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.. "
He answered "No", when I asked him if I had said anything that was heretical. I went on to quietly explain that that particular Scripture was referring to the false teachings and philosophy of Gnosticism, not of genuine enquiry. He could not accept it.
Gnosticism had been so influential in the new Testament times, and the new Testament writings, how could a pastor of 40 years experience not know this. It is important for pastors to know these things, and to teach their congregation in order that they might understand and interpret their Bible well.
Tragically, a large proportion of pastors preach light weight messages, are so very shallow so that the congregation hardly grow in the Bible and interpretation skills. Pastors love to preach 'moral essays' and 'warming affirmations' because, if we truly 'love', others, this is what we will do.
It seems that the most important thing is, that we are very positive and 'nice' to everybody. It's just too bad, if God's people are falling through the cracks 'for a lack of knowledge' (oracle).
Let's face it, the more 'relevant' we become, to the world, the less relevant we Christians are in point of fact, to the world. :o(
There is far more to the Kingdom than 'feel good' messages and favorite topics. Teachers preach on a text from Song of Solomon as well as a piece about a man of courage from 2 Samuel; topical sermon from Luke followed by the a firm belief in god of Jeremiah or the integrity of Lot.
We preach a portion from here and another from there, but we need to put it all together in a clear understandable format.
We seem to have a constant flow of new books and ideas, with dangerous Liberal leanings. We are repeating history, but if we were to teach the basics of Church history, we would be more equipped to avoid repeating that history.
Let us correctly prepare the Church to understand God and the Bible, but piecing together the fragments of his Word into a beautiful seamless mosaic.
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) - 16928
He answered "No", when I asked him if I had said anything that was heretical. I went on to quietly explain that that particular Scripture was referring to the false teachings and philosophy of Gnosticism, not of genuine enquiry. He could not accept it.
Gnosticism had been so influential in the new Testament times, and the new Testament writings, how could a pastor of 40 years experience not know this. It is important for pastors to know these things, and to teach their congregation in order that they might understand and interpret their Bible well.
Tragically, a large proportion of pastors preach light weight messages, are so very shallow so that the congregation hardly grow in the Bible and interpretation skills. Pastors love to preach 'moral essays' and 'warming affirmations' because, if we truly 'love', others, this is what we will do.
It seems that the most important thing is, that we are very positive and 'nice' to everybody. It's just too bad, if God's people are falling through the cracks 'for a lack of knowledge' (oracle).
Let's face it, the more 'relevant' we become, to the world, the less relevant we Christians are in point of fact, to the world. :o(
There is far more to the Kingdom than 'feel good' messages and favorite topics. Teachers preach on a text from Song of Solomon as well as a piece about a man of courage from 2 Samuel; topical sermon from Luke followed by the a firm belief in god of Jeremiah or the integrity of Lot.
We preach a portion from here and another from there, but we need to put it all together in a clear understandable format.
We seem to have a constant flow of new books and ideas, with dangerous Liberal leanings. We are repeating history, but if we were to teach the basics of Church history, we would be more equipped to avoid repeating that history.
Let us correctly prepare the Church to understand God and the Bible, but piecing together the fragments of his Word into a beautiful seamless mosaic.
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) - 16928
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