by Neil J Baulch

A very active retired pastor of 40 years gave me quite a caning with this Scripture 1 Tim 1.4 "nor to be taken up with with myths and never ending genealogies.. ". After I had been preaching about the death burial and resurrection of Jesus had simply made some interesting observations.

He listened, as I asked them if I had said anything that was of heresy, and he said. "No". He just would not accept it when I suggested that this Scripture was referring to the false teachings of Gnosticism and was in no way speaking of honest enquiry into Scripture.

Gnosticism had been so influential in the new Testament times, and the new Testament writings, how could a pastor of 40 years experience not know this. It is important for pastors to know these things, and to teach their congregation in order that they might understand and interpret their Bible well.

Tragically, a large proportion of pastors preach light weight messages, are so very shallow so that the congregation hardly grow in the Bible and interpretation skills. Pastors love to preach 'moral essays' and 'warming affirmations' because, if we truly 'love', others, this is what we will do.

Well, who cares if God's people are falling through the cracks 'for a lack of knowledge' (oracle), what's really important, is if we are very positive and 'nice' to everybody.

Think about it, the more 'relevant' Christians become, to the world, the less relevant christians are in reality, to the world. :-(

Why do Pastors get stuck in a rut of favorite topics and 'feel good' messages? Preachers preach on a verse from 1 John further a part about a victorious one from Luke; topical address from Matthew following on with the true faith of Mary Magdalene or the rigtheousness of Abraham.

We preach a portion from here and another from there, but we need to put it all together in a clear understandable format.

We seem to have a constant flow of new books and ideas, with dangerous Liberal leanings. We are repeating history, but if we were to teach the basics of Church history, we would be more equipped to avoid repeating that history.

Our role as teachers of the flock is to take the fragments of God's Word and plan certain together in a beautiful tapestry that the Church can draw on, helping them to understand God, the Bible and the Church.

This is not some gruelling, unachievable task, all it needs is study with prayer.

John 17:17 Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. (NAB)

About the Author:
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