First tier, second tier, third tier and the list goes on. These words are becoming popular in describing different doctrines of the Scripture. Other than being useful in defining to others what you believe, they really are not helpful in the debate over what other SB's believe. The problem is that what you consider to be first tier, they may believe is second tier and the opposite could be just as true. For instance, is eating meat offered to idols a sin? This "tier" is completely trumped by the "tier" that exhorts us to not cause our brother to stumble as well as the tier that if we eat with a guilty conscience, we sin against ourselves. The reference for these is I Corinthians 8:7-13.
My point here is not to argue about eating meat offered to idols but to use one simple illustration of how difficult it is for either myself or another to dictate to others those doctrines that are "essential/first tier" and those that are "non-essential/2nd tier, 3rd tier etc." Does the fact that some Scriptures deal more specifically with my sanctification than salvation make them of lesser importance? Does the fact that some Scriptures deal more specifically with glorification and eschatology mean that they are of lesser importance? Indirectly, such descriptions as tiers imply, intended or not, that some Scriptures are not to be taken as serious as others. That implication, in my book, is indefensible. II TIMOTHY 3:16 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 PERFECT, THROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS. All Scripture is of serious nature simply because it is given from God.
Who gets to decide the importance of Scripture? God does. Which Scripture is important to God? Apparently, all of it. Otherwise, that which was true of the people of Israel in the time of the Judges will simply be that which is recorded about us. Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. We have a King. Jesus! And we have His word. Obey it. God help us to do that which is right in Your eyes.
Luke
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
ITCHING EARS---HOW TO SCRATCH THAT ITCH
No, the answer is not a q-tip.
Sometimes, we find ourselves caught off balance. What we expected to hear is not what we actually heard. We ask questions with preconceived notions and based upon our prior knowledge, we expect the questions to be answered in a particular way. If you ask enough questions with such notions, eventually, you can expect to find yourself answered in a way other than what was expected. Preconceived ideas and notions can contribute greatly to poor reception in the exchange of ideas and thoughts. There is one concept, however, that is actually worse than just having preconceived ideas. That concept is: asking a question from someone who will tell you what you want to hear, in spite of what the truth really is.
This concept sounds tempting. Surround yourself with "yes-men". Imagine always hearing what you want to hear. Yes, you have more money in your bank account than what your ledger shows. Yes, you can eat the whole gallon of ice cream without unhealthy side effects. Yes, you can drive as fast as you want. Yes, you can skip any bills you want to this month. Yes, you can hit that person for making you angry. Yes, you can cheat on your spouse without any consequences. By now, your imagination can take you beyond even what I have mentioned here. Yes, you can be saved without repentance. Yes, you can be saved without going through the cross. Yes, you can be saved without faith alone in Christ alone. Yes, there are many paths to heaven. Yes, all men will eventually be in heaven. And if you look long enough and hard enough, you can find someone who would willingly tell you any or all of these things. You could even find, based upon recent article links, Southern Baptist Sunday School Teachers that would agree with you on some of these ideas. However, this post is not about them, but about those of us who would turn to them for answers.
Paul warns Timothy, in chapter 4 of his second epistle to the same, that there would come a time when people would not want to hear sound doctrine and as a result, would raise up teachers that would tell them what they want to hear. Why do they want to leave sound doctrine? What is it that could drive a man to pursue something false? What is it that could drive a man to seek out "yes men"? Paul says plainly in II Timothy 4:3 that it a man's own lust. Since his own lust wars against the truth, man seeks a different truth. Since his own desires war against the desires of God, man seeks a different god. So the question that is appropriate for us to examine is this: To whom are you listening and why? Is it because they make you feel good about yourself? Is it because that what they say does not confront you? Is it because that what they say is convenient for you at the moment and even politically/religiously expedient for you and others? Paul did not tell Timothy to see what tier the doctrine was on. Paul did not say that if it is lower than first tier that there is room for yoking together even though they would be unequally yoked. No, instead he told Timothy to:
1. Preach the word
2. Be instant in season, out of season
3. Reprove
4. Rebuke
5. Exhort with
a. longsuffering
b. doctrine
How do I avoid the sin of listening to my itching ears and lusts? Stay in the word of God. Why the word? It is ready at any moment to reprove, to rebuke and to exhort and that is just the medicine that itching ears need.
