{"id":557,"date":"2021-05-21T06:03:47","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T11:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/?p=557"},"modified":"2021-05-21T06:03:47","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T11:03:47","slug":"dependence-on-the-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/?p=557","title":{"rendered":"DEPENDENCE ON THE \u201cEXPERTS\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is amazing that so often we fail to be appalled at the obvious deficiencies that we cannot but observe, but nevertheless are ashamed to point out and work to set them right, fearing the criticism of those who supposedly are more educated or are somehow more honorable than we. Would this be why we sometimes fail to recognize before others and make clear the obvious truth concerning what we are seeing around us?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hans Christian Anderson, in a short work published in 1837 in the Danish language called “Kejserens nye Kl\u00e6der,\u201d but perhaps better known by its title in English, \u201cThe Emperor’s New Clothes,\u201d wrote about an emperor that was very self-indulgent and little concerned with the needs of his kingdom. He was, however, obsessed with having the best clothes. This, together with his pride, made him vulnerable to two scoundrels who promised to make him cloth that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>only the wise, honorable and capable could see<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, out of which they would construct the most beautiful clothes ever imagined!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The emperor could not resist such an offer, and gave them the resources and materials that they requested so that he might be provided with this ultimate wardrobe. Those con artists set up looms and pretended to weave the unique cloth out of which the new clothes would be tailored. But, they were only pretending and produced nothing, but took for themselves the materials that were given to them for the work.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those that the emperor sent to inspect the on-going work, of course, saw that nothing was being produced, but feared to say they did not see the cloth, lest they be exposed as unwise, dishonorable, or incapable. So, they reported that the cloth was truly magnificent.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> When the king finally went to inspect the work, he too discovered that nothing had been produced, but he also pretended to see the cloth lest he be exposed as unworthy of his position.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The scoundrels pretended to work all through the night before the day the new clothes were to be worn by the emperor in a procession before his people. The next day he was presented with the \u201cclothes\u201d that had been produced and was \u201cdressed\u201d in them. Attendants pretended to see the clothes and to carry his flowing train behind him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As he paraded down the street, an innocent child cried out that the emperor had nothing on. Brought to their senses by the child’s honest declaration of the truth, the crowds began to echo the obvious truth. The emperor was disturbed by the revelation, but decided to continue on his way, rather than recognize his embarrassing condition.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Although this work was published as a story for children, it points out how gullible people can be, especially when we, aware as we are of our inadequacies, fear being looked down upon or criticized by those whom we esteem. Could this be why we sometimes fail to recognize before others and proclaim openly the obvious truth about what we see around us?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For many years, churches have generously entrusted great treasures and opportunities into the hands of a few people who supposedly have special knowledge and training, trusting that great things would result. When we look closely at the outcome of many of these endeavors, we do not find what we had hoped. But, perhaps, we fail to speak publicly concerning what has occurred, fearing that our inadequacies might be discovered and fearing to be criticized as incapable of understanding the \u201cwonderful\u201d works designed by such \u201ccapable and educated\u201d individuals, or we justify the situation by reflecting on the thought that possibly we could not have done better. So, we have a tendency to continue on, rather than admit the existence of this obviously embarrassing predicament.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the efforts made and the great outlay of money, many in the congregations remain unable to explain concisely the basic concepts of the faith and, indeed, may be falling away from them. Bible classes and preaching may contain less and less of God’s word of salvation, and more and more human ideas. Lessons concerning concepts of self-help and successful and prosperous living are popular. All too frequently sermons preached, which instead of distinguishing between the Lord’s church and the institutions of men, are, instead, sermons that could be preached in any denominational pulpit, because they are carefully constructed to be void of any \u201coffensive\u201d truths that might cause \u201ccontroversy.\u201d (Which may explain why such sermons are so bland, boring, and ineffective.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of an emphasis on Godly living and reaching the lost with the word of God, we sometimes observe \u201ccomforting\u201d sermons that explain to us in detail how we are saved by grace alone and how that is fortunate for us, because as \u201csinful\u201d men and women we always mess up. Far be it from us to believe that we can be more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (Romans 8:37)! May it never be that we should think that we can change and take on the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), or that we have an individual responsibility to gather souls for Christ (Luke 11:23)! How long will it be until we recognize that the results are often simply not there, and that despite (or perhaps because of) our dependence on men of learning and much training, and despite the millions spent, we have nothing of the results we were led to believe that we would surely see (no clothes)?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The intention of this article is not to speak harshly of anyone’s work, nor to discourage the training or support of faithful preachers, which are biblical principles that should not be denied.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> It is, nevertheless, directed against the ignorance and\/or self-interest that holds in place a system that puts an excessive burden on a few, who despite their efforts to the contrary, are not able to bear it, while discouraging the efforts of many other members who become weak and involved in the details of their own lives, and let themselves be robbed of the joy of a life of giving themselves to the work of the Lord. We should not be surprised at the failure of a plan that depends on a few specialized people to do the work. Christ’s church was never organized as a spectator religion, but rather a body where each member has a part and must do his\/her work. (Ephesians 4:16).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As they work with congregations, preachers experience the fact that if they work by themselves, there may be results, but they are limited. But, when everyone works together, all are mutually encouraged and the results can be much greater. That is because such has always been God’s plan and design for Christ\u2019s body.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How long will it be until we say <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>no<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> to the inventions of man\u2019s wisdom and to dependence on men, and begin each one to put into practice individually what we know of God’s word. Remember, the victory for God’s people was not provided through a champion like Goliath, who depended on his own strength, but through David, who although he was a poor shepherd, by obedience to God showed true and living faith through action, using confidently what he knew (1 Samuel 17).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We can no longer afford to hope in individuals whom some esteem as \u201cgreat champions,\u201d but we must go out ourselves to accomplish in our life what God has commanded and so make a difference, not only in our life, but also, by faithful teaching and the proper example, in the lives of others as well. That is the purpose of Christ, who came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10) May that be our purpose. Let us follow Him!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is amazing that so often we fail to be appalled at the obvious deficiencies that we cannot but observe, but nevertheless are ashamed to point out and work to set them right, fearing the criticism of those who supposedly … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":558,"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557\/revisions\/558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cybercondor.x10host.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}