Chapter 4 (Part 5)
Christians and “Concrete” Mind-set "The Fear Root"

I will now launch into an area I have been familiar with for over 30 years; the mind-set of my Christian friends. I understand quite clearly that that 30 year journey was necessary in order for me to be able to present this material from a point of view of intimate knowledge of it. 

The first thing Christians will be required to “break” is exactly that “mind-set.” That the “osmosis beliefs” we espouse can be looked at without a loss of “faith” or commitment to our relationship with God. We tend to feel that a departure from “established beliefs” is a departure from “faith.” We tend to imagine that inquiry and change in “beliefs” is an abandonment of our relationship with God. On the contrary! When we question our “beliefs” and, when they prove unfounded and we have the courage to change them, it moves us into a more realistic and viable relationship with our God. When we see Him as He actually is, it is even a more awesome and productive relationship and we come to a place where we can be realistically used by Him to impact our world and reveal Him to it. 

The irrational “fear” of anything outside the scope of what we have been taught that is imbedded into “Christian thinking” comes from the source of fear, our adversary the devil!  If we believe that “God has not given us a spirit of fear,” then that “fear” of confrontation with “Truth” must not be from God! I see “fear” as the opposite force of “faith.” This is an important issue; one we need to understand. 

Let’s examine the “Fear Root…” 

“THE FEAR ROOT”

DEFINE: LOVE, FAITH, FEAR

(from the dictionary)

LOVE:  BOTH A VERB AND A NOUN INDICATING THAT ACTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOVE…”a passionate feeling of desire and attraction…an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion…somebody who is loved….a strong liking for or pleasure gained from something…something that elicits deep interest and enthusiasm in somebody…in Christian belief, the mercy, grace, and charity shown by God to humanity…& the worship and adoration of God” 

FAITH: “belief in, devotion to, or trust in (3 STEPS) somebody or something, especially without logical proof… belief in and devotion to God…strongly held set of beliefs or principles… allegiance or loyalty to somebody or something” 

FEAR:  ALSO A NOUN AND A VERB INDICATING ACTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEELING, TOO…”an unpleasant feeling of anxiety or apprehension caused by the presence or anticipation of danger… (WE ARE GOING TO EXAMINE “DANGER” IN REGARD TO “LOVE”) a concern about something that threatens to bring bad news or results” 

THE BASIS FOR LOVE, FAITH, AND FEAR

BEFORE WE CAN EXAMINE THESE ASPECTS OF OUR BEING, WE SHOULD DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE THEM AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

LET’S GO BACK AND ESTABLISH THE BASIS OF WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US, SINCE HE TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT TO CREATE US!

GOD TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT TO TELL US AN IMPORTANT FACT ON WHICH ALL OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM IS BASED…WE ARE CREATED IN HIS “IMAGE” AND THEREFORE WITH HIS NATURE AND MANY OF HIS ABILITIES.

GOD CREATED A “BEING” CAPABLE OF REFLECTING HIS NATURE, WHICH IS “LOVE,” BACK TO HIM AND OPERATING WITH THAT NATURE IN THE EARTH WITH HIM. HE CREATED A BEING CAPABLE OF ACTUALLY RELATING TO HIM ON THE LEVEL OF LOVE AND INTELLECT; ONE THAT COULD LITERALLY TALK WITH HIM ON HIS LEVEL; COMMUNICATING WITH HIM AND INTERACTING WITH HIM. 

HEBREW: צֶלֶם “IMAGE” (FROM: STRONG’S CONCORDENCE)

TRANSLITERATION: TSELEM    

PART OF SPEECH: MASCULINE NOUN          

ROOT WORD (ETYMOLOGY): FROM AN UNUSED ROOT MEANING TO SHADE            

BIBLICAL USAGE:

1) IMAGE

A) IMAGES (OF TUMOURS, MICE, HEATHEN GODS)

B) IMAGE, LIKENESS (OF RESEMBLANCE) 

UNTIL OUR SOUL ACCEPTS OUR CONSTRUCTION IN THE “IMAGE: OF GOD AS BEING NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, BUT “REAL;” THERE IS NO BASIS FOR INTERACTING WITH GOD. 

