It is a false mentality to assume that just because we are believers, we are disciples. Christians are born into the new life, but disciples are made through learning to sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ and learn.
I am amazed in the body of Christ at the amount of believers who walk with an unteachable heart. Even when Bible studies go out, many treat them as a buffet style smorgasbord which we can pick and choose what we want to learn. The Bible studies which we pick are typically things we already agree with anyway, therefore we haven't learn anything new. It was just good to have someone post a study that we know we can come in agreement with.
But then comes the study that goes against what we believe or want to believe. This could be because we are emotionally or mentally tied to a doctrine and don't want to hear anything that would speak against it and cause change. Therefore we use the age-old statement that in our own eyes carries a high level of authority. This age-old statement is "I disagree with that".
I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard this as a Pastor. After 40 years of ministry I am saddened to say that not one person who offered this brilliant statement has offered any Biblical texts or explanations other than a strongly emotional "I disagree with that." They say this statement with such authority that it would seem they believed that we who have labored in diligent study in writing these detailed Bible studies are supposed to be overwhelmed with their emotional sincerity and therefore throw all our Biblical study out the window.
We, the church, are in a sad shape. God's people perish because of a lack of knowledge. Therefore, those who really seek truth will continue to study the Word of Truth and seek to rightly divide the Word. They will continue for a season to post more studies in hope that some will have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. And of course they will pray for the church. The worldliness within the church which the backslidden label as Christian and Biblical is somewhat unbelievable. According to Scriptures, what requirements does our Lord Jesus Christ state for those who want to be His disciples? (See Luke 14:26-33).
Luke 14:26-33 ESV "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (27) Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (29) Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. (33) So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
I am amazed in the body of Christ at the amount of believers who walk with an unteachable heart. Even when Bible studies go out, many treat them as a buffet style smorgasbord which we can pick and choose what we want to learn. The Bible studies which we pick are typically things we already agree with anyway, therefore we haven't learn anything new. It was just good to have someone post a study that we know we can come in agreement with.
But then comes the study that goes against what we believe or want to believe. This could be because we are emotionally or mentally tied to a doctrine and don't want to hear anything that would speak against it and cause change. Therefore we use the age-old statement that in our own eyes carries a high level of authority. This age-old statement is "I disagree with that".
I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard this as a Pastor. After 40 years of ministry I am saddened to say that not one person who offered this brilliant statement has offered any Biblical texts or explanations other than a strongly emotional "I disagree with that." They say this statement with such authority that it would seem they believed that we who have labored in diligent study in writing these detailed Bible studies are supposed to be overwhelmed with their emotional sincerity and therefore throw all our Biblical study out the window.
We, the church, are in a sad shape. God's people perish because of a lack of knowledge. Therefore, those who really seek truth will continue to study the Word of Truth and seek to rightly divide the Word. They will continue for a season to post more studies in hope that some will have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. And of course they will pray for the church. The worldliness within the church which the backslidden label as Christian and Biblical is somewhat unbelievable. According to Scriptures, what requirements does our Lord Jesus Christ state for those who want to be His disciples? (See Luke 14:26-33).
Luke 14:26-33 ESV "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (27) Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (29) Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. (33) So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
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