A very active retired pastor of 40 years gave me quite a caning with this Scripture 1 Tim 1.4 "nor to be taken up with with myths and never ending genealogies.. ". After I had been preaching about the death burial and resurrection of Jesus had simply made some interesting observations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let's equip the Church in understanding God, His Great Plan and the Bible by sewing each piece together into a seamless beautiful tapestry.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let's equip the Church in understanding God, His Great Plan and the Bible by sewing each piece together into a seamless beautiful tapestry.
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)
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