WHERE DOES “FEAR” COME FROM?

IF WE CAN IDENTIFY ITS ROOT, THEN CAN WE PULL IT UP?  

WHEN WE BEGIN TO EXAMINE WHERE “FEAR” COMES FROM WE FIND OUT THAT OUR DESIRE TO BE LOVED AND ACCEPTED IS AT THE VERY ROOT OF WHAT “FEAR” IS. AND THIS MAKES SENSE, AS “LOVE” IS THE VERY CORE OF WHAT AND WHO WE ARE! IN OTHER WORDS, THINGS THAT THREATEN OUR “LOVE” ARE THE ROOT OF THE FEELINGS OF FEAR THAT WE HAVE. 

WHEN GOD MADE US “IN HIS IMAGE,” HE ALSO SHARED WITH US AND PLACED WITHIN US THE CORE OF HIS BEING…WE CALL IT “LOVE.”

LOVE REACHS IN AND REACHES OUT

LOVE NOT ONLY REACHES OUT IN THE ACTIONS OF LOVE, IT ALSO REACHES IN TO THE VERY HEART OF WHAT AND WHO WE ARE….WHICH IS, AGAIN, “LOVE.” 

WHEN THAT “LOVE” IS THREATENED, OR OUR SOUL THINKS IT IS, THEN WE BECOME CONCERNED THAT IT MAY BE WITHDRAWN, OR WITHHELD FROM US.

THIS CAUSES US TO ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE “LOVE” WE GET FROM OTHERS, AND TO TAKE WHAT OUR SOUL DETERMINES ARE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO ASSURE THAT IT KEEPS ON FLOWING TOWARDS US. WE ARE CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE CORE OF “LOVE” AFTER ALL, AND WE NEED TO BE “LOVED” IN ORDER TO THRIVE. 

BY THE SAME MEANS, WHEN OUR SOUL DETERMINES THAT THE LOVE WE GIVE IS REJECTED AND SPURNED, IT LASHES OUT AGAINST THE ONE IT DETERMINES IS WITHHOLDING THE LOVE WE DESIRE. THIS IS TOWARDS PEOPLE AND TOWARDS GOD, AS WELL. 

FAITH COMES FROM THE CENTER OF OUR BEING, FROM THE VERY NATURE WE ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH, AND, THEREFORE FROM…“LOVE.”

SO OUR FAITH IS BASED IN “LOVE” TOO. AND THIS MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE CORE OF US, TOO, IS THE NATURE OF THE GOD WHO CREATED US….LOVE. 

AT ITS ROOT, “FEAR” IS A DIRECT ATTACK AGAINST “LOVE.”

ATTACKS AGAINST LOVE, OR WHAT OUR SOUL DETERMINES ARE “ATTACKS,” CAUSE “FEAR.” EVEN THE LIES OF OUR ENEMY ABOUT “LOVE,” GOD’S OR OTHER’S, CAN BE THE BASIS OUR SOUL DETERMINES AS AN “ATTACK.” EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LIE AND NOT TRUE! 

FAITH AND FEAR

WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT “FEAR” IS THE OPPOSITE FORCE OF “FAITH.”

“FAITH” BELIEVES, BASICALLY, IN THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS US AND HIS ABILITY TO PERFORM WHAT WE KNOW BELONGS TO US BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US…BUT THAT WE DON’T HAVE IN OUR HANDS YET.

IF WE TAKE OUT THE LOVE OF GOD FOR YOU AND I, THEN “FAITH” IS COMPLETELY DEFLATED AND BECOMES UNABLE TO FUNCTION! FAITH RELIES ON GOD’S LOVE TOWARDS AND FOR US AS IT’S FOUNDATION.  

