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NASB | Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
Subject: WHO is Hebrews 6:4-11 refering to? |
Bible Note: Dear brother Hank, The sentiments you express I understand and even share. A minister, it is true, ought to know how to be an evangelist. However, that is because he ought to be teaching his flock to be evangelists. After all, we know from the Scriptures that he will have to give an accounting to the Lord for how he has tended the flock. In the context of the young man I was speaking to, you should know that further discussion took place. I verified his ignorance of almost anything based in sound doctrine. Instead, he seems to have been educated in self-help, psychology (though not in depth), and a very tepid overview of scripture. I very humbly point out, however, brother Hank, that you present a false dichotomy. You assume that the minister's mind has only sufficient capacity to learn two things: being an evangelist or "ism doctrines." Firstly, ministers are usually considered men of learning in our society. Who hasn't seen the study of a minister where the walls of his office are covered with books? The apostles admonish the flock to be continually learning, and they modeled doing just that themselves. Many pastors are some of our most astute thinkers, both in the past and in the present day. I would happily put fourth such men as John MacArthur, John Piper, and Adrian Rogers as such examples. My pastor showed me letters from his great, great grandfather who was an itinerate Baptist pastor right here in Missouri and Illinois. These letters were to various of his churches where he was admonishing them on the doctrine of particular redemption. He even declared it to be a Baptist distinctive. Secondly, there are many reasons to study various theological approaches. Such things include the ability to do critical thinking, apologetics, skillful hermeneutics, and solid teaching. Look how often in the pastoral epistles Paul emphasizes learning and sound doctrine. Plus, as the seminarian is reading through the expositional and systematic theologies of the men of old, he learns to judge everything in the light of Scripture. I would be disappointed in a seminary that only taught one theological perspective, although I would expect that every seminary would have a position on them. (That's what makes our varying denominations distinctive in the first place.) After all, we needn't fear them... the theological perspectives stand or fall on their own merits. Additionally, the pastor will encounter people of many different backgrounds. He must have at least an inkling of the ideas that form the basis of the most common of these backgrounds. How else can he understand the needs of the people with whom he speaks? How else can he correct error, promote sound doctrine, and cogently present the Gospel? Now, brother Hank, I also was not denigrating education as a whole. There are some very good seminaries out there. The best of them turn out young men who have a high view of Scripture, a heart for the flock, and desire to see the lost saved. They can also speak with some intelligence on just about any ism that you'd care to talk about, showing you how those things line up with Scripture. There is a certain degree of romance to the simple pastor you mentioned in your post. I am confident that God used Him to His glory. But I'd rather learn under a pastor with that same heart, and yet with a solid educational foundation... and a man modeling the Christian principle of never ceasing to be a student. In Him, Doc |