“𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲”⁣
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𝖶𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗋𝖺 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗉𝗎𝗋𝗌𝗎𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝖲𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗈𝗎𝗍𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗌𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝗉𝗎𝗋𝗌𝗎𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍-𝖽𝖺𝗒 pastors 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅.⁣
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𝖧𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖲𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗋𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖺 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗈𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖿𝗂𝖿𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 (𝗈𝗋 𝟣,𝟧𝟢𝟢 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌), 𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝗉𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖠𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾, 𝗇𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝗈𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝖼𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖾𝗑𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅, 𝗏𝗂𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗉𝖺𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾.⁣
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𝖳𝗁𝖾 “𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾” 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗐𝗈𝖿𝗈𝗅𝖽. 𝖥𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖲𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗈𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒, 𝗃𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗉𝗋𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝗉𝗈𝖾𝗍𝗋𝗒, 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗌𝖾, 𝗀𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗇𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖿𝖺𝗋𝖾, 𝗌𝖼𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗆𝗂𝖼𝗌, 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗂𝗈𝗇, 𝗆𝖾𝗍𝖺𝗉𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝗌, 𝖾𝗍𝖼. 𝖲𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽, 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖻𝗌𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗍𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝗈𝗅𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝗈𝗅𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖼𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 — 𝗂𝗋𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗅𝗎𝗑 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝟨,𝟢𝟢𝟢 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌. 𝖶𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗆𝗎𝗅𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖾𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒 𝗉𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 (𝗆𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅) 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗌𝗒𝖼𝗁𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 (𝗂𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅). 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗊𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖼𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽. 𝖮𝗎𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍, 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗆𝖾. 𝖨𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈, 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽 — 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗏𝗂𝖺 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗎𝗆𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾, 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝖾𝖼𝗁𝗇𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒. 𝖥𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 ‘𝗐𝗁𝖾𝖾𝗅’ 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 ‘𝗂𝖯𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾,’ 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗌𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌 𝗎𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗈 “𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍” 𝖺𝗇𝖽 “𝗐𝗁𝗈” 𝗐𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋, 𝖽𝖾𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇, 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝗃𝗈𝗒, 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗍, 𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗌, 𝗀𝗈𝖺𝗅𝗌, 𝖾𝗍𝖼., 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗈𝗋𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖾𝗍 𝗏𝗂𝖺 𝖲𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾𝖷. 𝖲𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅, 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁-𝖺𝗅𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖢𝖠𝖭𝖭𝖮𝖳 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗋 𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌 ‘𝗒𝗈𝗎.’ 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗆𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗌: “𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗇𝖾, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗎𝗇” (𝖤𝖼𝖼𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝟣:𝟫).⁣
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𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾, 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 “𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 “𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇” 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖲𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾. 𝖸𝖾𝗍, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝗍𝗐𝗈𝖿𝗈𝗅𝖽. 𝖥𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍, 𝗈𝗇 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗌, 𝗐𝖾 𝖽𝗈 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗆 𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾, 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖲𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖮𝗆𝗇𝗂𝗌𝖼𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝖮𝗆𝗇𝗂𝗉𝗈𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝖮𝗆𝗇𝗂𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖦𝗈𝖽. 𝖶𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗅 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝖽𝖾𝗉𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗑𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 “𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖦𝗈𝖽” (𝖧𝖾𝖻𝗋𝖾𝗐𝗌 𝟣𝟣:𝟥). 𝖠𝗇𝖽, 𝗐𝖾 “𝖽𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖻𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍, 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝖾𝗑𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗀𝗈, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗁 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖦𝗈𝖽” (𝟣𝖯𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝟥:𝟧). 𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖬𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗐 𝟦:𝟦 — 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖿𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖬𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖣𝖾𝗎𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗆𝗒 𝟪:𝟥 — “𝖬𝖺𝗇 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝗒 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖻𝗒 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗌 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗎𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝖦𝗈𝖽.” 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖻𝗅𝖾𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 “𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒.” 𝖠 𝖿𝖾𝗐 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗄𝖺𝗒. ‘𝖲𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽’ 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗎𝖿𝖿𝗂𝖼𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗍. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗒, “𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽" 𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾, 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝗎𝗇𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗑𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈𝗅𝖾𝗋𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾. 𝖲𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽, 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾 𝗂𝗀𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿 “𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽” 𝗈𝖿 𝖦𝗈𝖽, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗂𝗀𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗉𝖾𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖼𝖾 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖦𝗈𝖽, 𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒. 𝖨𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖼𝗒𝖼𝗅𝖾.⁣
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𝖡𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖨𝖿 𝗐𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖧𝗂𝗆, 𝗐𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖧𝗂𝗆, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗐𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖧𝗂𝗆 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌. 𝖮𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖧𝗂𝗆 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗐𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 (𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾) 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾. 𝖶𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 (𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾) 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖤𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝖦𝗈𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗈𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖯𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗆𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗌 “𝖡𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖫𝖮𝖱𝖣 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗅𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗌" (𝖯𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗆 𝟥𝟥:𝟨); “𝖮 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝖺𝗐 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗒” (𝖯𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗆 𝟣𝟣𝟫:𝟫𝟩); “𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗐 𝗈𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝗈𝗎𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗀𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗂𝗅𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗌” (𝖯𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗆 𝟣𝟣𝟫:𝟩𝟦); “𝖢𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗉𝗍𝗌; 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖿𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾” (𝖯𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗆 𝟣𝟣𝟫:𝟣𝟦𝟫). 𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗌, “𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗆𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌” (𝖩𝗈𝗁𝗇 𝟣𝟦:𝟣𝟧); “𝖶𝗁𝗈𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆, 𝗁𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝗆𝖾. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗆𝗒 𝖥𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗆” (𝖩𝗈𝗁𝗇 𝟣𝟦:𝟤𝟣); “𝖶𝗁𝗈𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗆𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖥𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗆𝖾” (𝖩𝗈𝗁𝗇 𝟣𝟦:𝟤𝟦).⁣
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𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘴 𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗈𝖺𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝗏𝖾𝗌. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝖻𝗃𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖧𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗎𝗋𝗉𝗈𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖧𝗂𝗆. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗐𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝖽. 𝖲𝗈 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖯𝖺𝗎𝗅, 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗎𝗌 𝖻𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗍𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀:⁣
 

