holy Spirit.

Are they prideful and insisting they are always the right one? That's not of the Holy Spirit.

Do they constantly correct everyone who does not agree with them? Again that's not of the Holy Spirit.

Do they constantly tear down other servants of God insisting they have some God given insight? That's not of the Holy Spirit either.

I imagine one could go on and on here. Lol

Yep we Need to be in One Accord With the Father and His Word and not each other.

Thank you for the Wonderful Thread Sue !
Blessings and Merry Christmas
W4F

 

[At Peace]

I dont know if all believers have the same discernment though or at the same level like maybe some havent read all the bible yet or only read the parts that they want to read!

The bible has only been around for around 400 years, and Christians before that were like-minded.
Those that have received the Holy Ghost will all have the same mind on things pertaining to conscience.
Those with different views make it manifest that they are not of God.

But I do think its possible to be like-minded and in unison, obviously it easier to agree with one person than 50 other people. 50 people would make a better choir than 10 though, well think of an orchestra everyone playing different parts but all in harmony.

If you differ from the conclusions of 50 others, you are the problem and not them.
Don't you think?

 

[At Peace]

As for denominations I have noticed different churches emphasise different things but of course they have Jesus in common.
But instead of boasting well our church is the better than all the others itsnt it better to say well that church down the road is doing well too, praise the Lord! The people down the road dont need to come all the way to ours if that one is closer to them. More glory to God!

The only reason there are many denominations, is because folks won't submit to God.
They have a different "head".

 

[At Peace]

Hi Sue,
Did you ever notice we were not instructed to test the doctrine of man but the spirit?
It's easy to see truly how many Christians are actually operating under something then the Holy Spirit.

Are they prideful and insisting they are always the right one? That's not of the Holy Spirit.
Do they constantly correct everyone who does not agree with them? Again that's not of the Holy Spirit.
Do they constantly tear down other servants of God insisting they have some God given insight? That's not of the Holy Spirit either.
I imagine one could go on and on here. Lol
Yep we Need to be in One Accord With the Father and His Word and not each other.
Thank you for the Wonderful Thread Sue !
Blessings and Merry Christmas
W4F

People who are "operating under something other than the Holy Spirit" are not Christians.
Don't you agree?

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

People who are "operating under something other than the Holy Spirit" are not Christians.
Don't you agree?

Absolutely Not

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

you differ from the conclusions of 50 others, you are the problem and not them.
Don't you think?

Nope don't think so at all.
If 300 million people fall for a lie and 1 does not, we'll it's still a lie

 

[At Peace]

Absolutely Not

So people who are operating under, say... satan's influence, ARE Christians?
I hope you simply misunderstood the question and are not advocating that Christians act at the urgings of a devil.

 

[At Peace]

Nope don't think so at all.
If 300 million people fall for a lie and 1 does not, we'll it's still a lie

If one person tells the truth, all the others are in error.

Are you a non-Christian, by chance?

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

If one person tells the truth, all the others are in error.

Are you a non-Christian, by chance?

Please stop replying to me.
Thank you

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

So people who are operating under, say... satan's influence, ARE Christians?
I hope you simply misunderstood the question and are not advocating that Christians act at the urgings of a devil.

So people who are operating under, say... satan's influence, ARE Christians?
I hope you simply misunderstood the question and are not advocating that Christians act at the urgings of a devil.

2 Corinthians 10 : 5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Well if Christians only had GOD influenced thoughts then this scripture would not have been needed.

When you doubt or fear these feelings came from thoughts and they did not come from God.

Blessings
W4F

 

[B-A-C]

1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Matt 16:23; But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Mark 8:33; But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

Acts 5:3; But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
Acts 5:4; "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Matt 18:15; Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

 

[Lanolin]

The bible has only been around for around 400 years, and Christians before that were like-minded.
Those that have received the Holy Ghost will all have the same mind on things pertaining to conscience.
Those with different views make it manifest that they are not of God.


If you differ from the conclusions of 50 others, you are the problem and not them.
Don't you think?

No.

The bible has been around a lot longer than that! MUCH longer. Only the english translation is 400 years old.

Also scripture shows there were differing opinions even in the early church. They might have been of one accord that one day in the upper room, but very soon after there was some differences between them, Paul went to gentiles, Peter stayed in Jerusalem administering to the jews. Some were not baptised with the spirit at pentecost as they were not present so they had their baptism later. They were still accepted into fellowship after baptism.

