Truth Be Told: A Blog by Pastor Bill Alderson

Orthodoxy can be defined as adherence to a purported "correct" or otherwise mainstream or generally accepted creed. Within Christianity, orthodoxy refers to the acceptance of doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical councils in antiquity. However, different Churches accept different creeds and councils. The point is that there is no singular mainstream or generally accepted belief. Instead, Christianity is a conglomeration of factions that have a hard time agreeing on many things, even the requirements of being a Christian. A significant portion of Christian doctrine is subject to private interpretation. Since Jesus and the New Testament writers are basically silent on any hierarchy of New Testament doctrine, this work is left to the Holy Spirit. As a result, each believer needs to develop a capacity to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. My journey to experience God’s presence and hear His voice has included a series of major life challenges that seemed to accompa...

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence [ paniym – face, figuratively of the person] of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked [ erom – without clothing] ; so, I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”                                    Genesis 3:8-11   The first mention of God being present in a given situation or circumstance is found in the above passage, where Adam was looking to hide from the Lord after he found himself naked. The fact that he knew he was n...

The Apostle Paul wrote five different letters (Prison Epistles) from a Roman prison during the early 60’s AD: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and Laodiceans (this letter did not survive). It is interesting to note that Paul spent a short time in a Philippian jail (see Acts 16:19-40) and now writes to the church from prison. This church had supported him on multiple occasions, so he had a special affinity for them. The church saw him as an ambassador of Christ, but he uttered the oracles of God with great authority. They treated him with great praise. Paul wanted them to develop the same measure of convictions that he had, and it began with an understanding of the work of God inside each believer. In Philippians 1:6, For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus . God will complete His work. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed [ hupakouo – taken heed], not as in my presence only,...