Narrow Truth and Broader Views

As we follow Jesus Christ and mature in faith and knowledge of His Word, He broadens our understanding.  Studying the scriptures led by the Holy Spirit enables us to connect ideas which provide greater insight into God's truth.  When I was a child after I knew how to count I enjoyed dot-to-dot puzzles.  What began as a mess of dots and numbers became a recognisable object which could be coloured in with crayon.  In a similar way, the more we heed the scriptures the better we comprehend what the Bible says, what it means, and how to rightly apply it in our lives.

Looking back, I believe my views of scripture used to be more rigid than they are now.  My views were rigid because my understanding was limited.  Truth and the Christian walk is narrow, and we cannot deviate from obedience to God and His Word.  We do not need to compromise truth to hold a broader view than we once did.  I have held views in the past which were not wrong in themselves, but I was wrong because I restricted the truth to my current personal view.  We all run the risk of parroting what we have heard from a pastor without critical thought or searching the scriptures ourselves.  We can allow a verse or pet-doctrine to direct us down a familiar track of thought like a dog running a well-worn circuit in the backyard when the gate is open and a world of discovery awaits.

There are people I highly respect, people I am convinced are anointed by the Holy Spirit and called to teach, yet based on my understanding of scripture I am not in full agreement with their Bible interpretation on particular points.  For instance, I recently heard a Bible teacher say leaven always represents sin in the parables of Jesus.  Since the Bible does not explicitly say this, it seems to be a narrow view which disregards the context of each parable.  I agree it is true leaven is commonly used to represent sin, I believe it is a mistake to say it always represents or is a "type" of sin (see Matt. 13:33).  It is commonly taught all birds in the parables represent evil or satanic influence, and whilst this is the given interpretation in one Parable of the Sower it is dangerous to attribute "type" status to birds without considering the context.  These assumptions cause us to read into the text rather than observing the context and interpreting correctly.  Wrong interpretation leads to incorrect application.  Parables are not the only tricky part of scripture to rightly interpret and apply.  Poetry, prophecy, and many hard sayings of the Bible make studying it a most rigorous and challenging exercise.  Without God's help, we could never understand or unravel it.

Praise the LORD for His wisdom and patience with me and all children of God.  My understanding has been expanded from the days of my youth, and undoubtedly there are many areas where I remain in the dark.  We too should be patient with others whose views seem unnecessarily rigid because we too are naturally like them.  A teacher of scripture who will not be taught by God or men is of no value, so let us remain humble and open.  Though there will be differences of opinion on secondary doctrines among genuine believers, let us be gracious - not threatened or suspicious.  Let us respond as Apollo when loving believers pulled him aside and explained the Gospel to Him more perfectly.  He received their correction with joy and boldly spoke the truth in love.  Sometimes we are the ones to come alongside in a spirit of gentleness to instruct and correct.  Love does not compromise truth, but it is willing to speak the truth for the restoration of others.

A Godly Perspective

It is a strange thing when a Christian goes from trusting God for salvation and begins to look to his own strength or abilities in daily decisions.  David provides a compelling example of this in 1 Samuel 17.  God's assessment of David was he was a man after God's own heart, but even he was prone to lean on his own understanding.  His life provides a compelling illustration of what is common to all men - even godly ones.  Just because we have trusted God in the past doesn't mean we are trusting Him today.

When David was a young man he was sent by his dad on an errand to the front lines of battle where a few of his brothers were.  He was shocked when Goliath the champion of Gath stood before the army of Israel and defied and cursed them by his gods.  David wasn't awed by the imposing size or the verbal threats of the giant, but was incredulous Goliath was permitted to reproach the armies of the living God whilst the men of Israel hid in fear.  News of David’s willingness to fight Goliath reached King Saul’s ears and he summoned David.  Saul said, “You can’t fight him.  You’re just a youth and he’s been a warrior from youth.”  David pointed out God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear and God would help him defeat the Philistine also.

Saul finally agreed to allow David to face Goliath, but wanted to outfit him with armour and his own sword.  Being unaccustomed to the encumbrance of armour and unskilled with a sword, David politely declined using them.  He was content to trust God and fight Goliath with a sling and a handful of smooth stones which he gathered from a brook on the way to face Goliath in a battle to the death.  He came before the scoffing Philistine warrior in the name of the God of Israel, and God wrought a great victory.

Years later and then son-in-law to the king, David found himself only a step between him and death because King Saul sought to murder him.  As he fled for his life, 1 Samuel 21 details an incident when he dropped by the Tabernacle in Nob.  He and his men were hungry and desperate for food and supplies.  The chief priest Ahimelech was cautious but willing to help David, and provided him bread from the Table of Showbread for he and his men.  Read what 1 Samuel 21:8-9 says:  "And David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." ⁹ So the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here." And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."

Isn’t this ironic?  David trusted God to deliver him from lions and Goliath, but having fought many battles since the victory over Goliath it appears he had grown accustomed to using a spear, sword, and other weapons.  Notice he said, "I have brother neither my sword nor my weapons with me."  Do you find it odd David demanded the sword which was not able to save Goliath?  What had changed?  Was King Saul a more terrifying foe than Goliath?  God had not changed, but in that stressful moment David's perspective had.  It seems it was easier to trust God when facing Philistines than when the attacks came from his own king and kin.

My point is not to second guess David’s choices, but to contrast how he faced conflict in these two instances.  Facing a Philistine in his youth David was fine to trust God, but having become a skilled warrior when threatened David felt he needed a sword.  In the end it turned out he didn’t need the sword because God delivered David.  God was patient and faithful to David, and He is also patient and faithful to us when we forget to trust Him.  Believer, have you started trusting yourself more than God?  Success and popularity can cause us to look to ourselves instead of seeking and simply trusting the LORD.  We trusted God to help, protect, provide, and guide us at the start of our walk with Jesus, and we need to keep trusting Him today.

