Continued from previous post.
Now the question is asked if as the scriptures state God has provided these various agencies (viz. apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers), “Is it right to follow the teachings of any ONE MAN?
“The Scriptures answer, “One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:8). We should not follow man, nor man-made creeds or systems. God exercised the supervising care over His consecrated people; as we read, “Now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the Body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Cor 12:18); therefore He advises Christians to come together to assist in building each other up in the most holy faith (Heb. 10:24, 25). He directs the church to select elders–not Lords, nor Masters, nor Reverends (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:5-9). These are “overseers” to feed the flock of God (Acts 21:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3). St. Paul says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.”
The most faithful have been followers of the Apostle, who followed in the footsteps of Jesus. This is not following man, but following the Divine leading’s through the Lord and the Apostles. Similarly today we note God’s leading’s through His servants. In this we are following Jesus Christ, not man.
Individual study of the Bible seems indispensable to proper Christian development, and is commendable, just as individual study of Geology would be commendable; but one must not ignore the aids to Bible study which God has providentially furnished (such as concordances, Lexicons, various translations and other bible study aids); to do so would be as unwise as for a pupil in astronomy to ignore the astronomical instruments and findings of others who have preceded him in the study of the same science “Study to show thyself approved unto God (not unto men); rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15)
The implication seems to be that the Holy Spirit is the medium through which the Lord guides his children to the various channels or agencies, which he has provided to assist them in their instruction of the Word.
Likewise (AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND) it is apparent that he expects his children each to contribute their part in the edifying of the body, building one another up in the most holy faith. This does not imply that each member is to contribute some vain feeling or imagining they may have had, but rather that through their individual studies of the various helps and agencies provided by the Lord they should contribute what they have personally been given to understand in regards to the truth.
There seems to be no question then that while God does take on the role of being our teacher and the Holy Spirit his channel, he also uses many human agencies in our instruction. We do not learn the truth by some miraculous enlightenment of the mind or mysterious voice whispering in our ear or by a vision in the night. Instead, as Paul says, we grow “by that which every joint supplies.” The method God chose “compacts” the body together and makes every member dependent upon every other member.
Of course, there are limitations to human teachers. Only the Twelve Apostles were inspired, and even they did not always speak by inspiration. (1 Cor 7:6, 12)
Human fallibility is often demonstrated by human changeability. Truth is unchangeable men are not. Once a truth has been thoroughly proven and accepted it becomes a touchstone to gauge the accuracy of other teachings. In this connection note the Apostle Paul’s words in Gal 1:8: “But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” And again, the Apostle John’s words in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God.”
Teachers are sent of God; but God does not send all who claim to be teachers as his true teachers. God’s own Word, the Bible, must verify the authenticity of their teachings. Not all teachers are gifts from God, though we thank God for those who are.
Now someone may ask, where shall we find these true sources of understanding?
“For wheresoever the carcass (the truth, the food) is found, there the eagles (those keen of vision and appetite) will be gathered together (brought together by the mutual apprehension of the truth, as eagles are drawn to their food)” Matt 24:28
As for those who believe that the Lord is somehow going to change his method of teaching in their own particular case, well that is their loss, for he who separates himself from the body, from “that which every joint supplies” likewise separates themselves from the head of that body, thus losing any spiritual guidance which they may have received.
Excerpts were taken from the article entitled “Except Some Man Guide Me”
Now the question is asked if as the scriptures state God has provided these various agencies (viz. apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers), “Is it right to follow the teachings of any ONE MAN?
“The Scriptures answer, “One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:8). We should not follow man, nor man-made creeds or systems. God exercised the supervising care over His consecrated people; as we read, “Now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the Body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Cor 12:18); therefore He advises Christians to come together to assist in building each other up in the most holy faith (Heb. 10:24, 25). He directs the church to select elders–not Lords, nor Masters, nor Reverends (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:5-9). These are “overseers” to feed the flock of God (Acts 21:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3). St. Paul says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.”
The most faithful have been followers of the Apostle, who followed in the footsteps of Jesus. This is not following man, but following the Divine leading’s through the Lord and the Apostles. Similarly today we note God’s leading’s through His servants. In this we are following Jesus Christ, not man.
Individual study of the Bible seems indispensable to proper Christian development, and is commendable, just as individual study of Geology would be commendable; but one must not ignore the aids to Bible study which God has providentially furnished (such as concordances, Lexicons, various translations and other bible study aids); to do so would be as unwise as for a pupil in astronomy to ignore the astronomical instruments and findings of others who have preceded him in the study of the same science “Study to show thyself approved unto God (not unto men); rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15)
The implication seems to be that the Holy Spirit is the medium through which the Lord guides his children to the various channels or agencies, which he has provided to assist them in their instruction of the Word.
Likewise (AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND) it is apparent that he expects his children each to contribute their part in the edifying of the body, building one another up in the most holy faith. This does not imply that each member is to contribute some vain feeling or imagining they may have had, but rather that through their individual studies of the various helps and agencies provided by the Lord they should contribute what they have personally been given to understand in regards to the truth.
There seems to be no question then that while God does take on the role of being our teacher and the Holy Spirit his channel, he also uses many human agencies in our instruction. We do not learn the truth by some miraculous enlightenment of the mind or mysterious voice whispering in our ear or by a vision in the night. Instead, as Paul says, we grow “by that which every joint supplies.” The method God chose “compacts” the body together and makes every member dependent upon every other member.
Of course, there are limitations to human teachers. Only the Twelve Apostles were inspired, and even they did not always speak by inspiration. (1 Cor 7:6, 12)
Human fallibility is often demonstrated by human changeability. Truth is unchangeable men are not. Once a truth has been thoroughly proven and accepted it becomes a touchstone to gauge the accuracy of other teachings. In this connection note the Apostle Paul’s words in Gal 1:8: “But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” And again, the Apostle John’s words in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God.”
Teachers are sent of God; but God does not send all who claim to be teachers as his true teachers. God’s own Word, the Bible, must verify the authenticity of their teachings. Not all teachers are gifts from God, though we thank God for those who are.
Now someone may ask, where shall we find these true sources of understanding?
“For wheresoever the carcass (the truth, the food) is found, there the eagles (those keen of vision and appetite) will be gathered together (brought together by the mutual apprehension of the truth, as eagles are drawn to their food)” Matt 24:28
As for those who believe that the Lord is somehow going to change his method of teaching in their own particular case, well that is their loss, for he who separates himself from the body, from “that which every joint supplies” likewise separates themselves from the head of that body, thus losing any spiritual guidance which they may have received.
Excerpts were taken from the article entitled “Except Some Man Guide Me”
