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Multiple times in the Old Testament, the Scriptures were lost, leading the people into confusion and sin. Thankfully, they were found later, and the people were able to serve God again. Now, we are nearly all literate (you certainly are!), have unprecedented access to the Bible, and yet choose to ignore it.
Private, daily reading of the Bible, for no less than 15 minutes, is critical to a Christian's walk with the Lord. At the very least, one should read a chapter of the New Testament every day.
God is taking away the wisdom and understanding of our men, especially our spiritual leaders. We profess with our lips to be serving God, but refuse to submit to His words in our heart; prioritizing the instruction of men instead.
One way He is achieving this is through Bible colleges and seminaries, where we believe our preachers and missionaries must go before they can preach the Gospel and nurture disciples for Christ. Though these now wicked organizations have attempted to bear this responsibility, God only entrusted this with the local church. Those who say you must attend a seminary are adding to God's words.
Black preachers have a unique, passionate style of preaching in which they convey teachings in a fresh way, rather than delivering a woman's message. They care for their congregations and their congregations respect them, which is evident from the reactions called out during a sermon. Messages that end in singing reveal the joy and gratitude of not only the pastor, but of the flock as well.
When a new believer wishes to learn more about Jesus, his faith, and what God says, he is often directed to purchase a study Bible, or at least a Bible with marginal notes, footnotes, or cross-references.
This article is about more than just study Bibles, though that will be the main focus. Man's Bible notes include marginal notes, which often change or obscure the meaning by using different words for a translation, and footnotes, which do the same or confuse the reader with unnecessary information. I am even wary of cross-references, which can force an interpretation on the reader. These can be useful when connecting an Old Testament prophecy or quote used by Jesus or the apostles, but they carry the risk of restricting the meaning of the passage. Cross-references should be connections we learn under the guidance of the Holy Ghost during daily reading.
This is an introduction to a series regarding issues that are plaguing churches. There is a great need for reformation in modern American churches. Too many Christians think that any disagreement is "unchristian" and that we must all come together in harmony and love. While we are to love one another, we should not tolerate false doctrines just because someone who claims to be a Christian teaches them. For inconsequential disagreements, we are to engage in loving, gentle debate with our fellow brethren. This series is not about minor disagreements.