⁣“⁸𝖸𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗅𝗒, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗅𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝖫𝗈𝗋𝖽: 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖶𝗁𝗈𝗆 𝖨 𝗌𝗎𝖿𝖿𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖿𝗎𝗌𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖨 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍, ⁹𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖧𝗂𝗆, 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝗒 𝗈𝗐𝗇, 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗐, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗇 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝖦𝗈𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗍𝗁: ¹⁰𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖨 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖧𝗂𝗆, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉 𝗈𝖿 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗎𝖿𝖿𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌, 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁; ¹¹𝗂𝖿 𝖻𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗆𝖾𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝖨 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖽. ¹²𝖭𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝗈𝖻𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖽, 𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗆 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝖿𝖾𝖼𝗍: 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖨 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗈𝗇, 𝗂𝖿 𝗌𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖨 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗅𝖺𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝗒 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌. ¹³𝖡𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌, 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗆𝗒𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗅𝖽: 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖨 𝖽𝗈, 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖽, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗍𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾, ¹⁴𝖨 𝗉𝗎𝗋𝗌𝗎𝖾, 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝖺𝗅, 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗓𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁 𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝖦𝗈𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌”⁣ (Philippians 3:8-14).
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𝖦𝗋𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖯𝖾𝖺𝖼𝖾⁣
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𝖯𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋 𝖫𝗈𝗎𝗂𝗌⁣

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“⁣𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧”⁣
 

In an era which allows us geometric access to information, we are often deluded into the presumption that access to information is equivalent to having the knowledge and understanding that are requisite to applying said information.

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Sadly, some presuppose that access without critical scrutiny is to be preferred because the bliss and comfort of ignorance are more palatable than the rigor and responsibility of understanding. It is both shocking and amazing that many acquire advanced degrees, advanced employment and advanced positions of influence without having gained an authentic knowledge within their area of "expertise."

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This brings me to the group of persons who are most indicative and therefore most culpable of the above commentary: Pastor-Teachers. There is a tendency in "theological circles" to place great emphasis on "systems of theology" (such as Seminaries, Denominations, Commentaries, Statements of Faith, Creeds, etc.) This emphasis is often to the detriment of notionally de-emphasizing or delegitimizing Scripture. I am reminded of a dialogue I was having with some of my pastoral associates about the nature of the Godhead. I asked one of them to render an exegetical interpretation of a biblical reference that I presented and he in turn referred me to the Creed of Nicaea (an ancient Statement of Faith written around a.d. 325). I informed him that, while I believe the ancient Creeds of Christendom to be historically informative, such creeds are not God-breathed or "inspired" and cannot be equated to Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). He then proceeded to recommend a book on the Creeds that might inform my perspective of Scripture.

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The problem that this pastor has (in addition to a number of other pastors, academicians and scholars) is an undue love of theology. Theology is the study of God. More accurately, Theology is man's study of God. We all have a theology. Even the atheist has a theology: "There is no God." However, theologies are no more God-breathed or "inspired" than the persons who espouse them. While theologies aren't God-breathed or "inspired," they can possess either legitimacy or illegitimacy, contingent on whether or not they are consistent with the inerrant, infallible, imperishable, God-breathed text of Scripture.

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Many of these leaders are well meaning, even though their teachings will have Scriptural inconsistencies. Yet, the greater concern for me is whether or not I am willing to chance a Scriptural inconsistency, which misrepresents the LORD of Scripture, so that I might elevate MY OWN THEOLOGY. At present, I AM NOT willing to do so! Beloved of God, consider the gravity of notionally placing one's own theology on a par above Scripture, via the stern imperative of the Apostle Paul who wrote God-breathed Scripture:

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"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9)."

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Grace and Peace,

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Pastor Louis