Whole Bible Christianity, Introduction
Bouncing around, I searched and searched for the fruit of the Spirit. I was told I needed it and didn’t have it, and I was told lots of different ways to get it. I desperately wanted it, but couldn’t seem to make much headway. The Assembly churches tell me that getting “baptized in the Spirit,” is the way, and the evidence would be “speaking in tongues.” But much of that not only didn’t work for the people I met, it appeared false compared to the Word. (Not that tongues are wrong, just most of the practice.) Baptists and Methodists like Bible study, but cloud a walk with all sorts of man-made rules that don’t produce much fruit. I did learn I wasn’t supposed to drink or dance, though. And if I listened to rock music or watched ‘R’ rated movies I was going straight to hell (tongue firmly in cheek here). Uh oh.
Presbyterians and Lutherans have a little more objective truth, and a little more of the whole Bible in some ways, but spiritualize many parts of the Word out of my reach. Catholics not only spiritualize (when they let you read the Word at all for yourself) but also tell me that liturgy and praying to people besides God is the way to go. Mormons have their secret temple stuff and Jews have the Talmud (neither in the Word). Seventh Day Adventists insist on a Sabbath, but stop short of whole Bible belief. I hear all sorts of strange ideas too, like “allow Jesus to be the person inside of you that He wants you to be.” Or “don’t try to do, just be.” Some people told me I needed to see or have “a vision of the resurrected Christ.” Yeah…..huh? Too much pagan philosophy in there if you ask me.
There are those in any group that seem to get at least some fruit of the Spirit some of the time, in spite of the system they find themselves in. The prophets, apostles, and disciples seem to have it in full measure. But generally I couldn’t get the straight scoop on how to get the fruit myself from those around me. I still don’t have all of the fruit perfectly, but I’ve found the simple steps to get it. God didn’t hide them. He’s been telling us where it’s at for 6,000 years.