WHAT FEAR CAUSES

FEAR CAUSES REACTION IN EVERY PART OF OUR BEING. IN THE SPIRITUAL IT NEGATES FAITH…IN THE SOUL IT CAUSES CONFUSION, STIRS UP EMOTIONS, AND CHALLENGES THE FREE WILL…IN THE BODY IT CAUSES “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” REACTIONS THAT SURGE OUR ADRENELIN AND CAN ULTIMATELY DAMAGE THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF THE BODY IF LEFT UNDEALT WITH. 

FAITH HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT; IT UNDERGIRDS THE SPIRIT MAN AND REASSURES IT; IT BRINGS PEACE, CALMS OUR EMOTIONS, AND CONFRONTS OUR FREE WILL WITH TRUTH…IT BRINGS PEACE AND COMFORT TO THE SOUL AND TO THE PHYSICAL MAN. FAITH REASSURES US OF GOD’S CONTINUING LOVE AND THE POWER OF THAT LOVE TO BRING CHANGE INTO US AND INTO OUR SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS ONLY THE LOVE OF GOD THAT CHANGES US FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND MAKES US VESSELS OF SERVICE AND VESSELS OF HONOR FOR OUR LOVING FATHER! 

WHAT THE DEVIL KNOWS

THE DEVIL’S MOST POWERFUL AND LOUDEST “LIE” IS “GOD DOES NOT LOVE YOU!” IF GOD DOES NOT LOVE YOU THEN EVERYTHING IN THE WORD OF GOD BECOMES POWERLESS!

WHEN HE LIES AND SAYS “GOD IS NOT COMING THROUGH FOR YOU THIS TIME,” IT IS AN ATTACK AGAINST THE LOVE OF GOD FOR YOU…AND AN ATTEMPT TO GET YOU TO BACK OFF FROM THAT LOVE! BECAUSE WE ARE GIVEN “FREE WILL” WE CONSTANTLY MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO REJECT THE LOVE OF GOD FOR US. THE SAME WITH HEALING, WITH PROSPERITY, WITH PEACE; WHEN WE DENY THAT GOD LOVES US, THAN ALL THESE THINGS BECOME UNOBTAINABLE BY FAITH! 

I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT “PLANTING” DOUBT OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US IS THE PRIMARY TOOL USED BY OUR ENEMY TO TRY AND DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN US AND GOD. IT IS HIS “LIE” THAT WE ARE NOT LOVABLE (WORTHY TO BE LOVED) THAT STIRS UP DOUBT WHICH THEN TURNS TO FEAR IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THAT FEAR THEN DRIVES OUT FAITH. 

GETTING “SAVED”

WHEN WE COME BACK INTO “RELATIONSHIP” WITH GOD, WE CALL IT “SAVED,” BECAUSE WE SUDDENLY REALIZED AND ACCEPTED THAT GOD DID LOVE US AFTER ALL! THIS DESPITE THE LIES OF THE ENEMY, AND OUR OWN UNRENEWED SOUL’S VOICE, THAT IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE THAT GOD COULD LOVE SUCH AN IMPERFECT BEING (AS JUDGED BY OUR SOUL) ….BUT WE FOUND OUT HE DOES! AND WHEN WE DID, HE RUSHED BACK INTO OUR LIVES WITH HIS PRESENCE AND HIS WORD LIKE A MIGHTY WIND! IN THE UPPER ROOM ON PENTECOST THE SAME THING HAPPENED! HE, WITH HIS SPIRIT, INHABITED US AGAIN BECAUSE WE ACCEPTED HIS LOVE FOR US!

EVEN WHILE WE WERE PARALIZED BY THE FEAR OF NOT BEING LOVED BY GOD, HIS LOVE BROKE THROUGH THAT FEAR AND WE ACCEPTED HIS ASSURANCE OF LOVING US! 

PROBING & PUSHING

IN EARTHLY RELATIONSHIPS WE CONSTANTLY “TEST,” OFTEN WITHOUT REALIZING IT, THE “LOVE” RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE. AS SECURE AS WE SPIRITUALLY KNOW THEY ARE, OUR SOUL STILL “PUSHS” ON THEM TO BE SURE THEY WILL STAND…SOMETIMES WE GO TO UNHEALTHY LEVELS BY EVEN PUTTING ASIDE THE ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LOVE AND CONFRONTING THOSE WE LOVE WITH CHALLENGES TO SEE IF THEY DO TRULY “LOVE” US; AGAIN, OFTEN WITH OUT CONSIOUSLY REALIZING THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING! 

