You can imagine my surprise when recently it an old retired pastor, sharply rebuked me for making some interesting points about the death burial in the resurrection of Jesus, and he quoted a Scripture 1Tim 1:4 "nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies.. "
I quietly and respectfully asked him if I had said anything that was heretical or inappropriate to which he answered. "No". I explained that this Scripture was never meant to exclude genuine enquiry into the Bible, but rather it was targeting the false philosophy of Gnosticism. But he would not have it.
This was a pastor who had laboured in the gospel of 40 years and yet he did not understand about Gnosticism and the problems that Paul spoke of in this passage. A congregation is not going to have much hope of understanding these things if the Pastor does not.
It is unfortunate that so many pastors in our churches will preach shallow and light weight messages, and the result is that their people will hardly grow in and Scripture and interpretation. Preachers love to give to us 'moral essays' and 'warming affirmations' because, supposedly, if we truly 'love' others this is what we will do.
It seems that, so long as we are positive and 'nice' to all, it really doesn't matter if Christians are falling between the cracks because of a lack of knowledge.
Think about it, the more 'relevant' Christians become, to the world, the less relevant christians are in reality, to the world. :-(
Our staple diet from pastors seems to be favorite topics and 'feel good' messages. Ministers preach on a verse from 1 Peter as well as a passage about a hero from 1 Kings; topical sermon from Hosea and then the belief in God of Aaron or the humanity of King David.
We preach a portion from here and another from there, but we need to put it all together in a clear understandable format.
These days a flood of new ideas and publications come under various names that have a liberal bent. If we were to be taught the basics of Church history, we then would not be so doomed to repeat it.
Our role as teachers of the flock is to take the fragments of God's Word and plan certain together in a beautiful tapestry that the Church can draw on, helping them to understand God, the Bible and the Church.
This is not some gruelling, unachievable task, all it needs is study with prayer.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (NIV)
I quietly and respectfully asked him if I had said anything that was heretical or inappropriate to which he answered. "No". I explained that this Scripture was never meant to exclude genuine enquiry into the Bible, but rather it was targeting the false philosophy of Gnosticism. But he would not have it.
This was a pastor who had laboured in the gospel of 40 years and yet he did not understand about Gnosticism and the problems that Paul spoke of in this passage. A congregation is not going to have much hope of understanding these things if the Pastor does not.
It is unfortunate that so many pastors in our churches will preach shallow and light weight messages, and the result is that their people will hardly grow in and Scripture and interpretation. Preachers love to give to us 'moral essays' and 'warming affirmations' because, supposedly, if we truly 'love' others this is what we will do.
It seems that, so long as we are positive and 'nice' to all, it really doesn't matter if Christians are falling between the cracks because of a lack of knowledge.
Think about it, the more 'relevant' Christians become, to the world, the less relevant christians are in reality, to the world. :-(
Our staple diet from pastors seems to be favorite topics and 'feel good' messages. Ministers preach on a verse from 1 Peter as well as a passage about a hero from 1 Kings; topical sermon from Hosea and then the belief in God of Aaron or the humanity of King David.
We preach a portion from here and another from there, but we need to put it all together in a clear understandable format.
These days a flood of new ideas and publications come under various names that have a liberal bent. If we were to be taught the basics of Church history, we then would not be so doomed to repeat it.
Our role as teachers of the flock is to take the fragments of God's Word and plan certain together in a beautiful tapestry that the Church can draw on, helping them to understand God, the Bible and the Church.
This is not some gruelling, unachievable task, all it needs is study with prayer.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (NIV)
About the Author:
Desire a straightforward although complete Bible timeline? consider our webpage and find a great teaching chart and personal Biblical events timeline resource.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment