Not everyone is weakening

It certainly seems that everyone is undercutting the authority of Scripture these days. As I have previously stated before, the three pastors I visited around here were willing to quickly abandon a true, real reading of Genesis 1-11 for the "current thinking of the day" (with the exception of the person I spoke with at the Evangelical Free church, however, he quickly stated that I would "find almost anything in his walls" and considered most to be adiophora).

I guess you hear about pastors like that, but you don't expect to actually run into them. I expect them to be smarter, more equipped, and faithful to Scripture's intent and message, but it isn't always the case.

I have also heard of a recent poll done for LCMS pastors in which was found that only 80% of pastors serving believe in the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture! This is unbelievable to me! Of course, it seems that the pastors 40 and older are over 95% sure, but those 40 and under are only 60% or so sure! We sure have our work cut out for us. I am only 30, and if I can't even count on "my brothers" in my denomination to hold to the truths of Scripture, who can I count on!?

I guess we see a glimmer of hope in places all over. Here is an example of a pastor named Dr. John MacArthur. Here is the video that proves his stance for truth http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2006/0403macarthur.asp . I don't know about everything he speaks on, but I'm glad to see him standing on the Scriptural view of Genesis!

I guess, we take our cue from the churches found in Revelation, especially Ephesus (who hated the wrong teachings of the Nicoliatans, who worked out a compromise with the pagan teachings of the day) and Christ's words to the church in Pergamum (who were holding to the wrong teachings of Balaam and also the Nicoliatans). No, we should also head the words of Christ to the church in Laodicea, who tells us to be true and overcome the lukewarm attitude and teachings surrounding them.

We, too, have more responsibility today, to take everything to the cross of Christ as we discern it:

NIV 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

NIV 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

NIV 2 Corinthians 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

And we try to hold our ministry at the level of Paul himself, who was a faithful and true witness:

ESV 2 Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.