DOCTRINAL RIGIDITY
(Religious absolutism; superstitious obstinacy;
hostile doctrinism; rigid religianism)

Is there a solitary, fixed and "frozen", human-approved religious doctrine which, ALONE, is true and correct.... in the MIND of GOD?


A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
( http://www.terrific-tabs.com )
by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)


The web-link to this "tablet" is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_doct_rigid.htm
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This "tablet" interrelates closely with CIRCUMVENTING and Restricting God (link)
And: SALVATION is from God -- not from humans, or churches
AND: A SIGN for the front door of EVERY church (link)
AND: TRUTH; God's Truth (link)
AND: The OMNIPRESENCE of God (link)
SEE also an antithetical position: Religious SYNCRETISM (link)


"Doctored".... 5/00; 3/01; 5/01; 8/01; 10/01; 12/01;1/02; 2/02; 4/02; 5/02; 6/02; 7/02; 9/02; 10/02; 11/02; 12/02; 1/7/03; 3/03; 4/03; 5/03; 6/03; 8/03; 9/03; 12/03; 2/04; 7/04; 8/04; 11/04; 1/05; 10/05; 3/06; 7/14/06

CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
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Acts 17: 24 (NRSV) The God who made the world and everything in it, He who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything -- since He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath -- and all things..... 28 For 'In Him (God) we live and move, and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are His offspring.' 29 Since we are God's offspring, we ought NOT to think that The DEITY is like gold, or silver, or stone.... an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.


 
Which one of the world's countless "religious" doctrines is correct, and "true".... in the eyes of God? How do you and I know whether (or not) we are pleasing and satisfying God, in the "religion" we claim to "accept", and believe. Are "the others" wrong -- those "others" who do not believe as we believe -- and are they therefore not satisfying God.... and are they hence omitted from the "benefits" that come with God's favor?

Which one of the world's numerous rigid "religious" doctrines should you accept? Whom should you consult, for your "decision" -- your parents, your "church", your pastor or priest or rabbi or imam... or your friends? Which of your several sincere and caring teachers and advisors should you "believe"?

Should you study the great religions, and the great preachers of old -- and thereby try to "design" a system for yourself.... a "religion" that will help you to be spiritually comfortable -- and "religiously" correct? Or, should you just give up, and not seriously believe anything -- since you feel that you haven't been able to decipher the mind of God? Which way do you turn when humanly "wisdom" doesn't give you all the answers -- and when "pretend" belief and superstitious "hope" do not "make sense" to you.... and do not satisfy you?

How can you ever be certain that you have committed yourself to the "correct" doctrine -- and to God's accepted church (link)? How do you know you have memorized and recited the correct creed? Suppose you have chosen wrong.... in the sight of God? Does an "incorrect" earthly choice -- a "decision" that you thought you were making sincerely -- lead you to eternal damnation, and to separation from God? Will your "incorrect" choice mean that you will never enter into the favor of God, or that you will not ever be admitted into God's Kingdom (link).... because your humanly ignorance led you (or "allowed" you) to accept the "wrong church".... and a "doctrine" that is unacceptable to God?

I have been led to ask myself these questions, once again, because of recent worldly events (1/96); specifically, the hateful circumstances in what used to be "Yugoslavia".... and more specifically, the chronic war in what is now (January 1996) called "Bosnia-Herzegovina" -- a war between Croatia, "Serbia", and the Bosnian Muslims. In that war-ravaged area, where U. S. troops are now stationed, attempting to stop the chronic fighting between ethnic and religious groups, much of the controversy has to do with differences in "religious" beliefs between three dominant, rigidly doctrinal groups: the Roman-Catholic "Christians", the Orthodox-Catholic "Christians", and the Muslims. In addition, now, the largely-Protestant United States has interjected itself between those three east-European "religious" groups -- those "church-groups" that are willing to KILL each other, because of a variation in their sectarian beliefs. Furthermore, we must now also include the Jews, who have always hated the Muslims (the sons of Ishmael). (Of course, the Muslims have likewise always hated the Jews.) The Jews are now being called upon to help finance the war between these several different, non-Jewish "doctrinal" groups.

So, in the current Bosnian situation, we have at least five "religious" groups (Roman Catholics, Orthodox Catholics, Muslims, Protestants, and Jews).... each claiming to worship the "God of Abraham".... and each claiming to have the ultimate "truth".... from God, and about God.... and each "faith" willing to maim or kill members of the other "doctrinal" groups -- all in the name of what each "doctrine" has dogmatically accepted to be the "one-and-only" genuine spiritual truth (which is, of course, each group's own perception of "truth" -- a set of beliefs that denies and excludes the spiritual understandings of ALL other doctrines).

And in the United States.... try to count the number of Christian "divisions".... each sect claiming a strangle-hold on ultimate "theological" reality -- and "truth" -- and "salvation" (See link Salvation is of the Lord.)

I have frequently questioned and doubted those rigid religious individuals (and denominational groups) that say, "Anyone who does not agree with me (us) is wrong; and doomed by God.... because God will 'accept' only those who agree with me, and my church." (See link Circumventing and restricting God.)