WE GET INTO “SHOUTING MATCHES” AND ACCUSE FOLKS WE LOVE OF EVEN NOT LOVING US JUST TO HEAR WE ARE LOVED…SOMETIMES WE “PUSH” SO HARD THAT WE GET REACTIONS WE DON’T WANT! I NOTICED THIS TENDENCY WHEN MY RIGHT EYE WAS LOSING VISION… DESPITE THE FACT THAT I KNEW MY EYE COULD SEE LITTLE…MY SOUL KEPT CHECKING THE FACTS … I WOULD CLOSE MY LEFT EYE AND “CHECK” HOW MUCH MY RIGHT EYE COULD ACTUALLY SEE…MY SOUL NEEDED NATURAL CONFIRMATION OF A FACT I ALREADY KNEW WAS REAL! SOMETIMES, WHEN WE HAVE A “BOBO,” WE’LL TOUCH IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO SEE HOW MUCH IT ACTUALLY HURTS; WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW THAT ACTION WILL CAUSE IT TO HURT MORE! 

IT IS THE “NEED” FOR OUR SOUL TO CONFIRM WHAT IT THINKS IT ALREADY KNOWS WITH SENSORY INPUT AND CONFIRMATION. 

“SALVATION” IS OVERCOMING THE FEAR WE HAD OF GOD NOT LOVING US.

EVEN WITH GOD, MANY OF US HAD AN INCORRECT PICTURE OF GOD THAT CAUSED US TO “FEAR” HIM BEFORE WE REALIZED THAT HE REALLY DID AND DOES LOVE US, EVEN DESPITE THE OFTEN INSINCERE WAY WE RELATE TO HIM. WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE LOVE PUSHED OUT FEAR AND WE CAME BACK INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…WE GOT “SAVED.” 

EVEN AFTER WE ALLOW HIM BACK IN OUR LIVES, WE SOMETIMES ALLOW SIN IN, AND THEN QUESTION HIS CONTINUING TO LOVE US (WHEN HE DOES!) AND WE TEST HIS LOVE FOR US WITH “REPENTENCE” AND FIND OUT HE ACCEPTS US, LOVES US, REGARDLESS OF OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND FAULTS.

DESPITE GOD’S PROVEN LOVE FOR US, WE STILL TEST IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!

WHAT WE CALL “GRACE” IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US! 

CAN WE FINALLY SETTLE THAT GOD LOVES US?

SETTLE IT TO A DEGREE THAT WON’T BE THREATENED BY OUR OWN FAULTS AND SHORTCOMINGS? 

IF WE CAN ESTABLISH THAT AS “FACT” IN OUR “SOUL” (OUR SPIRIT ALREADY KNOWS AND ACCEPTS THAT AS REAL) THEN MUCH OF THE STRUGGLE WE HAVE WITH GOD AND WITH OTHER FOLKS WOULD SUBSIDE! EVEN IN OUR CLOSEST LOVE RELATIONSHIPS, THERE WOULD COME A STABLITIY BECAUSE THE PRIMARY RELATIONSHIP, THE ONE WE HAVE WITH GOD, WOULD NO LONGER BE A BATTLE GROUND FOR OUR ENEMY! HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO THREATEN US WITH THE LOSS OF GOD’S LOVE ANY LONGER!

AND BECAUSE THAT IS SETTLED, THEN WE CAN REACH OUT FROM THAT SECURITY TO BRING THE SAME STABILTY TO HUMAN LOVE RELATIONSHIPS. 

WHAT WOULD CONVINCE OUR SOULS, WHICH OPERATE IN THE NATURAL REALM AND ONLY WANT TO ACCEPT “PERCEPTUAL” THINGS AS REAL; THAT THE LOVE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH GOD IS “CONCRETE?” AND CAN WE THEN TAKE THAT “SECURITY” AND APPLY THAT IN THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE IN THE EARTH?

