Subject: EXPLAIN REPLENISH |
Bible Note: Dear Tim, You said "I think that good common sense and sound exegetical skills will protect Christians against theological heresy or lack of balance." But in my experience it's the other way around: common sense and sound exegetical skills are qualities found in those who are protected from error by their relationship to God. I'm kind'a playing with words (and not really disagreeing with you), but I am serious. I notice that some of the simplest believers have a profoundly solid view of Scripture and what we call common sense view of life and things theological. I only bring this up because there seems to be a common opinion on this list that we have to protect ourselves from error with all kinds of study helps and reliance on great teachers, but it seems the Bible judges people in some way blame worthy for "falling" into error, and I submit that it starts by some evil appeal to the flesh. I don't think I'm stretching Scripture to say heresy is a work of the flesh; for in Gal 5:20 (NASB) list factions and it is the word we also transliterate into the English language as heresy. I know that Eve appears to be judged differently than Adam (for she was deceived-I Tim 2:14), but we all know that Eve knew better. And I doubt I am the only person that believes she sacrificed her relationship with God for a fashionable thought, delivered by an authority wearing a fancy suit. So when I meet someone who's brimming with weird ideas, I assume they are more attracted to the New Age books than God, and I ask myself the question, "Who's to blame?" Surely God (you know, our Shepherd) is not responsible for people believing lies. We can blame the devil (and I do), but he's only the tempter not the doer of human sin and waywardness. mrk |