Some of the most destructive attitudes of the church of Christ
Some people think they have a special knowledge about Christ
because they went to seminary or Bible school.
We have broken up into denominations because of the prideful
attitude that “our group is right and yours is wrong”, rather than coming
together in prayer and study until we can come to a common agreement, we have
camped on what we like and refuse to evaluate it.
Acts 17: 11 “There were more fair
minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things
were so.”
God says that "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
of God, who gives to ALL liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him." James 1:5
God says that "Now concerning things offered to idols:
We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."
1 Corinthians 8:1
A degree in theology does not make one a Christian nor does
it make a person of greater wisdom than any other man.
The man or woman of God who seeks the Lord with all their
heart can understand as much and sometimes more than someone educated in formal
schooling.
Colleges often teach opinions and false doctrine, leaving
the graduate indoctrinated and smug in thinking that they have obtained all the
knowledge they need for the rest of their lives.
Often the college educated person, relies more on their
professors than they do on Christ for their answers from the Word and for their
learning.
Many Bible school graduates are unapproachable and
unteachable, because their formal training has fostered pride and arrogance.
(Arrogance: elevated opinion of self and contempt for
others).
It is only the man or woman of God who have been born again
and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit who can have wisdom and knowledge
from Christ who lives in them.
If a man attends Bible school but has never been broken over
his sin becoming humbled by the knowledge of his lowliness, then he will be
much more dangerous than the unlearned, because his knowledge is based on human
wisdom and pride.
When we encounter someone who is embarrassed at the mention
of God's word outside of the church gathering, it is a clue that they do not
have a love for Christ that transcends all gatherings and reactions of people.
Until a person realizes their own helplessness before God,
they cannot be born again. It is through
brokenness that we come to Christ, not through our own worthiness.
If we depend on our own goodness and knowledge, then we have
not trusted Christ but ourselves.
2 Peter 3:3 "knowing this first: that scoffers will
come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,"
Perhaps the lust of so many men in leadership is the lust of
power and prestige rather than a deep concern for those they are charged to
shepherd.
When challenged, a wise and humble man or woman will have a
sense of shame and go to prayer and scripture study to see if their challenger
is speaking truth.
When there is instant contempt and fighting on the part of
the one challenged then we know that person is walking fleshly and not in the
power of Christ.
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves instruction loves
knowledge, But he who hates correction [is] stupid."
Proverbs 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of your father,
and do not forsake the law of your mother.”
All godly men and women are the spiritual fathers and
mothers of those younger than they. Men
and women alike are to teach and train both genders, that there will be a well
rounded instruction from various perspectives.
No one person or gender has all the insights, we need one another to
fill in where each of us lacks.
Proverbs 8:33 "Hear instruction and be wise, And do not
disdain [it]."
Let us all seek Christ for all things, He promised He will
teach us, if our focus is His wisdom, His way. And, above all, let us never
have a sense that we have arrived and need no more instruction from others.
