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Our Approach to the Scriptures Is Seriously Flawed

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Our Approach to the Scriptures Is Seriously Flawed Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 5 1. BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION ................................................................... 12 Rules of Biblical Interpretation ........................................................................................15 Common Errors in Biblical Interpretation........................................................................18 2. THE SOURCE OF OUR CHURCH'S BELIEFS AND PRACTICES............ 24 Kip’s Influence.................................................................................................................24 The Example of History ...................................................................................................27 My Thoughts on “Revolution Through Restoration”.......................................................30 Speak where the Bible Speaks..........................................................................................30 The Studies.......................................................................................................................34 Discipling Partners ...........................................................................................................35 World Sector Leaders.......................................................................................................44 Influences on his view of leadership ................................................................................45 Authority ..........................................................................................................................45 The Use of the Old Testament..........................................................................................46 Tithing ..............................................................................................................................47 Growth as the Evidence of God’s Grace..........................................................................52 Reconstructions and Remnant Theology..........................................................................58 I, Me, Mine.......................................................................................................................60 3. EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF LEADER OF THE MOVEMENT......... 62 Old Testament Leaders.....................................................................................................63 New Testament Leaders ...................................................................................................64 Not So With You - Leadership in the Church..................................................................70 But Someone Has to Lead!...............................................................................................75 The Bottom Line on The Leader of the Movement..........................................................81 4. SALVATION ............................................................................................... 84 The Gospel .......................................................................................................................85 Conversions in the Book of Acts......................................................................................86 Discipleship in the Early Church by John Engler ...........................................................92 Our View of Discipleship.................................................................................................99 The Church.....................................................................................................................106 Greatness, Exclusivity and the Kingdom of God by John Engler..................................109 The one, true church.......................................................................................................114 Can you leave the ICC and still be a Christian?.............................................................117 Restoring the church.......................................................................................................140 5. THE NUMBER SYSTEM........................................................................... 142 Scriptural Support...........................................................................................................143 Worldly Wisdom or Scriptural Examples? ....................................................................147 Faith vs. Human Effort...................................................................................................149 Long Term Effects..........................................................................................................151 6. AUTHORITY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ................................................ 160 The Apostle Paul and Authority ...................................................................... 161 His Role and Position.....................................................................................................161 Paul and the Corinthians.................................................................................................165 Paul and the Thessalonians.............................................................................................169 Paul and the Philippians .................................................................................................171 Tithes, Budgets & Supporting the Ministry ..................................................................173 What Paul Commanded ................................................................................... 178 Commands and Opinions ...............................................................................................178 Commanding or Encouraging?.......................................................................................181 Delegating Authority to Others ......................................................................................184 Paul's Commands and Directions to Timothy................................................ 186 False Teachers ................................................................................................................186 Specific Instructions on Various Issues: ........................................................................190 2 Direction regarding Elders .............................................................................................192 Advice about Widows, Elders and Slaves......................................................................193 Various Instructions Regarding: men, women, widows, elders.....................................194 Instructions Regarding Slaves........................................................................................196 Paul's Personal Commands to Timothy..........................................................................196 Instructions regarding the rich........................................................................................197 More thoughts regarding giving and tithing...................................................................198 Paul's Commands and Directions to Titus..................................................... 203 Titus in Crete - World Sector Leader? ...........................................................................204 The Choosing of Elders..................................................................................................206 Dealing with False Teachers ..........................................................................................207 Titus and Sound Doctrine...............................................................................................208 Additional Instructions...................................................................................................210 The Role of Tychicus .....................................................................................................214 Summary of Paul's commands to Titus ..........................................................................216 7. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS................................................................... 217 A Climate of Fear...........................................................................................................217 Waging War as the World Does.....................................................................................226 Reliance on Men.............................................................................................................229 Epilogue..........................................................................................................................235 BOOKS .............................................................................................................. 239 3 January 14, 2001 This paper was written in July of 2000. It is based on the results of over two years of my own Bible study and research begun in January 1998 and concluded in July 2000. The supporting material for these studies, encompassing Scripture lists, Greek word definitions and Bible commentaries take up well over five hundred pages. Also included in this paper are two articles written by John Engler, a member of the Denver Church of Christ. I include John’s studies, which can be found on his web site, because they mirror some of the exact same things I have studied. John is very scholarly and he stays close to the Scriptures. I think his conclusions are both insightful and accurate. I have examined some very basic Scriptural issues, such as salvation and authority,
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