You may have had occasion to feel that you were equipped to contribute to a discussion bait to a lecture.  In Christian circles every believer has the privilege to participate in the proceedings, even though in the vast majority of occasions there is little provision for the fully-fledgrd interaction that seems to have been the practice in the early church. . Every contributor needs to be aware of his or her status, member or outsider.  Every contributor needs to be ready to contribute to the general edification.  That being said all should be aware that building up one another can come in positive or negative terms.  The church is not a mutual admiration society, and the best efforts of anyone can turn out to be shocking , shaky and sure.

Shocking, shaky, but sure

All  must be sure that the anchor of their life and the basis for the  activity at hand is the sure foundation of faith in the Son of God.  All else can be expected to slide off into ditches and make shocking mountains out of molehills.  Speculation, the so-called inspired imagination, and the deep or shallow opinions may not make the cut for either accuracy, precision or the proper -Christ-centred – evaluation of the conscience. 

People saying “Amen” do not constitute a divine stamp.

So even if you are in the habit of mouthing silly slogans or quoting unhinged commentaries in an attempt to testify or edify the church, just remember that the Spirit will correct you at some point (if you are still paying attention to Him and the Bible) and the value of your contribution will be recognized only if it has a straight line to the Crucified.  Please do not be thinking that because one can read and offer an appreciation or write books that one is approved as a word workman.  A unanimous “amen” is surely not how God approves Christian words and deeds.