[Vision2020] Neglect Not To Study "Yourselves" (The Word) To Be Approved Unto God

[The Scimitar]

Aspersions have been cast from D.W. and fawning followers concerning--just me,
myself, and my Bible, and the Bereans.  Now that's a novel idea--examining
Scripture as Scripture dictates.  II Timothy 2:15 states to "Study to show thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth (meaning he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth)."
And II Timothy 2:16, 17 continues "But shun profane and vain babblings, for those
who engage in it will only become more ungodly, and their teaching will eat away
at people like gangrene and spread like cancer."  And the Bereans were 
commended (Acts 17:11) for their conscientious examination of Scripture on their
own, even though presented to them by the apostle Paul, himself.  Actus 17:11
states, "Now the people here were of nobler character (more fair-minded for
instance) than the ones at Thessalonica; they eagerly received the message, 
checking the Scriptures every day to see if the things Paul was saying were 
true."  People urgently need to study the Scriptures daily for themselves, not 
simply to rely on the expositions of a pastor or Bible teacher, no matter how 
skilled he may be.  Of course, if one is left alone with his Bilbe, the Holy Spirit
may tell him something differently than what Doug Wilson and his Kirk are
espousing.  And we couldn't have that.

Hebrews 13:17 seems to be a favorite verse at C.C.--"Obey them that have the 
rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they must
give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable to you."  But you'd do well to remember soberly your complete 
mandate.  In I Corinthians 4:1, pastors/elders are to be humble messengers, and
I Peter 5:2-3 warns ministers ministering--"not for dishonest gain but eagerly,
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;..."
Ministers are not to lord it over--dominate someone or some situation, in this
context.  You're not to have leadership by manipulation and intimidation.  
Matthew 20:25-28 states, "But Jesus called them and said, 'You know that
among the Gentiles, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and
their superiors become dictators.  Among you, it must not be like that.  On the 
contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be your slave!  For the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve--and to give His life as a ransom for many."
True spiritual leadership is by example--"...be an example to the believers in 
your speech, in behavior, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Timothy 4:12).

"Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5).

<Scimitar>

 		
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