SemperReformanda,
While no one is discouraged from reading the Bible, Christians always have, and always will, place varying degrees of trust in our pastors, which is why we read:
Do not many of you desire to become teachers; for they shall receive a stricter judgement.
We Catholics place more trust in our leaders than Protestants typically do, but that doesn't mean that Protestants don't also trust the interpretations given to them by their pastors and allow their pastors to shape the way they view sacred scriptures.
The false belief of pretribulation raptureism had been brought about by extremely charasmatic leaders, and even now when I try to show people the inherent error in that doctrine from 2 Thessalonians the response I often get is, "Well, my pastor says that this passages really mean this...."
SemperReformanda, I wish we could all be like the Bereans, but the study of scripture, that comes so easily to you and me may not so with others of more limited capabilities, so they must trust someone.
Perhaps teacher's receiving a stricter judgement implies that a certain degree of responsibility for what laypeople believe is shifted to their shoulders. Or put more specifically,
IF Billy Graham is teaching error, and people believe in the sincerity of their hearts, God is likely to hold Dr. Graham responsible as the more learned individual.
What do you think?
To whom else shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!catholicsoldier <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/takethat.gif" alt="" />
