Credentials

by Bruce Vyverberg

If we ever find ourselves in a position to need an operation on our knee, hip, or heart (etc), most of us would obviously search out for a physician with the necessary credentials and experience to perform such a surgery.  Who would be so foolish not to?

In the Old Testament times, the Lord chose and called a man named Moses.  After much intense, personal interaction with the Lord, Moses then wrote the entire first 5 books of the Bible.  By the time he did, Moses had both the calling and the spiritual credentials to teach the people of God.  It was then their responsibility, before the Lord, to both heed and obey.

In New Testament times, the Lord chose and called a man named Paul to be His apostle and to write about 1/3 of the New Testament.  Like Moses, Paul’s calling and intense personal relationship with the Lord, gave him the experience and spiritual credentials to do so.  Therefore, like the Israelites of old, it is our responsibility as Christians to both learn and heed the things that Paul and the other New Testament writers teach us.

Unfortunately, as a result of the world’s culture and beliefs infiltrating the Church today, many Christians are mistakenly disregarding the inspired teachings of Moses, Paul and the others as, out of touch, not relevant and even bigoted.  Worse yet, many are teaching others to believe the same.  In doing so, according to Jesus in Matthew.15:14, they become like:

“The blind leading the blind and both will fall into the ditch”.

While we as Christians are all called to testify of the greatness of the Lord, we need to be very careful when elevating ourselves to the position of teacher.  The apostle James, who was one of Jesus’ earthly brothers and a 1^st century church leader, cautioned in James 3:1:

“Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment”.

Those who teach the Word of God should understand that 10,000 years from now, their position in eternity, will be affected by the things they teach others while here on this earth. 

Moses, Paul and the others were called and given the spiritual credentials to write the Bible for our overall benefit.  Therefore, it would behoove us all to read and then try and apply it to our daily lives.  In doing so, we will surely be persecuted, resented and demeaned by those who mistakenly label us as; “out of touch, bigots and even haters”. 

www.PropheticManna.com