Over the next week or two I will be posting some articles that my husband has written. He's a better writer than I am and explains difficult subjects much more clearly than I do. But I guess that stands to reason, since editing/writing is his occupation. Anyway, here's the first one:
Few things bother me a lot. I’ve become much more patient as I’ve grown older.
But it really disturbs me to hear Christians say that we can’t know for sure about doctrinal issues and that it really doesn’t matter as long as we have the basics right. This has happened several times in the past few years.
“Even the theologians don’t agree, so there’s no way we can know for sure.”
“The Bible teaches both sides of the issue, so we can’t possibly take a stand.”
“I don’t care what somebody believes, as long as they believe the basics.”
I disagree. More than that — I disagree vehemently.
Why do I think we can know for sure? Because the Bible clearly tells us that we should.
Consider.
When Paul preached in Thessalonica (Acts 17), the Jews gathered a mob and chased him out of the city. He traveled to Berea and preached the same message. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so (Acts 17:11).
Notice that the Bereans listened to Paul eagerly. They wanted to hear what he had to say and they valued it. But also notice that they didn’t stop there. They examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true — and for that they were called noble.
They were noble because they were eager to learn and examined the Scriptures to see if what they’d heard was true. They didn’t think it was impossible to know for sure.
And then there was Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin. He went to Jesus and asked Him questions about how to enter the Kingdom. Jesus answered his questions, but he also chided him for not already knowing the answers: "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” (John 3:10). How was Nicodemus supposed to have known? From Scripture.
In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul challenged Timothy to handle the Word carefully and not to deviate from the truth. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, he wrote: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
• Teaching — doctrine, information
• Rebuking — pointing out and correcting errors
• Correcting — from a word that means “straightening something that is crooked.”
• Training in righteousness — education and discipline of character
Paul explains that using Scripture in this fashion will create in a believer the foundation for being useful in ministry.
And finally, in 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul wrote: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
I find it difficult to believe that the Lord expects us to know the truth and to teach it to others unless He also expects us to be able to understand it.
(Please don’t take this to mean that I think I understand it perfectly. My understanding is very much a work in process. But it’s also my goal.)
Few things bother me a lot. I’ve become much more patient as I’ve grown older.
But it really disturbs me to hear Christians say that we can’t know for sure about doctrinal issues and that it really doesn’t matter as long as we have the basics right. This has happened several times in the past few years.
“Even the theologians don’t agree, so there’s no way we can know for sure.”
“The Bible teaches both sides of the issue, so we can’t possibly take a stand.”
“I don’t care what somebody believes, as long as they believe the basics.”
I disagree. More than that — I disagree vehemently.
Why do I think we can know for sure? Because the Bible clearly tells us that we should.
Consider.
When Paul preached in Thessalonica (Acts 17), the Jews gathered a mob and chased him out of the city. He traveled to Berea and preached the same message. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so (Acts 17:11).
Notice that the Bereans listened to Paul eagerly. They wanted to hear what he had to say and they valued it. But also notice that they didn’t stop there. They examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true — and for that they were called noble.
They were noble because they were eager to learn and examined the Scriptures to see if what they’d heard was true. They didn’t think it was impossible to know for sure.
And then there was Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin. He went to Jesus and asked Him questions about how to enter the Kingdom. Jesus answered his questions, but he also chided him for not already knowing the answers: "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” (John 3:10). How was Nicodemus supposed to have known? From Scripture.
In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul challenged Timothy to handle the Word carefully and not to deviate from the truth. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, he wrote: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
• Teaching — doctrine, information
• Rebuking — pointing out and correcting errors
• Correcting — from a word that means “straightening something that is crooked.”
• Training in righteousness — education and discipline of character
Paul explains that using Scripture in this fashion will create in a believer the foundation for being useful in ministry.
And finally, in 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul wrote: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
I find it difficult to believe that the Lord expects us to know the truth and to teach it to others unless He also expects us to be able to understand it.
(Please don’t take this to mean that I think I understand it perfectly. My understanding is very much a work in process. But it’s also my goal.)
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