LET’S TRY AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION…IT IS OBVIOULY PIVITOL FOR OUR CHRISTIAN WALK AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE EARTH! 

CONVINCING THE SOUL

THE SOUL ONLY WANTS TO OPERATE WITH THINGS THAT THE FIVE SENSES CAN CONFIRM; THINGS WE CAN SEE, HEAR, TOUCH, TASTE, AND SMELL. WE CANNOT CHANGE THAT; HOWEVER WE CAN PROVIDE “EVIDENCE” THAT WILL CAUSE THE SOUL TO ADJUST ITS ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT IS “REAL.” 

MANY OF THE THINGS, IF NOT ALL, THAT WE CHOOSE TO “DO” REFLECT OUR DEEP DESIRE TO BE “LOVED;” WE WANT TO BE LOVED BY GOD AND BY THE PEOPLE AROUND US; IT IS PART OF THE VERY NATURE OF WHAT “LOVE” IS! PART OF LOVE ‘S NATURE IS ITS DESIRE TO BE “RECIPROCATED”…“GIVEN BACK.” 

THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT HAVING THAT LOVE MOTIVATES MANY OF OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS. WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THE LOVE OF GOD OR THE LOVE OF PEOPLE AROUND US. THE POSSIBILITY OF THE LOSS OF THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE PEOPLE WE LOVE, OR WANT TO LOVE, MAKE US RESPONSIVE TO THE “LIES” OF OUR ENEMY. 

WE, IN OUR SPIRIT AND INTELLECTUALLY, CAN KNOW THAT WE CANNOT LOSE THE LOVE OF GOD, IT IS NOT AN “EARNED” LOVE, BUT A “GIVEN” LOVE; NONETHELESS THE DEVIL WILL WHISPER IN OUR EAR CONTINUALLY ABOUT OUR FAULTS AND FAILINGS; ABOUT OUR NOT “DESERVING” THE LOVE OF GOD; REGARDLESS OF THE “FACT” IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “DESERVING.”

WE CANNOT EARN THE LOVE OF GOD. IT IS GIVEN BY HIM WITH NO “STRINGS” ATTACHED! 

OUR SOUL DOES NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT IS LOOKING FOR SENSORY EVIDENCE…AND SENSORY EVIDENCE IS NOT FORTHCOMING BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH A “SPIRITUAL” MATTER…SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE RECEIVED BY “FAITH” NOT BY THE “SENSES.” 

BECAUSE THAT IS SO, WE NEED TO GRAB ON AND HOLD FAST TO THE SPIRITUAL THAT GOD ALLOWS TO “SLOP OVER” INTO THE NATURAL.

WE ARE GOING TO MENTION THOSE AND TRY TO RAISE OUR AWARENESS OF HOW PRECIOUS AND IMPORTANT THOSE SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE TO OUR SOUL…OUR MIND, WILL, AND EMOTIONS. 

THE “COMFORT” OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT COMES AS WE SUBMIT AND IMMERSE OURSELVES INTO “SPIRITUAL” THINGS…AND THIS REQUIRES A SUBMISSION OF OUR WILL, MIND, AND EMOTIONS TO GOD. GOD CANNOT “TOUCH” THOSE THINGS THAT WE CHOOSE TO “RESERVE” WITH OUR FREE WILL!

THE ROOT OF FEAR IS THE PRECIEVED, POTENTIAL, LOSS OF LOVE.

THAT “LOSS” MAY NOT BE REAL, BUT OUR SOUL INTERPETS IT AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF THE LOSS OF LOVE. 

