Fishersmen Role Model and Rules

This is an excerpt from an email to our group...

Our Fishersmen's group is a fellowship for Christian men who want to live truth and follow Christ to the best of their ability, focusing on mutual encouragement, prayer and accountability. We want to help each man who sincerely is seeking to get to know God better and live in a manner that would please Jesus.

We're not a service organization, networking group, fund raising machine. Nor are we Buddhist, Muslim, or Unitarian. We're a Christian men's Group.

So we need to have a couple of things as any group does to accomplish its purpose: A guide, or role model, and a source or reference of authority. For us, as for all Christians, our role model is Jesus of Nazareth, called the Christ, and our source of authority is the Bible.

Everyone's opinion is valued and respected, but not all sources and opinions carry the same weight. If Jesus said it, or if the Bible clearly says it, then because of the group we are, that opinion is Trump. ( if you've ever played Euchre)

The constitution was referenced in a recent email, and as an analogy let's talk about authority in law. There's hierarchy of authority and interpretation. City ordinances have to submit to State Statute, State Statutes have to submit to the Constitution, and there may be a variety of opinion about the interpretation of the 2nd amendment. But, because we are Americans we submit ourselves to the Current Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution, and the current Supreme Court wisely looks at past Courts' interpretation and rulings relating to what is the true law and verdict. Christianity does similarly with the Bible. Biblical scholars who weigh past Christian theologian's opinions about what the Bible says and have boiled them down into creeds give us a guide for what is"orthodox" Christianity. Throughout Christianity, what Jesus and the Apostles have said about the law, the prophets, and the life of the biblical Jesus has been held as having more authority and being a trump opinion as opposed to the latest thinker or idea of the day.

What does authentic Christianity say about: Who is Jesus? Is the Bible true? Who wrote the Bible? Who is the Holy Spirit, who has Him or is under His influence?

Anyone's opinion has value, may be interesting or novel, sound good, or even sound inclusive and non-judgemental. But, if you're going to base your world view, your philosophy of life, your success and spiritual future on it. You, like me might want to go to the highest, and commonly respected authority. Paul commended the Bereans for checking out his New Testament teachings against the Hebrew Scriptures of the day.

Who did Jesus claim to be? Did He do anything to prove it? What does He have to say about the Bible or the Holy Spirit?

How about the people closest to Jesus? What does John or Peter, or even Paul have to say as recorded in the Bible. How did early church leaders boil their understanding, their beliefs from their study of scripture down into what is true? What do the Creeds say?

I think every honest seeker follower would want to go to these primary sources.

Here are some links and references:

Who is Jesus?

Who wrote the Bible?

Who has the Holy Spirit?

What have authentic Christians believed about Christianity for hundreds of years through persecution and prosperity?

(The Apostle's Creed)

The Bible is the most published book ever, and revered by most to be exceptions, and by many to be the word of God. Got questions? Read it.

Jesus has had more impact on the world than any other historic figure. And to millions, including myself, we are thoroughly convinced that he is who he said he is in the Bible, God in the flesh. Want to find truth? Learn what he said. Not parts of what he said. All that is recorded that he said. Then, if you're open and sincere, lets talk.