tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917324.post6797022988542566335..comments2023-04-06T09:04:33.935-05:00Comments on Faith Classics: The Authority of TheologiansJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07281425856398968419noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917324.post-52143413826025806462008-03-11T16:42:00.000-05:002008-03-11T16:42:00.000-05:00Bobby, I had a longer comment but it ended up bein...Bobby, I had a longer comment but it ended up being subject to the whim some technical glitch.<BR/><BR/>Anyways, yes we need more men of God who are passionate for Christ and His Word.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your insightful comments.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281425856398968419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917324.post-67582919195634061992008-03-11T15:38:00.000-05:002008-03-11T15:38:00.000-05:00Jim,thanks for the clarification . . . I certainly...Jim,<BR/><BR/>thanks for the clarification . . . I certainly agree with your last paragraph.<BR/><BR/>Don't you find it strange that everyone of us is ok with Medical Doctors, or "Techies" usage of technical jargon in their fields? But when it comes to "Theology" or "Biblical Studies" many of us shrink back when we hear the term "hypostases", etc. <BR/><BR/>I agree "prestige jargon" can be misused . . . but I don't think "misusage" should be used as an occasion for spite, or throwing out the whole discipline of theology, "God forbid," rather it should prompt all of us to continue to study deeply---the things of God (no matter what language this causes us to learn).<BR/><BR/>I think the trend, Jim, is that the Gospel has been "dumbed-down" in the West . . . which is driven by elders and theologians knuckling under to societal standards of "entertainment", apathy, laziness, fatness, etc. No! Christians are lazy, in general, we don't even read our Bibles, it might as well have stayed in the Latin . . . excuse my frustration, Jim. <BR/><BR/>I think the real problem is that we don't have enough "true theologians" in the church. I.e. people who truly love God, expressed in study, fellowship, worship, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917324.post-61177756506233693132008-03-11T15:23:00.000-05:002008-03-11T15:23:00.000-05:00Bobby, with regards to your first post; you are ab...Bobby, with regards to your first post; you are absolutely correct. I should have added a huge caveat.<BR/><BR/>I have been under the teaching of "elders" who were poorly prepared in their study and application of God's word. It was almost unbearable. What I found interesting however was that they did not command the respect of the other believers. They were simply tolerated, which was probably partly the blame of the whole body.<BR/><BR/>I wholeheartedly believe in the priesthood of the believer and firmly agree that each one has been gifted for service. We all have the ability to prophecy of the grace of Christ in our lives. Unfortunately the average christian has capitulated this responsibility to the leaders.<BR/><BR/>Elders definitely do not have a carte blanche ticket to be obeyed. Neither however are they to be voted on as if the Church is a democracy. Their rule is limited to the conduct of those in the fellowship of the body and the protection of correct teaching and doctrine. They are definitely not above the Matt 18 principle in dealing with sinning members.<BR/><BR/>I will need to be more careful in future writings. I appreciate your wise counsel.<BR/><BR/>You ask:<BR/><BR/><I>"Why the spite for "theologians"</I><BR/><BR/>I believe that first of many believers tend to hold the teachings of theologians, et al, in too high esteem. So much that they become blinded to the errors and faults contained within.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, as you have pointed out, we all come to the table with presuppositions and probably no one more than those who hold to be teachers of theology. They use their expertise of language and culture to couch doctrines in phrases and terminology that the common layman often fails to grasp adequately. Further they are adept at manipulating passages in their favour instead of the plain readings of the text.<BR/><BR/>Now that is a generalization of course, and I highly respect many godly Bible teachers. But I do believe we would be much healthier spiritually if we tempered our love for "theology" with much prayer and meditation in the Bible.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07281425856398968419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917324.post-82537294718737743572008-03-11T14:57:00.000-05:002008-03-11T14:57:00.000-05:00Also, consider Gal. 1:6-9; the "Gospel" itself (wh...Also, consider Gal. 1:6-9; the "Gospel" itself (which Christ personifies) is the ultimate authority. If an "elder-bishop-pastor" misrepresents the "Gospel"--then it behooves the "priesthood of all believers" (cf. I Pet. 2:9)to call this "elder" into account, i.e. back to the gospel. Isn't this what all Christians, who should be theologians, be doing. I'm not questioning the "authority" of the elder, but underscoring his derivative authority relative to the Gospel itself. So there is a "tension" here (i.e. like "marriage"--submission out of respect and mutual union with Christ). <BR/><BR/>Your post makes it sound like you are giving carte blanche authority to the elders, in order to undercut the "authority" that all believers have, as priests, namely "theologians." <BR/><BR/>Why the spite for "theologians", Jim?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917324.post-41528435130764337312008-03-11T14:26:00.000-05:002008-03-11T14:26:00.000-05:00Jim,you have forgotten Eph. 4:11-12 in your consid...Jim,<BR/><BR/>you have forgotten Eph. 4:11-12 in your consideration. Have you sat under elders who have not spent the proper time in studying the scriptures and its implications? I have. Are you saying that I need to "chuck" my mind/heart, and follow and "elder" just because they are an elder?<BR/><BR/>I think you have created a false dichotomy between elders and theologians--unfortunately, in the West, most elders today aren't "theologians"--I guess this explains the famine for the teaching of God's Word today.<BR/><BR/>In fact, Jim, your argument makes a good case for an Episcopelian model of church gvt.--which fits much better with the Roman Catholic scheme of things . . . or at least a "high church" model (i.e. Lutheran, Presb., etc.) than the "Free Church" style that I think you are calling for. <BR/><BR/>Btw, I'm not interested in denominations that are "anti-intellectual" or "a-intellectual" in orientation . . . and that is what most "Fundy-Evangelical" churches represent today.<BR/><BR/>Do you think its possible to have "elders" who do not follow the heart of God? Do you think we should follow such elders?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com