Filed under: Church wrongs | Tags: church, churches, Crazy Christians, factions, God
I have had a few conversations with Gnostics. In order to converse with them I have read some of the Gnostic “gospels”in the same way that I have read the Koran and the Book of Mormon and the L. Ron Hubbard books. It is an advantage to be able to relate to a differing belief system with some level of understanding, and having a common platform from which to begin communication. It would not be possible to communicate with people unless you have some common frame of reference.
It has been much more difficult to communicate with the Gnastic Christians. These are the people who just seem gnasty. They have gnasty comments, gnasty actions and while they claim to use the Bible as a study guide, I have long suspected that another volume of “wisdom” of some kind takes precedence over the Blessed Scripture.
Certain modern bible scholars have used an inductive method to come to a conclusion that there was a pre-gospel book called “Q”, the “source” for Matthew, Mark and Luke. The claim is that there is so much commonality that a written form MUST have been in existence that the writers used as a template for their letters. As an uneducated man, I always supposed the commonality to Christ.
Using this accepted scholarly technique, I propose that there is a source book for the Gnastics. It is obvious from their large number and homogenous nature, the uniformity and ubiquity of this branch of Christians , that there is some guiding text book on which their behavior is based. I will call it “The Gospel of Gnast, Guide book for the Gnasty Christian.”
I know this book is existent! It must be. There is such an amazing base of evidence . Based on quotes so often heard from people who follow this philosophy I believe it is possible to reconstruct segments of the Gnast, even to find verses, based upon the behavior and speech of the Gnastic Christians. While my scholarship is poor, my experience with the Gnastics predates my conversion to Christ my Lord, and in fact may have delayed it. Were it not for the supremacy of God and the relentless power of the Holy Spirit, I believe the doctrine of the Gnatics would have kept me from the Grace in which I live. Based on these years of [horrible] experience I will interpolate what their Gospel must contain.
Verily, The Lord seeith the heart through rose-colored glasses. The appearance of religion is what is desired of you by your God. Cruelty is to be honored if it is ye who are cruel, honesty directed at thee is cruel and mean Spirited. Your salvation is a badge of honor to you, and is to be used to make the unsaved feel like the miserable wretches they are. Those preachers whose message is an ointment to your ears are truly blessed, those with whom you do not agree are hell-bound sinners. The way you were when you first became a believer is the way thou shalt stay, and those doctrines you first embraced are never to be questioned. Suffer the little children to be scolded and criticized, whereby ye can feel good about thyself and thy mighty status as “true believer”. Those who would criticize thee by holding scripture to thy face as a mirror are of Satan. Blessed art the sour, for they shall ensure the pews have much open space. For God so loved some of the world, That He sent His only Son, that ye and thy little clique might feel superior to all. Thou shalt support the church and thy Pastor as long as ye are having thy needs met.
There is a great body of Gnastic teachings that I have yet to compile. These teachings run deep in the Body of Christ. Have you experienced them? Do you have some Gnastic Verse to share? How have Gnastics affected your life, your ministry?
Or is it just me.
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Willohroots 
Smoldering wicks make smoke and should be met with the fire hose of truth.
Comment by Steve Scott February 6, 2010 @ 17:09Steve, have you run into many Gnastics in your travels? Perhaps some who criticize your favorite beverage?
Comment by willohroots February 6, 2010 @ 18:19Most certainly. Because Creation was perfect, and there was no death or decay in the garden, the fermentation process (bioligical decay of sorts) is a product of the fall, and therefore sinful in and of itself. Anybody who drinks alcohol might necessarily be an unbeliever. Many other gnasticisms too numerous to enumerate.
Blessed are the Berean Spirit cessationists, for the Berean Spirit was good for the book of Acts and for the Reformation, but ceased at the forming of our church.
Comment by Steve Scott February 6, 2010 @ 20:22Wonder what they think of ole’ Martin Luther?
Comment by willohroots February 6, 2010 @ 21:29They love Luther because he got under the skin of the Catholic church. But, nobody should do the same to us and our church.
Comment by Steve Scott February 9, 2010 @ 13:19Hey Will….how’s the global warming in your neck of the woods?
Comment by Ike February 13, 2010 @ 15:16it is hard to tell, my thermometer froze.
Comment by willohroots February 16, 2010 @ 13:46