MY WIFE LOVES ME’  YET THE ENEMY CONTINUALLY TELLS ME THAT I DO NOT DESERVE THAT LOVE, AND THAT THAT LOVE IS IN CONSTANT DANGER OF BEING WITHDRAWN. THAT IS A LIE. BUT MY SOUL CONTIUALLY “PROBES” TO RE-ASSURE ITSELF THAT THAT LOVE CONTINUES. IT WANTS CONTINUAL SENSORY MANIFESTATION OF THAT LOVE FROM MY WIFE TO RE-ASSURE ME THAT HER LOVE CONTINUES. UNTIL I GET PAST THAT NEED OF MY SOUL AND JUST ACCEFT THAT LOVE THAT IS OFFERED, I WILL BE TORMENTED BY THE “ENEMY OF MY SOUL!” I DO NOT DESERVE MY WIFE’S LOVE…BUT SHE HAS CHOSEN TO GIVE IT. LOVE CAN ONLY BE GIVEN, NEVER EARNED. 

THE TOOL OF THE ENEMY IS TO PRESENT US “LIES” AND DISTORTIONS THAT OUR SOUL SEES AS A POTENTIAL LOSS OF THE LOVE IT CRAVES AND NEEDS. 

LISTEN NOW…HE USES THE SAME TACTICS AND THE SAME LIES TO TRY AND DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN US AND OUR GOD! HE INSERTES THE “LIE” OF THE LOSS OR WITHDRAWL OF GOD’S LOVE, AND THAT BECOMES FEAR WHICH ATTACKS FAITH! 

THE LOVE OF GOD FOR YOU IS UNCHANGING AND UNMOVEABLE BY ANY FORCE, NATURAL OR SPIRITUAL! GOD HAS CHOSEN TO LOVE US BECAUSE WE ARE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE…AND HE LOVES HIMSELF! THE REFLECTION OF HIMSELF HE PLACED IN US AT CREATION COMPELS HIM TO LOVE US! 

HOW CAN OUR SOUL “PERCEIVE” THIS THROUGH THE SENSES?

THE SOUL IS THE MIND, THE WILL, AND THE EMOTIONS. 

1. BEHOLDING THE GRANDURE AND SCOPE OF THE NATURAL REALITY THAT SURROUNDS IT; ALL OF WHICH CONFRIM TO THE SENSES THE REALITY OF A CREATOR AND GOD. (EYES, EARS, TOUCH, SMELL, TASTE) 

2. TAKING IN THROUGH THE “SENSE GATES” (EYES, EARS, NOSE, TASTE, TOUCH) THE WORD, WHICH CONFIRMS WHAT THE SENSES PRECEIVE IN THE NATURAL REALITY. THE WORD ALSO FEEDS THE SOUL SPIRITUAL “KNOWLDEGE.”

THIS IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE “MIND.” THE “MIND” IS THE INTELLECTUAL STOREHOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR JUDGEMENTS OF THE WILL AND REACTIONS OF THE EMOTIONS. 

3. PERMITTING THE “SENSE GATES” TO INTERACT WITH THE SPIRITUAL REALM IN THE “ANOINTING” (THE TANGIBLE PRESENCE OF GOD CONFIRMED BY THE SENSES) THROUGH THE EYES, EARS, TOUCH, SMELL, TASTE 

FINALLY, AND IN CLOSING, LET ME DEFINE “BITTERNESS.”

“BITTERNESS” IS THE HOPE FOR LOVE ABANDONED BY YOUR SOUL. 

End of excerpt from “The Fear Root.” You might want to go back and read that, and my observations on the “Anointing,” again! 

Fear makes us un-teachable and in-tolerant

If we recognize and take “fear” out of the equation, then we can again become “teachable.” The “fear” of change is not only re-enforced by the enemy of our souls, who rummages around in that realm of our being (“soul”), but by violent social pressure from folks who profess “love” but refuse to walk in the manifestations and actions of it. 

“Tolerance” among “Christians” is almost non-existent. Much of it stems from fear and the loss of being able to look at items associated with the Word through any other eyes then the ones clouded by tradition, doctrine (some incorrect), and emotion…all those are in the “soul” realm; relationship with God is in the “spirit” realm. “Christians” cannot become “teachable” until they deal with their own closed minds and their attitude that they “know it all!” You can well image how I had to struggle with this area in my own life!

Next :“New Beliefs?”