Who are your influences and why are you attracted to their persona?

I asked the question and perhaps you will understand better if I answer the question myself.

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

I do not remember who introduced me to the works of A. W. Pink but I do remember the impression that was left upon my soul. Here was a brash bold author from the turn of the century who was well read and was firm in his convictions. His words stung of the correction I needed and desperately sought. His style was matter of fact, without hesitation and had that air of black and white.

I liked what I read because it touched something in me that I was not aware of at the time. My natural tendencies. That resonance reaffirmed the old man and not the new creation in Christ. To become that new man, I had to stop affirming the old tendencies in favor of this new identity.

Judgment, even if speaking truth, is still judgment. What I discovered as I grew in Christ is that truth doesn’t have to be blunt. Some like it but most do not. I could take it, and that is fine. I could also dish it out and that was not acceptable to my Lord. I was still being me, the natural man, educated in the Word in a style many found offensive. Then I began to see the agenda that he had taken up and how his agenda directed his language to well-meaning students. His language became our language and it cost us friendships that would have better served Christ if left intact.

I studied alone in that enormous library of intellect without any fellowship with earnest Christians. Our theologies need to be tested to refine the ideas that settle in our minds. If their roots are not of the Tree of Life, they need to be cut off.

Job 38:31-33 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

What sign are you?

I am a Leo. “Leo is represented by the lion, and these spirited fire signs are the kings and queens of the celestial jungle. They’re delighted to embrace their royal status: Vivacious, theatrical, and passionate, Leos love to bask in the spotlight and celebrate themselves.” Source Allure.com

This is not an accusation against the Zodiac but the words in Job might well be, among all the other accusations hurled at Job. My point is to use an obvious influence that many scoff at, yet know the references, know the details, and have heard the words uttered in their ears.

What is interesting to me in these opening verses is the idea of dominion. It is a widespread influence upon others, indicating some control of other’s lives in ways that God did not intend.

Who are your influences and why are you attracted to their persona?

1 Corinthians 11:1-3 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Paul lived for Christ. The example set by him in obedience of faith is to be admired but he is not saying imitate me as some would have you understand. He is saying, this is how I got here and you can do it too. The path he chose, the path he followed, changed him as he lived a life of faith.

His influence was the Holy Spirit.