Aspersions have been cast from D.W. and fawning followers concerning--just me,<br>myself, and my Bible, and the Bereans. Now that's a novel idea--examining<br>Scripture as Scripture dictates. II Timothy 2:15 states to "Study to show thyself<br>approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the<br>word of truth (meaning he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth)."<br>And II Timothy 2:16, 17 continues "But shun profane and vain babblings, for those<br>who engage in it will only become more ungodly, and their teaching will eat away<br>at people like gangrene and spread like cancer." And the Bereans were <br>commended (Acts 17:11) for their conscientious examination of Scripture on their<br>own, even though presented to them by the apostle Paul, himself. Actus 17:11<br>states, "Now the people here were of nobler character (more fair-minded for<br>instance) than the ones at Thessalonica; they eagerly received the
message, <br>checking the Scriptures every day to see if the things Paul was saying were <br>true." People urgently need to study the Scriptures daily for themselves, not <br>simply to rely on the expositions of a pastor or Bible teacher, no matter how <br>skilled he may be. Of course, if one is left alone with his Bilbe, the Holy Spirit<br>may tell him something differently than what Doug Wilson and his Kirk are<br>espousing. And we couldn't have that.<br><br>Hebrews 13:17 seems to be a favorite verse at C.C.--"Obey them that have the <br>rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they must<br>give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is<br>unprofitable to you." But you'd do well to remember soberly your complete <br>mandate. In I Corinthians 4:1, pastors/elders are to be humble messengers, and<br>I Peter 5:2-3 warns ministers ministering--"not for dishonest gain but eagerly,<br>nor
as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;..."<br>Ministers are not to lord it over--dominate someone or some situation, in this<br>context. You're not to have leadership by manipulation and intimidation. <br>Matthew 20:25-28 states, "But Jesus called them and said, 'You know that<br>among the Gentiles, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and<br>their superiors become dictators. Among you, it must not be like that. On the <br>contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant,<br>and whoever wants to be first must be your slave! For the Son of Man did not<br>come to be served, but to serve--and to give His life as a ransom for many."<br>True spiritual leadership is by example--"...be an example to the believers in <br>your speech, in behavior, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Timothy 4:12).<br><br>"Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility: for God<br>resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5).<br><br><Scimitar><br><p> 
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