I never cease to be amazed at what passes for proof-text in many sermons and Christian books and articles today. It's one thing to say, "I think this person says it particularly well..." or to use an illustration to help make a biblical principle clearer. However, it is quite another to use what a person says (no matter how famous or well-known that person is!) or your experiences (or anybody elses') to "prove" what you're saying is "true." People are just people, they are not the Word of God. As the old saying goes, "The best of men are but men at best." And experiences are so very subjective, they can be looked at in many different ways. It's easy to say, "Well look what happened to so and so." or "Did you hear what so and so the great preacher said?" and base our entire theology on what we see or hear. But let's not forget Satan is the great deceiver. We simply cannot afford to interpret Scripture in light of our experiences or what people tell us, rather we must always view everything in light of the Word of God.
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11).
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good (1 Thes 5:21).
Make no mistake, the ONLY proof-text is the Word of God (in context!). Everything else is just stories and hearsay.
The following are NOT proof-text:
1. A story or testimony.
Pastor Welton who recorded the following story said, “It was my conviction thirty years ago as it is today, that the Stockwell Orphanage, as well as the money to found it, came from the Lord in answer to the petitions offered that Monday night. Surely, the Orphanage was born of prayer.”
The story: "'Dear friends, we are a huge church, and should be doing more for the Lord in this great city. I want us tonight, to ask Him to send us some new work; and if we need money to carry it on, let us pray that the means may also be sent.”
Several of the students had been called to the platform to join with the deacons and elders in leading the assembly to the throne of grace, and to plead with God about the matter.
While that mighty man of prayer, Mr. William Olney, was wrestling with the Lord, the beloved President (Spurgeon) knew that the answer had come. Had the Holy Spirit told him? It seemed so, for, walking lightly across the platform to where I was sitting, he said to me, “It’s all right, Welton, you pray for the conversion of sinners will you?'
A few days after the Tabernacle prayer meeting, a Mrs. Hillyard wrote to Spurgeon, offering a gift of ₤20,000 for the purpose of founding an orphanage for fatherless children."
This is a nice story but it proves nothing. When I heard the above, it was actually a story within a story within a story because I was listening to a different preacher altogether use Pastor Welton's story as his proof-text as to how prayer works.
2. The Westminster Confession of Faith.
One popular speaker/author often refers to The Westminster Confession of Faith as proof-text. For example, in one of his well-known books he uses "the confession" to establish the grounds for his discussion on the assurance of the believer. Actually, his primary concern is not how a believer can have assurance, but rather to warn believers that any assurance they may have may well not be real assurance at all.
"The [Westminster] confession acknowledges that there is such a thing as false assurance."
3. The books, 'This Present Darkness' and 'Piercing the Darkness', by Frank Peretti.
One time a speaker, specially asked to come talk to our group, read passages from Peretti's fictional books as evidence of demonic influence and angelic warfare.
"...These books were truly a blessing to me. They opened my eyes to the spiritual warfare going on all around us. For example, ..."
Many have read these books, including me. But they are fiction and in no way meant to paint an accurate picture of what goes on in angelic spheres.
(To be continued...unfortunately...)
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