A Stepping Stone

[Rose]

Until one frees themselves from the dogma of Scripture and is able to see the Bible as one of many stepping stones on the path to higher consciousness, they will remain camped on that particular stone, thus it becomes the end of their journey. The rest of the path is lost to their vision and the stone itself becomes the complete way. In my search for truth it was only when I was able to rise above the Bible and free myself from the bondage of its religious doctrines that I could truly see it for what it is. It in and of itself is not the whole picture, or the complete path, but only one of the many stepping stones that lead us on this journey of life progressing to an ever higher conscious levels as we continue on. When one becomes trapped in a mindset, no matter what it may be the rest of the world is seen through that perspective and its true nature becomes hidden from view. The Bible does not contain the whole answer anymore than the teachings of any other religion or philosophy. All the parts of the human experience are just that 'parts' nested inside one another and together they make up the whole.

For many years I was trapped inside the religious box of Christianity and was admonished not to explore outside the parameters of the faith for fear of being lead astray. What I discovered a couple years ago is that there was and is a whole world of truth beyond the Christian stepping stone that I had camped on thinking it was the end of the journey. Now, I view the Bible in a new way, as just one stone of many laid down by those that came before me denoting their understanding of the world around them and where they were in the walk of life. If I confine my point of view to encompass only the narrow perspective of those that saw the world in a more limited way because of lack of knowledge, then I shut down my possibilities to continue growing and learning.

The plan and purpose of mankind did not culminate and come to an end with Jesus in the first century, as the Bible would lead one to believe, rather meaning continues to unfold as human understanding and consciousness progresses to a higher and higher levels. Much meaning can be derived from great literary works such as the Bible, but they are not an end unto themselves as many believe. It is only when we allow Scripture to speak from the age and time in which it was written that its purpose can be fully realized and that is of one stepping stone on a path of many on the journey of life.


Rose

[David M]

The plan and purpose of mankind did not culminate and come to an end with Jesus in the first century, as the Bible would lead one to believe, rather meaning continues to unfold as human understanding and consciousness progresses to a higher and higher levels. Much meaning can be derived from great literary works such as the Bible, but they are not an end unto themselves as many believe. It is only when we allow Scripture to speak from the age and time in which it was written that its purpose can be fully realized and that is of one stepping stone on a path of many on the journey of life.

We should also remember that God has a purpose for the earth He created and has had from the beginning. This is where the promised kingdom will be and where the saints with Christ will rule until the kingdom has been fully restored to the point of having abolished sin and death.
Right from the very beginning, God said, Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
This will be when Jesus hands the kingdom over to his Heavenly Father.
1 Cor 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

At this point we can say that God’s glory has filled the whole earth. What we have in store for eternity is a planet that we can enjoy in peace without the evil that is in the world today. We might have glimpses into the future and thoughts of what we think paradise might be like, but what God has in store we can hardly begin to imagine. 1 Cor2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

There is no reason to assume that our place in the kingdom is anywhere else than upon this earth to be enjoyed as God intended.

I agree with Rose that we should not be bogged down in dogma, but once we have established within ourselves the truth as best we can understand it, we are freed from the struggle that we have before we find it and before we find the peace that comes from knowing the truth. However, we have a daily struggle to do the will of God rather than fall prey to our nature that wants to put our will before God’s. Living according to the will of God is our daily struggle and whilst our minds should be set on all that is holy and righteous and have our minds set on spiritual and heavenly thoughts, our feet or firmly planted on this earth which is where the kingdom will be.