Commitment or Surrender?

In a sermon I recently heard, the difference between "commitment" and "surrender" was a point of emphasis.  In warfare conditions of surrender are negotiated, but not so in a life which is surrendered to Jesus Christ as LORD.  Since our lives have been purchased with the shed blood of Christ, we are not our own.  As Jesus laid down His will before the Father, we are to voluntarily lay our lives down before our Saviour.  The comment by the preacher was if all we do is "commit" our lives to Christ, we seek to dictate our own terms or will even withdraw our commitment when it pleases us.

In light of this thought, the Oxford definition of "commitment" is interesting.  It means, "The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.; a pledge or undertaking; an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action."  Men are fickle and often do not keep their commitments.  We make promises we do not or cannot keep, and do not like our freedom to do as we choose restricted.  A commitment can become a hindrance from what we want to do rather than being liberating.  It is a burden to be borne rather than a privilege.  In all our commitments we retain our sovereignty over our own will rather than surrendering our lives to the will of God.

Contrast the previous definitions with that of "surrender:"  "stop resisting to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority; give in to; give up or hand over (a person, right, or possession), typically on compulsion or demand."  Christ makes many demands of His disciples, and on the strength of our commitment we are unable to fulfil any of them.  We might as well claim we can do the work of God in our own strength!  We are called to stop resisting or grieving the Holy Spirit through rebellion and disobedience, repent, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  If we stop short of full surrender, we attempt to remain in charge of our lives.  If we are Christ's disciples, we must lay down our will so we can embrace and be empowered by God to do His.

Many Christians "recommit" their lives to Jesus many times because they have not fully surrendered to Him.  Surrender is not a one-time decision, but one confirmed daily by obedience to God's Word as we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily (die to self), and follow Jesus.  Praise the LORD this is His will, and when we surrender ourselves to Him He will accomplish it.  Answer this question honestly:  are you totally surrendered to God?  Until then we resemble a child falling asleep on a merry-go-round - movement but no real progression.

Do Not Be Deceived

All human beings are susceptible to all manner of deception.  It is one thing to be intentionally deceived by another person, but far worse is when we are deluded by self.  This sort of deception we often do not recognise.  We are most blind to the deceptions which lurk in our hearts, and since no man can know the depravity of his own heart we are susceptible to it.

In addition to revealing God to us, the Bible is a primary means of warning against and identifying common deceptions for us.  The clear implication of God’s warnings against deceptions is we indeed can be deceived.  It is important for us to examine our hearts, admitting we too can be deceived.  If we do not heed God’s Word we blindly head to ruin.  Because God knows the thoughts and intent of our hearts, loves us and is the source of all wisdom, He faithfully reveals our common faults and the path of righteousness.

Deceptions take place in our minds and hearts.  The way we naturally think appeals to the flesh, and the scripture rightly applied by the Holy Spirit changes the way we think.  So what are common deceptions the Bible says we must be aware of?

We can be deceived to turn aside to idolatry.  Deuteronomy 11:16-17 states, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, [17] lest the LORD'S anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.”  I believe it was Calvin who quipped the hearts of men are idol factories, and even a cursory glance at our lives reveals our affections and faith is often misplaced.  We must be watchful and take heed to guard our hearts and minds from idolatry and not assume we are loyal only to God.

We can be deceived to follow false saviours.  Luke 21:8 reads, “And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.”  The Son of God Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and He is the only one Christians ought to follow.  It is natural for us to follow after men, to look to them for guidance and leading rather than God.  The world offers many false saviours and vain men are glad to draw followers unto themselves.  We can be deceived by liars, thinking their way is right when it is not Christ's way.  Many have turned aside after deceivers, but may we not be among them.

We can be deceived to think the unrighteous will go to heaven.  1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”  Those who are born again have crucified the lusts of the flesh.  If we are truly transformed within by the power of the Holy Spirit, the evidence of this will be clearly seen.  The Gospel of grace is no excuse to continue in sin, for there is no salvation without repentance.  Those who believe they are saved when their lives are defined by habitual sin are deceived.  We may give a "free pass" for others for their sin, but God will not.  God's judgment concerning sin and how we live matters!

We can be deceived to think we are impervious to evil influence.  1 Corinthians 15:33 reads, “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."  Sin is a pollutant which defiles our minds, hearts, and wounds our souls.  It destroys a godly witness and renders us spiritually dull and listless.  We are deceived if we think we can expose ourselves to filth or dabble in disobedience without serious consequences.  There may be men compared to “Teflon” because nothing seems to stick to them, but spiritually we are all dry sponges which unthinkingly absorb whatever liquid that contacts us.  God is able to preserve us from all evil, yet when we intentionally dip our minds and hearts in filth the fountain of Living Water within us is defiled.

We can be deceived to believe sinful choices will not bear evil fruit.  Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  The type of a seed sown will be clearly evident after it sprouts, grows to maturity, and bears fruit.  If we sow to the flesh we will of the flesh reap corruption.  We can be deceived to think it is what we believe with our minds and profess with our mouths is of primary importance, but God examines the inner man:  our motives, thoughts, and obedience.  He knows if we are proud, arrogant, and rebellious, and a polished image before men does not mean righteousness before God.  We can trick men, but we cannot fool God:  what we sow we will reap.

So how did you go?  When we fall prey to deception we must repent before God, for He is a redeemer and restorer of souls.  And if all seems well it is good for us to admit our tendency to all these deceptions so we might be on guard against them in the future, being watchful concerning ourselves whilst looking out for one another.