[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ACuriousFellow

I suppose I have been blessed, then. The bible study I am currently attending at a self-proclaimed non-denominational church allows for many instances of wrestling with scriptures alongside those who are sitting beside us (we are grouped at several round tables). Even the pastor of that study is open to having his thoughts and statements analyzed and challenged once he's done with whatever he's prepared to give us, and he's often honest in telling us that he doesn't have all the answers and is pretty much in the same boat as us. More than anything, it seems like he tries to drive discussion with questions and prompts rather than simply give a sermon or having us repeat stuff from some ministry book. He views his "sermon" as simply his thoughts on the matter and encourages the attendees to do the share their thoughts with each other to figure it all out together.

Yes, ACF you have been blessed!

Some dear brothers, perhaps sheltered far too long in their own comfort zones, become quite threatened by others’ ideas from the Bible. It exposes their own insecurities as leaders. They may teach that we all are necessary members of the body of Christ, yet become panicked when these other members actually share.