I grew up in a Christian home, made my way to church each time the doors were open, no matter WHAT was going on. I made my way through Sunday School, youth group, and Bible study. But in my early thirties I realized that I was raised in church yet not in Christ. As I reflected on my past as a child in church and as a young Christian in church I don't recall doctrinal teaching, doctrinal preaching, nor a focus on theological truths or understanding whether it were from the pulpit or at home. The scary part of all of this, I came to this realization as a senior pastor of a local church!
One of the shifting moments of my life came as I listened to a pastor preach and he said "stop reading the Bible to prove what you believe and read it to believe what it proves!" I was floored! I knew what the denomination believed, well surface level understanding anyway but what did I believe? Better yet, what did the Bible proclaim that I should believe? After all the years of surface level sermons telling me "it's all going to be ok" to "sin is bad" yet no explination as to why and how. I refused to live on the surface and knew it was time to dive in deep!
I've learned A LOT over the course of the last several years. I believe it's time for the individuals in the church to learn of the Lord, to have an enthusiasm to learn of him. No more kindergarten christians but wise laymen who can define the Trinity, speak intellectually about God's sovereignty, and deliver the Gospel in it's full glory! Where are you at hungry Christian? I know, you don't have time to go to seminary or take classes. I didn't either but I made time to read, A LOT, listen even more and hear from every side and argument and I promise that the truth will rise out of all of it and your heart can be settled! Not settled in man, not settled in the pastor, nor settled in dads knowledge but settled in the truth that God by the Spirit revealed unto you from the pages of his Word through prayer, fasting, and supplication! God bless!
