DHK--- Yes I am & 3 of my 1st cousins are also ministers..... may I ask if you have ministry & or seminary training?
EWF: Well maybe I'm not as full of myself as you are....at least I can spell Judea properly.
:applause:
When one must point out another's spelling errors it is a reflection of "full of myself".
Id appars that you have broght this question of "training" up as if a seminary degree places one at a higher level of biblical accuracy than one who has no degree.
I have had pastors who have gone to seminaries tell me that if your not careful and well grounded in the truth they can mess you up with liberalism.
Really, you can have two men, both with half a dozen degrees in bible theology, and both with half a dozen different doctrinal points of view. When it comes to debating doctrine we all have the same text, the same Holy Spirit and the same commentaries from great men of God past to learn from. There is nothing new under the sun. It boils down to sola-scripture interpreting sola-scripture.
Sadly, having a title as a pastor or minister has been greatly deminished, at least here in the USA. Just look at the amount of ungodly men who are found holding a pulpit today. And what about all the women holding a pulpit to the shame of the biblical requirements of this title?
I'm sorry, but the title of pastor or minister really is meaningless to me unless I see the blamelessness lived out in that man's life. He must first prove himself before I have respect for such a title.
Quite frankly, thus far, I fail to see the high standard set for pastor in your post EWF.
Here is the qualifications, do you feel you have displayed all of these attributes here thus far?
Tts 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Tts 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Tts 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Tts 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Oh, my stars Ohhhh!....Ann, lol, thank you because you are really making me laugh with that medieval catholic dogma nonsense.....I don't know one Catholic (practicing or otherwise) who believes that baloney? .....you must have been a RC at one time (didn't you say your pops was a NYC Cop?) Next you will be askin her if she takes contraception or practices rhythm. :laugh: with rich feeling and pleasure "your killing me Ann."
I know a few good pastors and these are not the words of a holy man.