As a facilitator, leader, or teacher, I have discovered I am exceptionally critical of Bible study authors, speakers, and teachers. Even if I respect and enjoy a particular author or speaker, I find myself analyzing every word, every phrase, and every concept that is spoken or written. Because of that tendency, in recent years, I have noticed a dangerous trend.
I have observed Christian speakers and authors using the word "principle" as "an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct." Actually these "principles" are accepted or professed rules of action or conduct that they have discerned from Scripture." Unfortunately, presenters and writers frequently take this one step further, and present these personal observations or extrapolations as truths for all to follow and apply.
While the concepts may be valid personal deductions for the speakers and authors, and recovery program standards might be helpful and solid, I am cautioning us to always compare these "principles" directly to God's word to ferret out the specific Bible verses that state God's truth. We need to search, explore, and examine the Scriptures for God's precepts, statutes, and commands to individually ensure that what is being taught (even by godly humans) is exactly what God says. These principles or applied rules for conduct must be tested and proved against God's holy, infallible, inerrant, and living word, before we, as hearers, or readers, or followers of Christ take them to be 100% true and applicable to our own lives. Otherwise, are they not legalisms?
Romans 3:3-4 says, "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”
Gill's Expository notes remind us "God is true, faithful to his word, constant in his promises, and will always fulfill his purposes; though every man is a liar, vain, fallacious, and inconstant." Romans 3:4 is "a proof that God is true, and stands to his word, though men are fallacious, inconstant, and wicked."
The Bible clearly cautions us about misuse and abuse of His word:
"And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Revelation 22:19
I pity the person who ever detracts from the purity of God's word!
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:12-17
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Diving into the Bible individually and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us how to apply God's truths to our everyday lives is an imperative. That is the beauty and majesty of being indwelled by the Holy Spirit. God has equipped us not only by placing His living word at our fingertips, but by giving us the perfect teacher and counselor. Both are enormous gifts we must not take for granted. Instead, we must continually assess if we are staying true to the Scriptures.
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26
As facilitators, leaders, and teachers, we must realize it is not always safe or wise to latch on to "principles" because by definition, they come from men (or women), not directly from God. We must be overly critical of materials we use, watching for subtle, noticeable differences or inconsistencies. While Christian authors, speakers, and celebrities may give us fun tools to spark conversations or trigger our thought processes, if they are not backing up what they say with chapter and verse from God's word, they are not good enough for teaching situations. All our teaching aides must be teeming with Bible verse upon Bible verse upon Bible verse to ensure we are on point. In this, we must not waiver.
The danger of accepting "principles" as equal to God's precepts without testing and proving them is that when false teachers abound, we will be prone (if not eager) to "turn our ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." That just cannot be our position.
In the midst of my recent focus on this word "principle", I must say I have been especially blessed and thankful for my own local community. I am thankful for a pastor who preaches directly out of God's word, teaching us verse by verse, what God has to say about unpopular subjects. Our pastor does not add nor does he detract from God's precepts. He teaches us to love one another, but not at the expense of watering down God's instructions. We know God's plumb line, and he urges and encourages and teaches us to follow it!
I am blessed by elders who are committed to encouraging and challenging our congregation to know God's word, to grow more in our personal relationships with the Lord, and to apply His truths (not man's or woman's) to our lives.
I am appreciative of our deacons, who joyfully and consistently provide our local body with service and ministering, just as God calls them to do.
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10
I am appreciative our local body is offering a recovery program that couples its author's principles to God's precepts (point by point), and gives God all of the glory and honor for healing.
Dear and Precious Heavenly Father,
You are holy and perfect, and out of your grace, mercy, and kindness, you have given us your infallible, inerrant, living word. Not only does it reveal your character, your promises, your discipline, and your greatest gift, your Son Jesus Christ, but it shows us your will for our lives and your truths! Thank you for that immovable plumb line. Thank you for cleansing us completely through Jesus' sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension. Thank you for enabling us to live changed lives by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for pastors, elders, deacons, authors, and speakers who always put you and your word first! May all that we do and say give glory to you, and may we be ever serious about staying true to only you - the One and Only True Source! You are God Alone! May you always be the only One to whom we go for final truth, empowerment, healing, salvation, sanctification, and glorification. Amen.
Stay tuned for my next blog on plumb lines.
