Paul warns Timothy, "Wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13 NRSV).
He gives the following gory details to the Ephesian leaders, "I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them" (Acts 20:29-30 NRSV).
I know a lady that is extremely intellegent. Even though she didn't graduate from high school, I believe this gentle soul could pass any college Bible exam. She has gained her knowledge from corporate Bible studies, sermons, and personal study. During my time with her, she was constantly encouraging me to "go deeper" with Christ.
She was also known to frequent the Christian bookstore. You might find her reading no less than two best sellers simultaneously. Herein lies the problem: Whatever she read she believed. Whatever she heard, she believed. Each and every time a new "fad" in Christianity would arrive, she would jump on board. Stability in her life was somewhat suspect. After all, she had read...she had heard...
Do you have an ability to filter what you read or hear? Do you investigate the claims of Christ for yourself? Or is it simply someone else's faith? Are you aware of the impostors or savage wolves Paul speaks of? Only this time, they're attempting to deceive through many media outlets.
Thoughts?
avoiding burnout (in for the long haul)
2 hours ago
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2 comments:
How many of us fail to filter through the pages he gave us. This problem is the result of not being in the word not truley studying scripture, not opening your mind to his scriptures, word.
Atually, most of us fail to filter.
It is like reading fiction, our mind wonders and our imagination will tries to become reality. Some times we manifest this as truth because we are participating with God's word.
I don't know but I do know it is dangerous to our souls to not be studying our God given guide.
Mikey says
I agree with the danger of allowing our imagination to propel our thinking.
One thing Campbell and Stone were known for: "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where they are silent; we are silent."
The trouble is (as you point out) we read too much into or too much out of the text. Our task is to observe the original author's intent (as much as possible), to whom was he writing, and for what reason. We can then make application to our own lives.
Blessings,
m
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