The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Men's and Women's studies

Dave,

Sorry but I seem to find some contradiction in what you are trying to say. Perhaps I am misunderstanding what it is exactly you are believing..... if so, I would be grateful if you would set me straight. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What you are saying ----> appears <---- to be this: Where "great" men such as Spurgeon and Sproul can be found, there will be (always?) godly men and women who will have an interest in "meaty" Bible Studies such as those which were referred to in the original question of this thread and which the men of that church had no interest. So, on this point, if I have understood you right, we are going to have to disagree. Although it is most important that preachers/teachers of the Word fulfill their respective positions responsibly and biblically, there is never a guarantee that in doing so there will be fruit.

Secondly, again referring back to the original post and question concerning the near total lack of interest on the part of men in the church in question, you appear to automatically conclude that the Pastor and/or teachers in that church are not . . . no CANNOT be preaching and teaching the Word of God faithfully and fully. (see comment #1 above) My response was and still remains that this may not be the case at all. But rather, inspite of faithful preaching and teaching there still can be lack of interest on the part of men (yes and women and children too) due to the fact that they are yet unregenerate. May I point out to you at this point, that when Paul went to Corinth he surely preached the Word of God faithfully and in all its fulness. Yet, the opposition was so abundant and so strong Paul was ready to pack it in and leave. But the Lord came to Him in the night and told him that he must remain for there were "much people" in that city (aka: elect) that needed to hear the Word. So again, by way of example, faithful and sound preaching/teaching does NOT guarantee positive and immediate results.

Thirdly, if as you write, that with sound preaching and teaching, unregenerate persons will leave rather than endure that type of ministry. IF that were true, then what we should see is that in those churches where a faithful ministry exists, there will be no unregenerate individuals but rather only those who have come to know Christ and desire to grow in grace. Thus the men of the church would be banging down the doors to get to Bible Studies where doctrine is being taught. However, I have to insist that this does not represent reality. I have been in a few churches where the preaching and teaching was "to die for"! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" /> Yet, in those churches only a minority of men came out to the myriad studies offered; whether in the church itself or those held privately in homes. So, I have to wonder where you would find fault? . . . would you say that my assessment of the preaching and teaching was in error because if it was sound all the men would have attended the classes? Or, would you conclude that something was awry with the spiritual condition of those men who didn't attend; not excluding that there are sometimes extenuating circumstances which would prevent full attendance?

My good man.... may I tell you that even at Westminster Seminary where one could have experienced some of the most biblically sound teaching and preaching, there were young men who were far from God. And may I also tell you that at one Baptist seminary where I studied, despite the woefully "weak" teaching and preaching there were men who were indisputably of faith and conviction.

God works in mysterious ways and calls men to faith and discipleship from everywhere, albeit in some cases in spite of where they are found. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,