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Pastors Faithful to Jesus Think for Themselves

Pastors Faithful to Jesus Think for Themselves

Over the years, I have had many conversations with pastors from a wide range of denominational backgrounds, and I have discovered that they, just like everyone else, fall into two general camps: those faithful to Jesus and those faithful to something else.

While pastors are human and, thus, are subject to the exact same temptations, struggles, and conflicts that every other person experiences, I am focusing on them in this blog because they are in a place of religious leadership, a place where they are sub-shepherds to the Great Shepherd and take on the responsibility of leading flocks of Christians, and because many people look to their pastors for answers and examples on what to do and how to live. Thus, if a pastor is incorrect or practicing wrong principles, their influence will cascade down and lead many others astray.

In Scripture, we see this happening with the religious leaders of Israel in Christ’s day as they influenced the people to doubt and distrust Jesus (John 7:13, 45–49; 9:22).

What could a pastor be faithful to other than Jesus? To doctrines, creeds, traditions, organizations, denominations, or church authorities. We see this in the history of Christianity when various priests and church leaders promoted loyalty to their organizations rather than to following the truth as God had revealed it.

God forewarned anyone who takes on the role of speaking for Him, the role of teaching people about Him, of leading the flock for Him, that they must remain loyal to Him over their seniors or leaders in the work. We find the story recorded in 1 Kings 13, in which a young prophet was instructed by God to give a message to the king and then return home without accepting food and drink. But the young prophet was met by another prophet of the Lord—not a false prophet, not someone from another religion, not a Baal worshiper, not someone who was unfaithful to the cause—who invited the young prophet to his home for food and refreshment. When the young prophet explained that the Lord had instructed him not to stop for any food or drink,

“The old prophet answered, ‘I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: “Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.”’ (But he was lying to him.)” (1 Kings 13:18 NIV84).

The senior prophet was lying to the junior, and the younger prophet, rather than thinking for himself, rather than examining the evidence for himself, rather than choosing to follow the truth that he had understood God was directing him to do with his life, instead immediately submitted to his senior, surrendered his judgment to someone with more experience and time in the ministry, and went to his home for refreshment. The Bible continues the story,

“So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house. While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, ‘This is what the LORD says: “You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers”’” (1 Kings 13:19–22 NIV84).

On the way home, the young man was killed by a lion. Yet the donkey he had been riding and the lion stood together beside the body—a manifestation that this was not natural predation (1 Kings 13:24, 25).

Why is this story in the Bible? Because God is warning people, particularly those who have accepted His call to be His agents, ministers, pastors, priests, prophets, teachers, missionaries—anyone who takes on the role of representing Jesus to others—that we must think for ourselves, we must understand the truth for ourselves, we must be loyal to God first and foremost, and on matters of truth, duty to God, the gospel message, and God’s calling on our lives, we must never surrender our thinking to those in senior leadership, church authority, tradition, or organizational hierarchy. This is what the apostle Paul demonstrated when he would not surrender the truth and his thinking to either the Jewish leadership or even to Peter when Peter was advocating error (Galatians 2:11). He wrote that every person must be fully persuaded in their own mind (Romans 14:5).

I know so many beautiful, good-hearted pastors who love Jesus and live and teach the truth, yet I have observed others act the role of the young prophet, with all good intention, without any rebelliousness to God in their heart, they betray the truth in an attempt to be loyal to the cause, the organizations, the traditions, the creeds, or their seniors in the work by following some other leader’s advice, directions, conclusions, or institutional instructions despite being convicted that the truth is unfolding and moving past where the current leadership or organization is functioning.

As we approach the final events before Christ’s return, we will see a shaking among the people—and that will include pastors and church leaders. And just as in Christ’s day, there will be many faithful people and leaders (Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea) who will break from their organizations and their stubborn leaders to stand true to Jesus. But sadly, many others will choose to be faithful to the system, the creeds, the traditions, the organization, and walk away from the truth.

This is a painful fact of history, a painful experience when it happens, but the faithful pastors will follow the truth where it leads, even if it leads away from the churches that they have devoted their lives to and which they love. One Bible commentary puts it this way:

“As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience” (The Desire of Ages, p. 232, emphasis mine).

I invite every person, pastor, priest, church leader, and parishioner to develop your God-given individuality and always think for yourself, study for yourself, and know the truth and voice of God for yourself. And when it comes to matters of truth, duty, and conscience, never surrender yourself to any other than Jesus Christ, but present the truth in love and leave others free to disagree and even reject and revile you (as the faithful through all history have experienced) as long as you are standing faithful with our Savior and His truth.

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You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

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I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

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After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

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I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

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God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

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We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

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I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

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I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

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Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

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Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

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I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

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Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

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