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Choir Loft
Hello again SaberTruth
There’s the “flaw”, in your ointment.
You said........
Your flaw, is a rejection of authority. God’s authority.
You are right, that God’s people(all of us), have a responsibility to reject preachers, that don’t rightly divide the Word of truth.
This is the authority a Church body has, and they should exercise it, when needed.
This....is the great falling away.
We are in the midst of the Great Apostacy. That there is extensive discussion about these things is proof that the subject is prominent in our minds.
Has such debate ever happened before? I think not.
I performed my Masters Degree work in Theology and Church History in a liberal seminary in upstate New York.
In the course of my studies I discovered that the leadership of my denomination was riddled with anti-Christ sentiment (not to mention the weaknesses of the flesh - but I won't get into that).
One of the reasons I did not pursue a vocation in the ministry was the fact that I was told outright by the Dean of Ministry, who was also the Dean of the Seminary, that I would NOT be ordained unless I "put aside all this business about Jesus Christ and getting saved." "Don't you understand," he said, "that this is just a job."
I finished my term and left the place as quickly as I could.
One of the biggest problems of the church today is leadership and the lack of it.
In my town there are numerous palm readers, psychics, and wickens. You can get an audience for spiritual guidance from any of them at any time 24/7, but you cannot get access to many ministers of the gospel. Some have even created a screening process that must be penetrated before you are priviledged enough to obtain an audience.
It is true that the members of the body of Christ are individually responsible for discerning the Word, but it is also true that God has created a place for spiritual leadership in each town and city.
Our leaders have become corrupted by the world and are in place just "to do a job".
They care not for the flock of Christ.
Is it any wonder then that we see multitudes of the sheep of Christ wandering from church building to church building in search of spiritual sustenance?
God has given us a thirst for the true fellowship of followers of Christ and for Holy inspired guidance.
Instead we are dining on smoke and ashes.
God help us, everyone.