Who said that?

Sometimes its just best to let an individual speak for themselves. These are quotes from Bob Thieme:

"1. No believer can attain spiritual maturity and become an invisible hero or glorify God apart from postsalvation epistemological rehabilitation.

a. This means that no believer can read the Bible and attain spiritual maturity. The Bible is our textbook, but the gift of pastor teacher is designed to communicate the specifics of the mystery doctrine that cause spiritual growth. Doctrine must be learned under authority, and that authority is vested in the spiritual gift of pastor teacher.

b. No believer can read the Bible daily for himself and discover and learn the mystery doctrine for the Church Age, and understand the mechanics of the protocol plan of God. It must be taught through authority. Authority is always the key to teaching. "

Now, there is some truth to these assertions. We do have pastors and teachers for a reason; to teach us and to shepherd us as examples to us. However, to assert that people can't grow and attain "spiritual maturity" by reading the Bible is a rather cultish teaching and completely contrary to both Scripture (Acts 17:11, 2 Tim. 3:15-17) and common sense.