OldPete66:
Heb 13.7 says, "Never forget your leaders, who first spoke to you the Word of God. Remember the result of their lives, and imitate their faith". The whole section goes on to warn about peculiar and strange doctrines.TheSamuels5 (katie):
Newer believers need to be supported and encouraged by those who have a little more wisdom under their belt. But the reality is that none of us have all the answers - we only see part of the picture.
I see people like Wayne Jacobsen and Jim Palmer as leaders who aim to persuade others based on their own experiences.
I've been on this journey a very long time and it's only in the last few years that I have begun to realise that it had been almost entirely head knowledge and almost no heart awareness. I realised in 1998 that I had been freed from the slavery of legalism but that was only a small beginning!
Unlike Wayne and Jim I have never been in a leadership position - I remember asking in a men's discussion group, "What is the purpose of life?" The immediate response of the vicar was, "Peter, you can't ask that, it's the 64,000 dollar question (a lot of money in those days). Let's go on to the next question". With hindsight that was the beginning of my journey away from traditional Christianity - and that was over 40 years ago! There was something missing and I didn't find that missing ingredient until I read "The Shack" in the summer of 2007!!!!
Those of us who have been drawn away from traditional churches know that there is something wrong with the nature of church. We question some of the theology we have been taught. We are being encouraged to get away from the baggage of religion. I would suggest that all of this is the work of the Spirit.
hi there, in response to the heb 13:17 verse i thought i might just add my 2 cents worth :)
if you look it up in the Interlinear Scripture Analyzer with the CLV (concordant literal version) it reads "be persuaded by your leaders and be deferring to them for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account , that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning as this is disadvantageous to you."
this translations gives the verse a completely different feel -
"being persuaded" is very different language to "obey". the way i see it the author is encouraging the newer believers to come under the wing of the "leaders" who were the ones who had been walking this out a bit longer than them and had a little more wisdom under their belt. they were very useful and helpful to the other members (especially the more immature ones) as they had wisdom and experience to share with the other believers they were walking alongside of so the author encouraged them to not give them trouble because they are trying to be of assistance and help you grow in the Lord - not make you dependant on them though which is unfortunately how the IC deal does. i know myself i love to visit with and fellowship with others who have been walking this out longer with me, they have so much to contribute. i think the problem lies with good ol' king Jimmy and His version of the bible. unfortunately when his translators were doing their job they were instructed to use stronger language that would reinforce peoples obedience to him as their leader hence some of the translations in the king James translation is a little off. just some thoughts :)
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