One of the men whom I respect the most in m life considers himself an amateur historian and professional teacher of the Scriptures. I would consider him a respectable historian and a skilled teacher of the Scriptures but an amateur philosopher.
Recently, I heard him emphasize that he believes (as I understood it) it's best for churches to teach, strictly, through the Scriptures page by page. He, often, suggests that when churches don't do this they are at risk of straying from God.
I've witnessed that happening before, unquestionably. Churches teaching "self help" philosophies without opening the Scriptures even once in a gathering or mentioning the name of Jesus. It's incredible in the worst way.
On the other hand, to teach that the method he mentioned is somehow the Biblical model, is simply false. I should note that the phrase "Biblical model" is also an incredibly generic phrase, but humor me for now.
Let me give an example of how I concluded this... Christians commonly study the New Testament, which is a collection of, primarily, letters from witnesses of Jesus to believers and unbelievers across the Mediterranean. And when I read them, I find the messages that the authors are repeating to them is not a page-by-page study of the Old Testament, rather its a very current exhortation and commandment to that particular group of people that is respective to their particular needs.
One of my greatest concerns for my generation is how we accept single interpretations of the Holy, Creator inspired, Words of the Scriptures when our brain and senses indict it with a warning to us that something is off.
The pastor I'm referring to is trustworthy, someone I still consider my mentor and trust as much as I can trust any teacher I've had. So please know that I'm simply challenging this single thing I've heard them teach. But I'll pray and hope that you and I will not let our brains fall out when we read the Scriptures because ... Yes... I believe God has given us the Scriptures... But ... He also gave us a brain!
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