So.... what does God think about all this? Which "church" is "doctrinally" sound -- in the opinion of God? Who else's opinion matters.... that is, whose "opinion" other than that of God Almighty really makes a difference? Do we humans have anything at all to do with the "requirements" that God has laid-out for His people ("God's Doctrine")? Can we mortals mold or change God's expectations of His accepted individuals, according to our own worldly beliefs and understanding? Or is God immutable, and "responsive" only to His own counsel and wisdom?

I don't have all the answers. Maybe you think you do! But.... it is my belief that the Almighty Creator of the Universe is bigger and wiser than any-and-all of these rigid, humanly doctrinal struggles.... this superstitious obstinacy.... and I believe that God's opinions and decisions ("God's Doctrine"; that is, the Gospel of God; see link) are NOT predicated on human notions and concoctions. That is to say, God's truth is truth, regardless of who believes.... and regardless of who does not believe.... and regardless of doctrinal opinions, variations, claims, and "decrees".

God does NOT wait helplessly for humans to "accept" Him -- or to attempt to re-shape Him.... according to HUMAN design. (Or, as quoted at the top of this essay, from Acts 17: "We ought not to think that The Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone.... an IMAGE formed by the art and imagination of MORTALS.")


Consider the following references from God's Bible, concerning what we humans believe.... or are led to believe. Read these out loud -- so that you may "hear" the words of God:
Isaiah 29: 13 (NRSV) The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me.... and their worship of me is a human commandment.... learned by rote; 14 so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. The wisdom of their wise shall perish.... and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden.

2 Timothy 4: 3 (NRSV) For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth -- and wander away to myths.

Ephesians 4: 14 (NRSV) We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery -- by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

1 Thessalonians 2: 3 (NRSV) For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to PLEASE GOD -- who tests our hearts. 5 As you know, and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery, or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from MORTALS -- whether from you, or from others.

Same (NEB) "We do not curry favor with men. We seek only the favor of God. We have never sought honor from MEN")

Romans 1: 22 (KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an IMAGE made like to corruptible MAN.

John 1: 11 (NIV) He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. 12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of HUMAN DECISION, or the will of the flesh -- but born of God.

Romans 8: 7 (NIV) For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's Law -- indeed, it cannot, 8 And, those who are in the flesh, cannot please God.

1 Corinthians 2: 12 (NRSV) Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13 And we speak of these things in words not taught by HUMAN wisdom, but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. 14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them; and they are unable to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

JAMES 4: 12 There is one Lawgiver and Judge who is able to SAVE, and to DESTROY. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?
In my understanding, the above scriptures state very clearly that our acceptance, by God, is not predicated on a human "doctrine", or upon one's claimed "beliefs".... or upon the recitation of a specific church's creed.... or upon an individual's "decision" or "effort" -- or upon the "will of the flesh". NO.... the choice -- the "decision" -- belongs to God. We humans do not choose God. The sovereign Creator of all mankind designed each of His people according to His own plan.... for His own purposes.

I say that whenever a "religion" or a church-doctrine claims to have deciphered the "one way" (the "only way") to be accepted by God.... then God Himself has been "by-passed", or circumvented. If God cannot "save" any individual HE chooses to save.... regardless of that individual's church affiliation; and regardless of human approval or disapproval.... then God has effectively surrendered His sovereignty to human-beings. (Surely, no one believes that the restrictive doctrine of a church-of-men can supersede the will of God. See link Chosen by God.) (See also: Some call it "The Great Commission".)

Another question for the reader: Are your spiritual beliefs the same now as they were 5 years ago?.... or 10 years ago? Is your doctrine as "fixed" as it was in your younger years.... based on what you were told, then, to believe? Are you not now less "frozen" in your spiritual conclusions? Don't you now "appraise" your understanding of life and spiritual matters with a more contemplative and "informed" attitude? Don't you now ask yourself more questions.... without depending on someone else to dictate their opinion of what your faith "should" be?

Haven't you "evolved" in your understanding of God.... as you have aged, and studied, and prayed, and listened, and learned.... and as you have been led-along, by God.... in God's own timing, and in His mechanisms of enlightening and awakening you? If you are honest with yourself, I'll wager that you will agree that you have "matured" in your beliefs, and that superstitions have decreased; and that your "Santa-Clausian" spiritual opinions have been revised.

My understanding is that "religious" maturing is a lifelong process for EACH of God's people (link).... and that this maturing is always under God's own oversight, guidance.... and revelation. What do you say?

I conclude that God claims or "accepts" those who satisfy Him -- according to God's criteria, and God's Doctrine -- for God's own reasons.... reasons that we humans cannot now fully know -- or understand. "It is all God's doing".

"It is not what man 'believes'.... it is what GOD decrees", as someone has stated.
Or.... as another sagacious religionist said, "Beliefs cannot change TRUTH.... but TRUTH can change beliefs."
I have added, "Your beliefs, and mine.... cannot generate God's TRUTH."

Ultimately, ALL will agree.... the ONLY WAY to "inclusion" by God -- whether now, or "later" -- is through God.... not through a specific church; and not because of the reciting of a certain sectarian creed; or because of a preacher's powerful sermonizing; or because of one's own personal "decision" or pledge; or because of certain works and "deeds".... or because of "baptism" -- or any other "rite".
Indeed, who will argue: The "only way" to the Father is through the Father.

Repeating from above:
JAMES 4: 12 There is one Lawgiver and Judge who is able to save, and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?


3/2/06