2 Corinthians 10 : 5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Well if Christians only had GOD influenced thoughts then this scripture would not have been needed.

When you doubt or fear these feelings came from thoughts and they did not come from God.

Blessings
W4F

Sometimes christians can be oppressed by the devil, even Jesus had to fight him off. He won of course but doesnt mean the devil wont try to attack you once you become a christian, esp new believers. Remember how Job was attacked by satan and Job didnt even know what was going on in the heavenlies.
However now christians have this knowledge about the devils wiles and can tell him to get lost.

Hmm I think everyone has a different VIEW as we are all different people - God made us to be diverse we are not all the same, we are unique. But what it the same about christians is we have the same heart. For it is with the heart one believes.

There are four gospels and they are four different eyewitness views of Jesus are they not? But they are all of Jesus.

 

[At Peace]

1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

I do pray you realize that this verse is addressed to those who walk in darkness. As are verses 6 and 10.
Verses 5, 7, and 9 are addressed to those walking in the light...which is God...and they can say they have no sin, as there is no sin in God or in those in God-light.

Matt 16:23; But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Mark 8:33; But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.

This Peter had yet to receive the Holy Ghost...which is only given to the repentant.

Acts 5:3; But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
Acts 5:4; "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Ananias wasn't walking in the light.
He was walking in darkness.

Matt 18:15; Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

AMEN.

 

[At Peace]

No.

The bible has been around a lot longer than that! MUCH longer. Only the english translation is 400 years old.

Also scripture shows there were differing opinions even in the early church. They might have been of one accord that one day in the upper room, but very soon after there was some differences between them, Paul went to gentiles, Peter stayed in Jerusalem administering to the jews. Some were not baptised with the spirit at pentecost as they were not present so they had their baptism later. They were still accepted into fellowship after baptism.

The essence of our disagreement is this...I feel that everyone who is a real Christian thinks as God thinks.
You seem to think that even those who oppose God are still Christians.
Let's work from that basis.

 

[Lanolin]

The essence of our disagreement is this...I feel that everyone who is a real Christian thinks as God thinks.
You seem to think that even those who oppose God are still Christians.
Let's work from that basis.

Um no, youve got me mixed up with someone else, I do not think that.

The disagreement is thst the bible isnt 400 years old, it is much older.

Gods ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts...even though we christians can know God through Jesus we arent able in our own mortal bodies to know everything that God knows.

Even Jesus did not know at what time the end would come only His Father did. So...we always defer to Him we cant say we ourselves are God. That would be arrogant to say the least!!!!

If youve ever taught children and expect them to know everything already then they would not need you to teach them lol.

Certainly we are given knowledge its just the revelation that needs to come by stages, if we knew everything at once, we wouldnt be here. We wouldnt have schools or need to learn anything. Jesus could have come and said well I dont need to preach any sermon on the mount, you israelites should just know this already. im going back to heaven now.

 

[At Peace]

Um no, youve got me mixed up with someone else, I do not think that.

Good, and thank God.

The disagreement is thst the bible isnt 400 years old, it is much older.

The manuscripts for the bible are almost 2000 years old, but what we call the bible, the organized collection of scripture, is much younger, and till the 1600 unavailable to the common man.

Gods ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts...even though we christians can know God through Jesus we arent able in our own mortal bodies to know everything that God knows.

Even Jesus did not know at what time the end would come only His Father did. So...we always defer to Him we cant say we ourselves are God. That would be arrogant to say the least!!!!

We do know we can remain obedient to Him and that He will never lead us into temptation.
In fact, He will make an escape for us from every temptation. (1 Cor 10:13) .

If youve ever taught children and expect them to know everything already then they would not need you to teach them lol.

Certainly we are given knowledge its just the revelation that needs to come by stages, if we knew everything at once, we wouldnt be here. We wouldnt have schools or need to learn anything. Jesus could have come and said well I dont need to preach any sermon on the mount, you israelites should just know this already. im going back to heaven now.

Even children of this world know how to be children.
Those reborn of God's seed know they need never stray from being reborn.
We will all grow in grace and knowledge, but being Godly people is innate in Christians.