DO YOU READ YOUR BIBLE?
If so, do yo read it through the filter of some other person, or do you let it speak for itself?
The Bible is the number one, best selling book of all time, but how many Americans own one? How many Americans who own a bible, read it? Thirdly, how many who read their Bible read it through the filters taught to them by others, including their own Pastors?
Perhaps you believe that it is biblical for you to constrain your understanding of the Bible, and its lessons, to the teachings of your Pastor. I agree only when they have allowed the Bible to speak its truth. It is possible to have the word of God polluted with the words of men, and often this can be the case.
How do we know if our Pastor is led by God in his biblical understanding?
The only way to know the answer to this question is to allow scripture to speak for itself. Read the Bible, ignoring, (to the best of your ability,) the direction proffered by men, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding. Keep in mind that the Word of God is God, and therefore the primary method of communication for humans is of the very nature of God.
The ability for us to process information through oral, and written communication is a gift from God, and is a critical ingredient of our being, “in the image of God.”
How is it that so many Christians lack confidence in their ability to understand the Word of God? How is it that we embrace the farce that someone else should be allowed to spoon-feed us the living Word of God?
If He is able to save us from our sin, and the judgement that we so deserve, is He not able to communicate directly to us through His Word, without the help of some professional, expert, (or preacher?) It is not that I am opposed to pastors, but I believe that they are to edify us, and aid us in our relationship with our Lord, not to be a middleman, our only access to the meaning of scripture.
Granted, it is helpful for us to have others’ input into our myopic perspective of life, but aren’t we enabled by the Holy Spirit to grasp the truths in the word of God through scripture, and shouldn’t we embrace that fact?
If our pastor seems to reject what the Holy Spirit has impressed upon us as dreadfully important, should we just defer to their judgement, or should we hold fast?
Maybe our Pastor needs a little prayer, and a different perspective. It may just be that the Lord is directing us to help our Pastor with clarity on some important matter.
In the early 1930’s, the German Church, (which was directly descendent from Martin Luther’s teaching,) failed to recognize the truth of scripture. Parishioners were led to believe that Hitler’s government was authorized by God himself, and that they must not rock the Nazi boat. Millions of God’s creation suffered humiliation, torture, and violent death at the hands of a violent regime that twelve thousand German Pastors instructed “believers” to confess was, “ordained by God.”
History has confirmed just how devilish Hitler, and his Nazis were, but how many of us recognize the American descent into a very similar depravity? How many of our Pastors have the courage, and dare I say spiritual acumen to warn of the political devastation that America is hurling toward?
In the 1930’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer was chief among spiritual leadership in the German Church warning of the dangers inherent in the blindness toward the direction of German politics. He was ridiculed by his peers, and had his ability to influence the church impaired. Was it because he was wrong, or was it because he was right?
The answers to these questions are apparent now, looking back through history, but how is it that so many fail to recognize that we are here again, although it is not Germany leading the way, it is America. The United States of America is being coopted toward the reign of terror on its citizens, and many of us walk silently, as sheep to the slaughter. Our Pastors, citing Romans thirteen, (just as so many before them,) encourage us not to burden ourselves with political matters, we must focus on our relationship with Jesus.
My question is, “how great will our relationship with Jesus be, if we follow Marxist atheists into the pit of hell?” If we have little compassion for the victims of God-haters with political power, if we do not work to remove political authority from these perverted people that have gained their power through deception?
I recommend, “Letter to the American Church,” by Eric Metaxas to anyone that cares to be a disciple of our Lord. This book draws important parallels between our present situation, and that of the German Christians of the 1930’s.
I hope you read your Bible, and will also read, “Letter to the American Church,” then stand up as our Lord would have you to stand.
God bless you, Dave
Every human being has filters. That is one reason the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. Let us have a God filter.