Churchgoers, please offer me a serious answer. There are many news reports of pedophile priests and the priests that cover up the crimes. There are the preachers that scam the people for their money. How do you know the preacher is speaking with the authority of God, not Satan?
2006-09-09 06:10:40 · 22 answers · asked by JB 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I hear so many people say to trust the Bible and not the preacher.
Silly.
The Bible is just a book. Trust God. The Bible is a tool to follow God.
Too many people place the Bible above God. This leads to confusion as the Bible can be interpreted in millions of different ways. Just look at all the Christian denominations.
God will guide the humble believer. The Bible is a guideline. I don't believe anyone who says, "The Bible is clear when it says..." The Bible is never clear. We must rely upon faith, humility, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit when reading the Bible.
If someone says they are 100% certain of what the Bible says, flee from them. They are lying.
2006-09-09 06:45:42 · answer #1 · answered by theogodwyn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do you trust the doctors who are "practicing" medicine on you? They try to find a solution, and at the expense of your body, trial and error, they have killed many. Why do people trust their lawyer, or mechanic? In every profession, there are dubious people. You must be wise in searching out people to lead you. You don't throw away common sense when it comes to spiritual matters. THe bottom line is that in life you have to trust people. Remember "School". Your parents trusted the teacher for you. How many teachers are having sex with their students? Wouldn't you say that it is a breach of trust?
So, I am a Churchgoer offering you a serious answer. Why do you trust the grocer? Is there truth in labeling? I think not. Unfortunately, in the religious community, the news reports on strike the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crimes in the church, but it doesn't even begin to touch the crimes of the government. Are you just as concerned about that?
Now to finally answer your last question. I know that "my" preacher is speaking with the authority of God because I study the Bible myself, and what he says lines up with what I've studied. When you belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit gives you discernment and you know because it resonates with your spirit, what is truth.
I hope this helps you!
2006-09-09 06:24:24 · answer #2 · answered by Wise ol' owl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good questions the preacher or priest is just telling your what they have learned! The last book of the bible Revelations has thousand of books written on it alone! Jesus said the works that I do shall you do also. When you see these preachers and priest healing the sick and raising the dead then you know they have the authority of God. If not then they are speaking with the authority of Satan!
2006-09-09 06:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by Retarded Dave 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe that one needs to trust the preacher to interpret God's words. That chore is up to the individual.
However, one can listen to the preachers' thoughts and interpret them just as one can read the Bible and interpret that.
Additionally, constructive listening might yield some insight or a conundrum that will spur one to research an idea at a deeper level.
Try not to dismiss a complete class of citizens just because of bad behavior by a few.
If you take that attitude relative to every group, you'll end up not believing in anything or anybody.
There are good, insightful people in every group. Search for the good, not the bad.
2006-09-09 06:22:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well to tell you the truth I don't...I take what they say and I go into the bible and search it for myself. That way when I answer something I can say I know not I heard. I personally think that ALL Christians should do this! One way to know that the preacher is at least in the right area is...The Bible always confirms it self. Usually 3 times in most cases. So if there is one subject the preacher is talking about it should be found somewhere else in the Bible
2006-09-09 06:15:26 · answer #5 · answered by abram1love 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I attend a bible college and there fore am learning to do it myself.
If you pray for discernment, which obviously you have gotten some anyway, the Lord himself will show you the way.
I can't do it and preacher's cannot do it for you. It's your responsibility to learn and discern.
Jesus said ask and it will be given.
These are not the only preachers scamming you for money and the Word of God is not supposed to be for sale ever.
When did Jesus loose his temper, as I recall the only time?
When the merchants were selling in the temple of his father.
DONT DO IT
2006-09-09 06:20:36 · answer #6 · answered by eg_ansel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We don't know. We are told there are wolves in sheeps clothing in this world and mine or your preacher could be one of them. The priest/preacher in no way shape or form is a God to us. We rely on them to help us intrepret God's word. We also go to church for fellowship not just to hear what the preacher has to say.
2006-09-09 06:12:21 · answer #7 · answered by Rachel☺ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Simple: If what he's preaching lines up with God's Word AND it's biblical applications (not just picking & choosing to match the message), it's a pretty safe bet that he's the real deal.
Unfortunately, alot of people don't do the studying for themselves, & they fall into the traps set for them.
2006-09-09 06:22:04 · answer #8 · answered by azar_and_bath 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do you trust your preacher/priest to interpret God's words?
I don't!
2006-09-09 07:55:14 · answer #9 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. What kind of moron blindly trusts another human to interpret scripture for them!? That's one of the things Martin Luther was all about, letting the people have access to God's Word for themselves.
2006-09-09 06:15:07 · answer #10 · answered by Cybeq 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