[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

The Scriptures "operate" regardless of our subjective feelings or sensibilities. Trust me, the Scriptures always know "what's the difference between what's just ourselves and what's actually Christ", and as the author of Hebrews so clearly points out, the Scriptures are able to discern between our spirit and our soul.

My goodness, what have we all come to when the mere mentioning that "the Scriptures operate regardless of our subjective feelings" are considered fightin words! It seems to me that some of us care more for our lexicon than for the unvarnished truth in the Word of God. I know I'm guilty of this from time to time, but this is part of what this forum is all about - "Iron sharpens iron". We may all do well to take to heart the words of Karl Barth (today's quote) "When we speak of our virtues we are competitors. When we confess our sins we become brothers." I think that part of our "recovery from the Recovery" might be to seriously consider loosening the tight grip we hold on the "virtues" of some of the cherished terms and concepts...even the ones that are seemingly based upon the Scriptures. I guess it never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for us Christians to beat the plowshares of the living and abiding Word of God into swords of dogmatism to sway against our brothers. May God have mercy on us all!

And so it goes with this matter of the difference (or lack thereof) between the soul and the human spirit. Some of us will insist that this is an essential item of the Christian faith (a la Watchman Nee) while others hold to the notion that there is no discernible difference. Maybe most of us fall somewhere in between the two of these "extremes"? In any event, I would still ask my brothers who hold that there is a crucial difference to please give us some simple, plain and practical examples. After all, if we cannot give such practical examples that confirm the validity, if not the value, of any teaching or practice, that should be telling us that maybe, just maybe, we are making more of something than God and his Word can confirm. Just sayin...
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