DUNAMIS_ THE PHILOSOPHY OF MAN

DUNAMIS_ THE PHILOSOPHY OF MAN

What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? This sermon-style episode of **Resilient Truths** centres on faith, integrity and the gap between religious traditions and a genuine relationship with God, speaking directly to anyone wrestling with life-controlling issues, including substance abuse. Pastor Ronnie Portis shares his own story, starting from his baptism in 1964 and moving through years of church-hopping as he noticed "so much that's going on in the ministry" and in traditional Baptist settings.

He challenges teachings that excuse ongoing sin as long as you repent, insisting that many churches follow "the philosophy of man" rather than the example of Christ. If you've ever felt judged or pushed away by church culture while trying to sort your life out, you'll recognise the frustration he describes.

A key part of the episode is the image of believers as "cornerstones" of the church, meant to support one another like the stacked stones in the walls of Jericho. Instead of gossiping about what someone wore or how someone preached, Pastor Portis urges people to examine what kind of "stone" they are and what fruit their lives are bearing. His direct challenge is hard to miss: "Follow Christ.

Don't follow me." The talk also includes a candid testimony of a medical crisis where he nearly lost the use of his left side. While lying in hospital, he made a promise to God to go wherever he was sent and to take his calling seriously. That experience becomes a warning about ignoring spiritual responsibilities and about relying more on human opinions than on scripture.

Throughout, the tone is raw, honest and aimed at those who need both accountability and grace. If you’ve ever wondered whether church tradition and genuine recovery can sit side by side, this episode gives you plenty to think about and challenges you to ask: what kind of relationship with God are you really building?