Orthodox Church Adds To And Excludes From The Word Of God, Then Accuses Others Of Being Guilty Of The Former

As I indicated here, the Orthodox Church added it’s own words to God’s scriptures in such a way, as to exclude a huge swath of legitimate texts; then turned around and accused supporters of these legitimate texts, of heresy. I would like to expound on my point that the criteria that the Church used to determine the validity of texts, were inconsistent with the ways of God, and therefore illegitimately added to the word of God. Per this article, the following criteria were used by the second century Church, to determine the authenticity of religious texts:

1. A text / book must have been written by an apostle or based on his eyewitness testimony.
2. A text / book must possess merit and authority in its use.
3. A text / book must come to be accepted by the entire church, not just a single congregation or area.
4. A text / book must be approved by the decision of the larger church, not just a few advocates.

Now the first criterion suggests that only an apostle can provide instruction and insight into the ways of God – in written form. This is silly, for it would mean that no one since the early Church, has been qualified to lay down spiritual truths to texts. Further, it would mean that only the  few apostles in the early (first century) Church had the authority to write down spiritual truths to texts. This directly contradicts the following scripture:

(Amplified Bible)

1 Corinthians 2

12 Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

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16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

1 Corinthians 2:12 indicates that everyone who truly has the Holy Spirit, has been given realization and understanding about the mysteries of God. This would make everyone who has faith correctly, capable of having and setting down these insights to texts. 1 Corinthians 2:16 indicates everyone who has faith, has the same mind (spirit) Christ had, and therefore has the same intelligence and thinking as Him. This would mean that everyone who has faith can know and set down spiritual truths to text as scripture - just as Christ knew and spoke spiritual truths, which were set down to texts around his time here on earth.

Beyond what was stated above, given the fact that any man who has the spirit called truth united with him, can speak credibly about spiritual truths; it follows that anyone who is one with truth (via faith), can set down spiritual insights to texts, in the form of scriptures. The following scriptures back up my point:

(Amplified Bible)

John 14

17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

John 15

26 But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

John 16

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

It is important to realize that unless a man is truly united with God, he is not united with the spirit called truth, and he is not competent to discuss the ways of God, and the truth about our world and creation. Therefore any attempt at discussion about the ways of God among faithless men, is worthless, and cannot be considered scripture. On the other hand, any man who is united with God is united with the spirit called truth; and any teachings, insights, discussions he has, can be regarded as inspired, and set down as scripture.

Regarding the second criterion, if a man truly has faith (particularly powerful faith), then his words when examined, will be found to be true, which will in turn give them merit and authority.

Regarding the third and fourth criteria, remember, the true Church is the body of people who have genuine faith – where their faith are attested to by their natural deeds. It is not merely the body of people who claim they have faith – and do not have naturally good deeds to show for it. Also, the acceptability of a text has more to do with the greatness of the author’s faith (reflected first and foremost in his actions, then in his other spiritual qualities [see 1 Corinthians 13]), than the text’s general acceptance among all who truly have faith. For example, after the conversion of Paul the Apostle in the Book of Acts in the Bible, many in the Church did not believe Paul at first. This however did not detract from the fact that Paul spoke with God’s authority at the time.

As can be seen above, the second century Church and beyond, provided flimsy criteria for the exclusion of texts that were truly inspired by God. Because the conditions they gave for the acceptance of texts do not stand up to scrutiny, and actually contradict Biblical scriptures, you see where they were man made inventions which illegitimately added to the word of God, in such a manner, as to exclude large amounts of legitimate (and also illegitimate) texts.