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| I have often wondered that where I have heard ppl say this to me; but I believe there is a line. They don't do it out of hatred or jealousy like the Pharisees did; they do it "ignorantly", like the Apostle Paul when he was Saul, thought he was doing God a favor killing Christians; he did it ignorantly. There is an attitude behind it. One person that said it to me, I don't believe for a moment that he is deliberately sinning. In his mind, he believes tongues aren't for real. So I am just like "That's fine." Honestly, I have found it a real headache having it crammed down my throat, although, yes, I believe it's for today for sure. |
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Blasphemy is a word I never really understood. I never grew up with teachings on it b/c I think the ones responsible for my learnig did not know either.
I did a word look up & blasphemy means defaming Gods name.
Saying that Gods work is counterfeit is defaming His name.
This brings a whole new light to me.
This brings more accountablity to your words & cautions one to be open minded about the spiritual gifts.
Selah...
Shannon |
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Grant |
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December 17, 2007 at 4:52pm |
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If it is blasphemy to claim that tongues is not of the Holy Spirit in certain instances, is it also blasphemy to claim it is in those circumstances when it is not?
I have heard preachers make that same claim that if you question it or them, you are blaspheming the Holy Spirit, but I don't believe it is the issue of blaspheming the Holy Spirit at all. It is more about protecting somebody's turf and avoiding honest inquiry. After all, tongues IS easily faked and can be of the devil, sometimes it is of the human spirit, and sometimes it is of God. It takes discernment to know the difference.
We ought not try and shut down honest inquiry by outrageous claims. If someone is really interested in what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is, there is plenty of discussion about it in good theology books. Most of the time, the opinion of those who REALLY know their Bibles. For instance, the Word Biblical Commentary summarizes this topic as follows
"...the blasphemy of the Spirit amounts to final rejection of God’s plain salvific activity (...Isa 63:10; Acts 7:51), and thus for this reason it is far more culpable—indeed, something not to be forgiven, οὔτε ἐν τούτῳ τῷ αἰῶνι οὔτε ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι, “either in this age or in the coming one” "
Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 1-13. Word Biblical Commentary (347). Dallas: Word, Incorporated. |
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| You would really have to know the Holy Spirit in order to commit true blasphemy. (Like Lara says about ignorance). Like Lucifer did, who knew God but spoke agianst Him. |
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| Grant, your second paragraph there, is right on. I have seen all of that, I am pretty sure, in our church; of God, of the devil (you can feel it) and of flesh. |
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| I do want to be careful in leveling the judgment that someone is commiting this blasphemy. I believe, though, that the point of the passage Jeff quotes from Mark is that the Pharisees were looking at an authentic act of the Holy Spirit, the casting of demons, and rather than recognize it as an act of God, attributed it to the devil. They did not act out of ignorance, but because they did not want to accept the implications and responsibility that would have come with recognizing who Jesus really was and the truth of His message. This does raise serious questions about the dangerous path being walked by many 'heresy hunters' today. Yes, there are fleshly manifestations and there are charlatans. But there are also many authentic activities of the Holy Spirit pointing to a God and a Gospel that simply will not fit the box provided by some theologies. God is not really interested in being restricted to our grid of expectation, and those whose theological and/or aesthetic prejudices lead them to call His activity demonic do not know what spirit they are of. http://www.mychurch.org/blog/78153/A-SAFE-PLACE-FOR-CRAZY-PEOPLE-an-open-letter-on-the-prophet-movement |
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Grant-
In Mark 3 the place where Jesus is talking about this topic, it seems that He is addressing the issue after casting out a devil. So what do you mean by final rejection of salvific activity? Are you saying that if someone says that casting out a devil is the devil, unless they have rejected Christ as the savior they would not be blaspheming the Holy Spirit? |
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All the more reason to pray in intercession for our world. I just watched some of the video responses people have turned in, and it was sad to see that the majority of them were from young people. As I told a friend of mine two days ago, unless we present to these young people the TRUTH that JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY WAY to LIFE, then we will lose them....forever.
It is sad to see, that our young people are dying. |
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Ragland |
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December 17, 2007 at 9:55pm |
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Dear Jeff: You have actually put it right by giving the reference of the verse in Mark 3:29-30. When the Holy Spirit is Blasphemed against, there is no forgiveness. I dont think any believer here would dispute that. In the same tone, What Grant is telling us is, people who use the name of Jesus Christ and do things which are not by Him, needs to be understood and eliminated judiciously from our daily contacts and we should stay away from those people, 7:20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Am I right Grant? |
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| I didn't watch the videos, just checking out the instructions for entering the blasphemy challenge turned my stomach. This kind of stuff sets my hair on end because of it's intentionality. Rejecting God to these people also means rejecting morality, values, goodness--with forethought and intention. It's a cultural trend that I find a little alarming. |
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Jeremy-They said the baby boomer generation that over 50% believe in God, the next generation or my generation (I'm just about 40) 30%, and our generation of youth, 4%. Can you imagine our country the way it is now with 30-50% believing in God, if only 4% of our lawyers, business people, teachers....we need to reach our youth in a big way.
Victorious, Lara, Grant- this is a good discussion that hopefully will help everyone. Where do you find in scripture that we have to really know the HOly Spirit to blaspheme HIm??
Ragland- I don't think Grant is saying to stay away from people who are against Jesus. We need to reach them and let the Lord be the judge when it is all over but I'll let Grant answer your question to him. Grant?
Birdie- It is sad and hopefully an eye opener that we must be active in sharing our faith! Let it motivate you not discourage you! thanks for caring.
Shannon-Hopefully this discussion will bring out much truth on the subject for everyone.
Don-thanks for your input. I'll have to read your Crazy people blog soon. Didn't have the energy last night to dig into it. Looked meaty!
Let's share scriptures on what you think blaspheming the holy spirit means. Jesus says it is different than speaking falsely about the Son. Grant-if people who REALLY know the bible need to be able to share scriptures to back their viewpoint and not just their opinions. Can you share scripture to back your view please. thanks again for your input. |
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3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
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Jeff-
I am 25 years of age. I totally agree with you when you say that we need to reach our youth in a big way. They are the future of our nation. They are currently crying out like never before, but are turning to YouTube and other sources before they turn to God. Let's start by making JESUS the answer to thier needs instead of YouTube, MySpace, Dr. Phil, or anything else that is out there.
Jeremy |
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Jeremy-
Come on let's do it. Let's touch our generation with the gospel. We are in the stadium, the ball is in our hands, and all the saints before us are in the stands cheering us on. Go to the group SOS below my picture and join our group called Soulwinning Outreach Stories. Share what the Lord is doing through you and come back often and read stories of other's evangelistic adventures. |
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We cannot separate the Son of God, Jesus, from the Holy Spirit because they are one with God the Father. Blasphemy does not mean criticizing the acts of Christians which do not appear to be in line with the revealed Word of God. There are many people who talk ill of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, crufifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sometime back, I came across some scholars of the Sikh religion who questioned the virgin birth of Jesus Christm omnipotence of God, creation of God, etc. Please click the following link to read how the Name of Jesus was blasphemed by the author concerned. http://propheticschool.googlepages.com/word |
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Roland |
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December 29, 2007 at 11:38pm |
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| I am shocked. |
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