WE MIGHT AS WELL DRESS UP LIKE THIS GUY
'FOR CHRIST SENT ME NOT TO BAPTIZE, BUT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL: NOT WITH WISDOM OF WORDS, LEST THE CROSS OF CHRIST SHOULD BE MADE OF NONE EFFECT.'
(1 Corinthians 1: 17).
Long ago, during the time of the apostles, when the Christian church was being established, there was no such thing as 'academic requirements' in the Church. In those days it was all about the power of the Holy Ghost. The words, 'wisdom of words' in our text can be put as: 'clever talking'.
So going by what we read here, if we depend on clever talking in our preaching instead of the power of the Spirit we will make the cross of Christ of none effect.
What does this mean?
It means that the word of God which you are attempting to preach will not benefit your hearers because it will not be accompanied by the power of God.
That's bad.
This has a demoralizing effect - some of you might know what I'm talking about. It happens in many many churches up and down the land - especially the large established ones. So-called ministers preaching week-in week-out, year-in year-out and doing nothing but demoralizing their hearers.
In my view, it also encourages legalism, because people use it like the Roman Catholics use self flagellation - the more unpleasant or even painful the experience, the more points they think they score with God. So if they have spent their whole life coming and going to church in that manner then they imagine they must be onto a good thing (no pain, no gain).
Friends, this ought not to be.
The root cause of the problem is in the ordination of ministers. There is a myth which has been in existence for centuries - that ministers must be 'educated' this is utterly unscriptural. The reason it is so readily accepted is because it makes sense in the natural world. And yes, it does - in the natural world. But when we are talking about the preaching of the gospel we no longer occupy the natural plain. We have entered God's domain - where our rules do not apply.
This problem of requiring academic attainment for ministers proves that the people making the demands are depending on the abilities of mere men to bring people to God instead of God himself.
This is nothing new and it can never work.
We might as well dress up like the geezer in the picture for all the good it'll do.
...TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.
(1 Samuel 15: 22).
Sorry Derick you are misguided. God is using many well educated men and others who are so well qualified academically to proclaim the whole Gospel. Souls are being converted believers are being built up in their most holy faith. You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about this issue which is not edifying. We continue to pray daily for you and the family.
ReplyDeleteEvery blessing
Neil
Neil, you must try not to make assumptions - the scripture is our guide.
DeleteShow me in the Bible the requirement for ministers to be academically educated.
This claim you make in saying that souls are being converted etc. is just a massive assumption and reveals much gullibility on your part. The people responsible for the Toronto blessing would say the same about their 'converts'.
P.S. You bet I have a bee in my bonnet - what I perceive to be gross error tends to have that effect upon me - some might call it zeal.
Edifying? what is edifying? I would say standing against error is edifying. We have Christ, the prophets and the apostles as our examples.
Remember: 'Sola Scriptura'.
I'm not making assumptions Derick Church history tells the story of how God has been pleased to use Learned and uneducated men to further His cause through the proclamation of the Gospel. Your responsibly is to full-fill your calling and not constantly criticise the ordained ministry which we all know is far from perfect but there are many Godly men who are ordained.
DeleteYes, 'learned' and 'unlearned'. No problem with that. But the problem lies with churches who un-biblically demand 'learned' only.
DeleteThe effect this has is to un-biblically exclude huge swathes of people from the ministry, which has the direct result of destroying the spiritual life of the church.
Where we differ is that you think the professing church is in a healthy state, and I believe it is as sick as a dog - precisely because it is ignoring scripture.
God is displeased so he is leaving many to 'eat of the fruit of their own way'.
One of us is wrong.
It depends what you mean by church. If you mean the visible church yes it leaves much to be desired. The Church that is His Body is being built by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit through His people both educated and uneducated. 'And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it'. Matthew 16:18.
DeleteI think humans will always be accredited and associated with errors.the lighted path does indeed highlight this.What is proposed here is sameness it is in more alligned with a right wing pollitical path than spiritual.with sameness the question arises what becomes of the others?non conformity etc..christ made it clear that we wl never be without sin so only thru him we will be cleansed.have joy and faith that gods work is bei.g done complex and in very mysterious ways ..
ReplyDeleteThe big problem is that men are making up their own rules: picking and choosing the parts from the scriptures which seem to support their agenda while ignoring the parts that don't.
ReplyDeleteThe same old problem.
As usual God is given a back seat in his own domain - but there will be a reckoning.
Yes I agree Derick fully,it'smens meddling that creates our division between the holy spirit,as u r one of the lucky saved ones,u will always see that clearly now,b4 u were blind,we can as men preach and pray that others can also see,but we are however just man,,I enjoy your blog it's refreshing to see real substance and pure honesty,that is how I remember who you were,when u taught me that day in the castle we jostled down the stairs,u gave me a life of advice,if u want to be a top fighter u have to be strong psychologically,I see a similie here.
ReplyDelete