Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

because of academic issues but because of spiritual issues. What does it suggest of a spiritual leader, they argued, who can virtually word-for-word recite someone else’s ideas as his own, without giving the congregation and the people the freshest, best, and most candid word he has received from the Lord for them? What do you think of this situation—has reliance on the tools and resources of others made many Christian leaders lazy, incapable of reflecting afresh on the Word of God in such a way that they can deliver a new Word from the Lord to their congregations? Has the explosion in availability of tools made it easier for Christian leaders to relax their own standards of study and discipline, and simply become those who regurgitate up the same kind of food they have received from others? Who has not encountered the story of a dear, humble, and sweet young person who was on fire for the Lord and hopeful to be used of him, who joyfully was accepted at a far away seminary or graduate school? After four to five years, they return for service, only to communicate with an entirely different spirit and emphasis. Rather than focus on the things he used to emphasize (e.g., love for God, love for souls, seeking the presence of God in worship, enjoying the depth and power of the Word of God, etc.), he now wants to discuss difficult theological concepts. Using terms and phrases that only the most literate of the congregation knows, his teaching is not filled with tears and longing for God but with controversies over theological issues that seem trite and unimportant. What happened to our brother? In what way does an over-focus on tools, resources, knowledge, and expertise puff up the person who is exposed to that focus? How can one enjoy and be empowered by the many biblical tools available without being puffed up and rendered boring and unfruitful in the process? Knowledge Puffs Up

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You Are Not Liberated Because You Do Not Know the Truth

Recently, a member of a local urban church was accosted by three members of the local KingdomHall of Jehovah’s Witnesses who were canvassing the neighborhood. After a few moments of cordial conversation, they launched into one of the stock issues, the denial of the deity of Jesus Christ. Your member, a person fully knowledgeable in his copy of the Scriptures, defended as best he could his understanding of the divinity of Jesus. The three Witnesses, however, constantly