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 listened, as I asked them if I had said anything that was of heresy, and he said. "No". He just would not accept it when I suggested that this Scripture was referring to the false teachings of Gnosticism and was in no way speaking of honest enquiry into Scripture.
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.
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.
Well, who cares if God's people are falling through the cracks 'for a lack of knowledge' (oracle), what's really important, is if we are very positive and 'nice' to everybody.
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(
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.
After preaching portions from here and from there, through the Bible we need then to put it all together in a clear, understandable way for our congregation.
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's equip the Church in understanding God, His Great Plan and the Bible by sewing each piece together into a seamless beautiful tapestry.
It's not a difficult thing to accomplish, we just need to put in some study and prayer.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the Truth: Thy Word is Truth. (AV) - 16089
He listened, as I asked them if I had said anything that was of heresy, and he said. "No". He just would not accept it when I suggested that this Scripture was referring to the false teachings of Gnosticism and was in no way speaking of honest enquiry into Scripture.
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.
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.
Well, who cares if God's people are falling through the cracks 'for a lack of knowledge' (oracle), what's really important, is if we are very positive and 'nice' to everybody.
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(
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.
After preaching portions from here and from there, through the Bible we need then to put it all together in a clear, understandable way for our congregation.
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's equip the Church in understanding God, His Great Plan and the Bible by sewing each piece together into a seamless beautiful tapestry.
It's not a difficult thing to accomplish, we just need to put in some study and prayer.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the Truth: Thy Word is Truth. (AV) - 16089
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