Dr. Couch, you have some interesting comments about our culture today. Do you have some other thoughts to share on this?
Our culture has lost all sense of authority. If the Bible has been
destroyed, there is no higher authority to appeal to but one’s self. Now
in most courtrooms people do not take the oath on the Bible. They
simply swear on themselves that they will tell the truth! They become
the arbiter of what is right and wrong. Everyone is doing what is right
in his own eyes!
Biblical authority is also being lost in our Christianity. Doctrine
no longer rules and governs. I have friends who teach in some of the old
line Bible schools who tell me they can no longer teach doctrine with a
certain sense of authority and absoluteness. They have to present ideas
to this generation of Bible college students like this: “I want you to
consider these verses about the rapture of the church!” “If you don’t
mind, here are ten views on this doctrine. Pick and choose which ones
you like.”
Often, this is happening in churches. People think they have equal
knowledge along with the pastor. They can repudiate him and reject his
teaching. Unfortunately, this is good if the pastor has not paid the
price to learn his exegetical craft! Yet, there still should be a
respect. In my opinion, the only valid reason one should leave a church
is when the leadership is no longer teaching the Word of God.
This overall mentality of questioning of authority is of course
madness! It will in time destroy our culture and our churches.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
