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 The
pulpit, or podium, is not a shrine from which an oracle speaks.
Control of the microphone does not bestow divine authority.
Of course we know these things, but an occasional reminder is
in order for those speakers who seem to think that if they said
it — especially before a large audience— the truth is established.
Listeners also need to review their concepts of “pulpit pronouncements.”
Our
attention has been called to several recent examples of “speaker
superiority”— where the speaker felt insulted if his conclusions
were questioned, and refused to engage in “equal time” studies
of the matter, even in privacy. In some cases a public “I disagree”
is supposed to answer scriptural arguments — and for those who
accept public pronouncements as final authority, this may be
the end of further investigation —but God will have the final
word. One church dismissed those who questioned their practices
by saying, “This is not a competitive church.” A strange way
to fight the fight of faith. We could understand “not interested
in carnal battle” if there were not so much evidence of carnal
pressures to force their conclusions
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others.
Brethren,
we are deep into an era of questioning and investigation; of
renewed interest in private study. If we have half the confidence
we claim to have in our teaching and practice, we will encourage
rather than squelch objective Bible testing. Perhaps many of
the questions will be inane and childish. So, show your maturity
and wisdom with concerned, scriptural reply. Help the querist
grow up.
Getting
angry, pulling rank, or hiding behind the “dignity” of the pulpit
is a strong psychological clue to your inadequacy. Insecure
people, feeling their “position” threatened, act like that;
and so do brethren who have no authority for their practice.
Questions,
and “new” (non-traditional) ideas are not signs of wisdom. A
fool can question, and may need answering “according to his
folly,” (Prov. 26:4-5). But foolish also are the men or churches
who act as though God would judge man on the basis of their
conclusions. (Rom. 12:3: 14:12)
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