There is a freedom that comes from knowing the truth and being in the covenant relationship made by Jesus.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

It is this freedom by which in this life and the life to come in the kingdom that we can have the peace that comes
Phil4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

David

[Rose]

We should also remember that God has a purpose for the earth He created and has had from the beginning. This is where the promised kingdom will be and where the saints with Christ will rule until the kingdom has been fully restored to the point of having abolished sin and death.
Right from the very beginning, God said, Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
This will be when Jesus hands the kingdom over to his Heavenly Father.
1 Cor 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The problem with that way of thinking is that it shuts down possibilities for growth beyond the narrow teachings of the Bible. If one is to believe that the God of the Bible has already destined humanity to a paticular course then the only path to walk has already been laid. This is what I meant by "camping out on the stepping stone", with it being an end unto itself. The minute people think they have found the true way their minds become closed to any other possiblity, hence they are confined within their religious box. I know this from personal experience, though I would have told you at the time I was completely free in Christ, but in reality I was only free within the narrow confines of my Christian box...which is not freedom at all.

Rose

[CWH]

The problem with that way of thinking is that it shuts down possibilities for growth beyond the narrow teachings of the Bible. If one is to believe that the God of the Bible has already destined humanity to a paticular course then the only path to walk has already been laid. This is what I meant by "camping out on the stepping stone", with it being an end unto itself. The minute people think they have found the true way their minds become closed to any other possiblity, hence they are confined within their religious box. I know this from personal experience, though I would have told you at the time I was completely free in Christ, but in reality I was only free within the narrow confines of my Christian box...which is not freedom at all.

Rose

If Rose and RAM are really free from the narrow confines of the Christian box, then get rid of the Full Preterist doctrine and give each theological doctrine an equal playing field be it Preterist, Futurist, Historist or Idealist. The posts and threads that you and RAM presented seem biased towards the Full Preterist's doctrine, how then are you supposed to be totally free from the narrow confines of your Christian box if you keep holding on to the bias?

God Bless us All. :pray:

[Richard Amiel McGough]

If Rose and RAM are really free from the narrow confines of the Christian box, then get rid of the Full Preterist doctrine and give each theological doctrine an equal playing field be it Preterist, Futurist, Historist or Idealist. The posts and threads that you and RAM presented seem biased towards the Full Preterist's doctrine, how then are you supposed to be totally free from the narrow confines of your Christian box if you keep holding on to the bias?

God Bless us All. :pray:
Whatchya talking about Cheow? We have a totally equal and open "playing field" here on this forum for every eschatogical view.

Everyone's opinions are "biased" in the direction that they think are most true. What are you complaining about? You are free to post whatever you want according to your own bias. There is no censorship here.

As for Preterism - I still think it is the best (by far) understanding of what the Bible actually teaches. I don't think it is perfect, so I have concluded that the Bible is logically incoherent. But the other systems have no chance of being correct as far as I can tell. Especially futurism which is so crazy and unbiblical that it boggles my mind that anyone who claims to believe the Bible could advocate it.

[CWH]

[QUOTE=RAM;41305]Whatchya talking about Cheow? We have a totally equal and open "playing field" here on this forum for every eschatogical view.

Everyone's opinions are "biased" in the direction that they think are most true. What are you complaining about? You are free to post whatever you want according to your own bias. There is no censorship here.
I understand RAM and thank you for your kindness. But I do feel in my own opinion that others have been "thumbed down" or coldly treated or ridicule just because they have their own thoughts and opinions that wasn't acceptable to others. Good example are Lotus Feet, Watchman etc. If this forum is on equal playing field, I would expect this forum to be more acceptable to their deemed "ridiculous" thoughts. It should be like a brainstorming session where everyone's view is valued no matter how disagreeable or ridiculous it may be.


As for Preterism - I still think it is the best (by far) understanding of what the Bible actually teaches. I don't think it is perfect, so I have concluded that the Bible is logically incoherent. But the other systems have no chance of being correct as far as I can tell. Especially futurism which is so crazy and unbiblical that it boggles my mind that anyone who claims to believe the Bible could advocate it.
If this is not biased, I wonder what is as you already have a preconceived idea of who is right and who is wrong and what is biblical and what is not. To be really free from religious confines, one should not have such preconceived ideas or judgmental view but treat all religious views on equal standings.

God Blessings to all.:pray: