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A Believers Personal Responsibility

Although church leaders and mature christians have a responsibility to disciple new believers, all believers have a personal responsibility for their own ongoing spiritual well-being.

As one example we find the Jews at Berea commended in scripture.

Why?

Because after listening to what Paul had to say, and despite feeling favourably disposed to accept his arguments, they still checked up on what he said and "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" ^{Acts 17: Verse 11.}

Although the Bereans were not yet christians at that instant in time, and the "scriptures" referred to would no doubt have been the Torah, the principle is clear. Check things out carefully before you accept them as christian spiritual truth.

Blaming others for your errors won't work

Right back in Genesis we find Adam and Eve trying to get themselves out of trouble for eating the forbidden fruit.

Eve blames the serpent for beguiling her. Adam even tries to blame God as well. He says in effect:  Its your fault too God! I broke the rules, because the woman you gave me persuaded me to eat. ^{See Genesis 3:11-13} 

Justifying their disobedience to a clear instruction they were already aware of , by blaming someone elses persuasive words, didn't work for Adam and Eve. Its not going to work for me and you either.

We find a similar illustration in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. This deals with the instance where a false prophet makes prophecies which come true! Ultimately though, he draws those who follow him away from God. (You can find a helpful article on the distinction between true and false prophets here).

Many of the disputes found amongst Christians are doctrinal issues. But there are some doctrines that are fundamental to the very meaning of what it means to be christian. If you don't believe those then you simply cannot be "christian" in the orthodox sense.

Read on....