Whole Bible Christianity, Introduction<\/p>\n
Bouncing around, I searched and searched for the fruit of the Spirit. I was told I needed it and didn\u2019t have it, and I was told lots of different ways to get it. I desperately wanted it, but couldn\u2019t seem to make much headway. The Assembly churches tell me that getting \u201cbaptized in the Spirit,\u201d is the way, and the evidence would be \u201cspeaking in tongues.\u201d But much of that not only didn\u2019t 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\u2019t produce much fruit. I did learn I wasn\u2019t supposed to drink or dance, though. And if I listened to rock music or watched \u2018R\u2019 rated movies I was going straight to hell (tongue firmly in cheek here). Uh oh.<\/p>\n
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 \u201callow Jesus to be the person inside of you that He wants you to be.\u201d Or \u201cdon\u2019t try to do, just be.\u201d Some people told me I needed to see or have \u201ca vision of the resurrected Christ.\u201d Yeah\u2026..huh? Too much pagan philosophy in there if you ask me.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t get the straight scoop on how to get the fruit myself from those around me. I still don\u2019t have all of the fruit perfectly, but I\u2019ve found the simple steps to get it. God didn\u2019t hide them. He\u2019s been telling us where it\u2019s at for 6,000 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Whole Bible Christianity, Introduction Bouncing around, I searched and searched for the fruit of the Spirit. I was told I needed it and didn\u2019t have it, and I was told lots of different ways to get it. I desperately wanted … read more