Not long back I had a retired Pastor reprove me very sharply, for making some interesting points while preaching on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. He was very old school, and he referred to 1 Tim 1.4 "nor to be taken up with with myths and never ending 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 difficult to attain, if we put in some good prayer and study.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the Truth: Thy Word is Truth. (AV) - 14915
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 difficult to attain, if we put in some good prayer and study.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the Truth: Thy Word is Truth. (AV) - 14915
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