Is This Statement True?

[No Nicolaitans]

I heard a preacher make this statement tonight...

 

That which is wrong in doctrine, always appeals to the flesh.

 

I've been going over it...thinking of various false doctrines...and from what I can think of, it does appear to be true. May not seem like a big deal, but I had never thought of it before.

[wretched]

I have, and this is 100% true, always has been, always will be. Ask yourself next time you hear a different understanding of Scripture if your view is easier for you than the opposing view and you will know who is right and who is feeding their flesh.

 

Anything that makes us feel better about not murdering our flesh, not giving all after basic needs, not soulwinning, not studying for yourself to show yourself approved, not understanding the Word as written verbatim, is all of the flesh.

[2bLikeJesus]

I pray it is wrong, because of the "Children at the Rapture" thread or the idea of children going to heaven.  My flesh desperately wants to know that I will see my 2 babies that died very young, in heaven.

 

Bro. Garry

[DaveW]

Just because something is hard to swallow doesn't mean it is right.
False doctrines will generally appeal to the flesh, but that doesn't necessarily make them easy to swallow.

Self flagellation is a horrible thing and it is hard for a man to come to the point of accepting this false doctrine, but it appeals to the flesh in that it is your own works that justify.

So, easy to accept does not automatically equal false doctrine, and hard to accept does not automatically equal Biblical.

[wretched]

Disagree, Satan always appeals to the flesh. Religions of the world are only exaggerated in works of the flesh in hollywood, never in real life. Self denying muslims, hindus and catholics are for show only, in private they are the just like humanists. Propagating their own earthly advancement in the guise of following "god".

 

For those who do know better in their hearts, the flesh always wants to follow the easy path in doctrines only the born again can comprehend.

[MountainChristian]

1 Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

 

Baal is a false religion, and they done this which doesn't appeal to the flesh.

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Fasting in Christianity doesn't appeal to the flesh but it can be good doctrine in times of great need. 

[John81]

That depends upon what we mean  by "appeal to the flesh".

 

While our natural appetites might not like fasting nor our physical flesh like being abused; our inner fleshly desire to work our way into God's good grace and therefore earn heaven through our own efforts, may find it appealing to think that simply going hungry for a short time or cutting ourselves for awhile will gain us a position in heaven.

 

In terms of our natural selves, which is easier, living as God calls us to live, or fasting one Thursday a month or doing some cutting on our flesh when we feel the need?

 

It's so much easier, in the natural, to do things our own way, even things that cause us harm and pain, than to actually submit to Christ and live for Him instead of ourselves.

[wretched]

1 Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

 

Baal is a false religion, and they done this which doesn't appeal to the flesh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Fasting in Christianity doesn't appeal to the flesh but it can be good doctrine in times of great need. 

 

There are secular examples in modern culture of this practice today, it certainly does appeal to the flesh. The gothics do this quite often and it is a contest of who is cooler or tougher just as false religions have always been a contest of who is holier, better, more righteous to the fellow zealots.

 

Keep in mind, that I certainly never implied for lost religious that it had to tickle or feel good to feed the flesh pardner. Pain feeds the flesh if done for the esteem of others much more so than pleasure many times.

 

The pharisees of Jesus' day were the perfect example of those who worship themselves and the esteem of other man as their "religion" or idolotry. Worshipping the praise of men.

The pharisees embodied all that is false religion throughout history and the Lord continuously rebuked them for their hypocracy. Ever seeking the praise of men with no mind to God.

 

That nutshell sums up all false religions ever invented by man. All have always been of the flesh, feeding the flesh, feeding people's need for recognition from other people.