Luke
Sometimes, we find ourselves caught off balance. What we expected to hear is not what we actually heard. We ask questions with preconceived notions and based upon our prior knowledge, we expect the questions to be answered in a particular way. If you ask enough questions with such notions, eventually, you can expect to find yourself answered in a way other than what was expected. Preconceived ideas and notions can contribute greatly to poor reception in the exchange of ideas and thoughts. There is one concept, however, that is actually worse than just having preconceived ideas. That concept is: asking a question from someone who will tell you what you want to hear, in spite of what the truth really is.
This concept sounds tempting. Surround yourself with "yes-men". Imagine always hearing what you want to hear. Yes, you have more money in your bank account than what your ledger shows. Yes, you can eat the whole gallon of ice cream without unhealthy side effects. Yes, you can drive as fast as you want. Yes, you can skip any bills you want to this month. Yes, you can hit that person for making you angry. Yes, you can cheat on your spouse without any consequences. By now, your imagination can take you beyond even what I have mentioned here. Yes, you can be saved without repentance. Yes, you can be saved without going through the cross. Yes, you can be saved without faith alone in Christ alone. Yes, there are many paths to heaven. Yes, all men will eventually be in heaven. And if you look long enough and hard enough, you can find someone who would willingly tell you any or all of these things. You could even find, based upon recent article links, Southern Baptist Sunday School Teachers that would agree with you on some of these ideas. However, this post is not about them, but about those of us who would turn to them for answers.
Paul warns Timothy, in chapter 4 of his second epistle to the same, that there would come a time when people would not want to hear sound doctrine and as a result, would raise up teachers that would tell them what they want to hear. Why do they want to leave sound doctrine? What is it that could drive a man to pursue something false? What is it that could drive a man to seek out "yes men"? Paul says plainly in II Timothy 4:3 that it a man's own lust. Since his own lust wars against the truth, man seeks a different truth. Since his own desires war against the desires of God, man seeks a different god. So the question that is appropriate for us to examine is this: To whom are you listening and why? Is it because they make you feel good about yourself? Is it because that what they say does not confront you? Is it because that what they say is convenient for you at the moment and even politically/religiously expedient for you and others? Paul did not tell Timothy to see what tier the doctrine was on. Paul did not say that if it is lower than first tier that there is room for yoking together even though they would be unequally yoked. No, instead he told Timothy to:
1. Preach the word
2. Be instant in season, out of season
3. Reprove
4. Rebuke
5. Exhort with
a. longsuffering
b. doctrine
How do I avoid the sin of listening to my itching ears and lusts? Stay in the word of God. Why the word? It is ready at any moment to reprove, to rebuke and to exhort and that is just the medicine that itching ears need.
Luke
Thursday, May 17, 2007
TEMPTED TO YIELD TO SIN?
Admit it. We get tired of fighting against sin and temptation. We wistfully look towards the heavens dreaming about how great heaven will be precisely because of what will not have to be dealt with there. Then, when we check back into reality, we falsely conclude that we will not be able to experience such this side of heaven. We resolve ourselves to the thought, I will just yield to temptation this once. Ever been there?
The strength for winning against temptation and sin is not thinking wistfully about heaven. In order for our minds to be strengthened, we must focus on Jesus. Hebrews 12:3-4 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Victory begins in the mind. No, not positive thinking but POWERFUL thinking. Such power can only be derived from thinking on Jesus and what He endured. Jesus endured the cross. Jesus endured death. Not for anything He had done but for the sin of the world Jesus suffered.
Considering Jesus and His sacrifice is the motivation for us to rather die than to yield to temptation. Tempted to yield to sin? Consider Jesus, be strengthened in your mind, and fight sin unto death.
Have a blessed day...
Luke
The strength for winning against temptation and sin is not thinking wistfully about heaven. In order for our minds to be strengthened, we must focus on Jesus. Hebrews 12:3-4 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Victory begins in the mind. No, not positive thinking but POWERFUL thinking. Such power can only be derived from thinking on Jesus and what He endured. Jesus endured the cross. Jesus endured death. Not for anything He had done but for the sin of the world Jesus suffered.
Considering Jesus and His sacrifice is the motivation for us to rather die than to yield to temptation. Tempted to yield to sin? Consider Jesus, be strengthened in your mind, and fight sin unto death.
Have a blessed day...
Luke
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