What is a Bible study but to increase in our comprehension of the Word from someone who knows the Word? I have been to LDS Bible studies and know where they are too, and I have attended many church Bible studies through my more than 40 years as a believer in many churches. We don't just share our ignorance but must have someone who assumes leadership because all things are to be done decently and in order as in a church.
Contemplate your goal: do you just want to be a better person with more virtue (any religion will do), or do you want to know the Lord? Hosea says that the people perish for lack of knowledge and that a people without discernment perish. God's pet peeve against them is not knowing Him--not lack of being religious or doing the requirements of the law of Moses. Part of the appeal of cults and sects is that they seem to make good and virtuous people that have it together: "You're a good man Charlie Brown." The goal should be to know the scoop, the lowdown, the skinny, or to be in the know spiritually speaking, which will improve our relationship with Christ.
The application is important, but it is not everything. The ultimate goal is to apply the Word to us, but God wants to know Him and the Word teaches us about Him. "If thy Word had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction," says Psalm 119:67. "O how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day long," says Psalm 119:97. As we apply the Word we grow in sanctification and Christ-likeness. There is an intrinsic reward in knowing and loving the Word per se and meditating on it by memorizing it.
Some Christian Bible studies are no different than Catholic, JW, LDS, or Unitarian Bible studies! Anyone can study how we are to be more honest and develop integrity and general virtue, for instance. How do you get filled with the Spirit would be foreign to them, because they aren't--they're just good people and as I have mentioned before, Jesus didn't come to make bad people good, but dead people alive. Teaching about walking in the Spirit, or developing the fruit of the Spirit are Christian and nonsectarian.
It is alright sometimes to be non-denominational but Bible studies should be willing to take doctrinal stands and not just ignore them for the sake of the Bible study or unity. I am not ecumenical or interdenominational and do not believe we should just cooperate with each other for common goals. I believe in the autonomy of the local church--no outside authority can dictate dogma or policy. The more the members of the Bible study can agree in the Spirit, the more the Spirit can bless them and they can enjoy His presence.
In summation, if you go to a Bible study and realize that you could have learned this at a Mormon or Jehovah Witness study, then it is not what you need, even if you enjoy it and it is good company or fellowship for you--you may need fellowship then! Teaching is a gift and not everyone is qualified to teach a Bible study; that means members don't share their ignorance and by virtue of that they can teach. CAVEAT: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NO ONE KNOWS SOUND DOCTRINE! Soli Deo Gloria!
Contemplate your goal: do you just want to be a better person with more virtue (any religion will do), or do you want to know the Lord? Hosea says that the people perish for lack of knowledge and that a people without discernment perish. God's pet peeve against them is not knowing Him--not lack of being religious or doing the requirements of the law of Moses. Part of the appeal of cults and sects is that they seem to make good and virtuous people that have it together: "You're a good man Charlie Brown." The goal should be to know the scoop, the lowdown, the skinny, or to be in the know spiritually speaking, which will improve our relationship with Christ.
The application is important, but it is not everything. The ultimate goal is to apply the Word to us, but God wants to know Him and the Word teaches us about Him. "If thy Word had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction," says Psalm 119:67. "O how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day long," says Psalm 119:97. As we apply the Word we grow in sanctification and Christ-likeness. There is an intrinsic reward in knowing and loving the Word per se and meditating on it by memorizing it.
Some Christian Bible studies are no different than Catholic, JW, LDS, or Unitarian Bible studies! Anyone can study how we are to be more honest and develop integrity and general virtue, for instance. How do you get filled with the Spirit would be foreign to them, because they aren't--they're just good people and as I have mentioned before, Jesus didn't come to make bad people good, but dead people alive. Teaching about walking in the Spirit, or developing the fruit of the Spirit are Christian and nonsectarian.
It is alright sometimes to be non-denominational but Bible studies should be willing to take doctrinal stands and not just ignore them for the sake of the Bible study or unity. I am not ecumenical or interdenominational and do not believe we should just cooperate with each other for common goals. I believe in the autonomy of the local church--no outside authority can dictate dogma or policy. The more the members of the Bible study can agree in the Spirit, the more the Spirit can bless them and they can enjoy His presence.
In summation, if you go to a Bible study and realize that you could have learned this at a Mormon or Jehovah Witness study, then it is not what you need, even if you enjoy it and it is good company or fellowship for you--you may need fellowship then! Teaching is a gift and not everyone is qualified to teach a Bible study; that means members don't share their ignorance and by virtue of that they can teach. CAVEAT: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NO ONE KNOWS SOUND DOCTRINE! Soli Deo Gloria!
C. S. Lewis, his book The Screwtape Letters, has the devil teaching his student to make Christians go for what is practical. As long as they don't know the Lord, the devil don't care how good we become; religion is just that: being good without God!
ReplyDeleteThere must be an unadulterated thirst for the truth of God, not just a casual interest: God is not interesting--He is upsetting sometimes! The time will come when people will not find the Word of the Lord any more (Amos 8:12).
ReplyDeleteSome believers only want the milk or basics of the Word and aren't ready for the meat. Just knowing the storyline may be interesting, but we must understand it and apply it to make good on it--prepared to pass on the good news!
ReplyDeleteThere has to be a leader with biblical savvy and experience with teaching and the students need an open mind, willing spirit, and needy heart--they can't just roll out of bed, as it were, and attend Bible study, but must prepare spiritually.
ReplyDeleteI believe a good teacher gives you the feeling of having gone into the text (to interpret, or exegesis) and didn't read into it (eisogesis). We want an existential experience with the Word and feel that God spoke to our hearts about what we needed to hear. We can encounter God in the Word, but we need someone who has to lead us there. If God spoke to the teacher, the teacher can be used by God to speak to the student.
ReplyDeleteThe good teacher knows where the students are and appreciates the insights, if any, of his students, and doesn't resent questions as being interruptions. He usually learns more teaching than the students.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have no teacher to be in authority it is easy for the dominate personality to take over. The good teacher doesn't let the student "pull rank" on him, but has done his homework.
ReplyDeleteGood teachers are notorious for making people uncomfortable when they get convicted and comforts the afflicted, while afflicting the comfortable. He is dedicated to the truth no matter the cost, without compromising.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of doing a Bible study should not be to just satisfy curiosity, but a genuine thirst for the Word.
ReplyDeleteI begin every Bible study with great expectations, having a prepared heart and soul--I don't go to into the mood. If you go to be blessed you are not prepared, you should go to bless and to share your insight as the teacher grants opportunity, and meditate on it, without pulling rank on him--but submitting to his authority.
ReplyDeleteGood blog. Something that bothers me is how people who never read a passage before will after reading it for the first time have no reluctance to expound authoritatively.
ReplyDelete