Posts
Paul’s words ring out over and over again in my mind:
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
1 Timothy 6:3–5
In today’s world, we have so many teachers rising up and teaching “new insight” about God’s truth and God’s church. “We have never gotten it right,” they say. They use clever words and very profound philosophical thought, but they deny the clarity and “objective knowability” of Christ and his Word. That means that they deny that there is one standard of truth. They claim that anyone can have their own interpretation and be okay with God as long as they intend well and really believe that they know Jesus and what Jesus meant for them personally. They say that no one can really know what the Bible means and teach it as though it were an understandable communication from God.
Let me tell you now, as I did in the introduction to this book, that I believe in the infallible nature of God’s Word. I believe it can be known, it is meant to be known, and as we just discussed in our look at Cornelius, it can be communicated linguistically. God is a god of incredible clarity. There is nothing confusing about, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6). If a teacher of God’s Word stands up and leads you into a discussion that leads God’s family to confusion as to what God taught and claims subjective truth, he or she is not a well-equipped teacher of God’s Word. A good teacher teaches from the Word of God, promotes unity, and brings clarity to the Word of God by using the Word of God.
I would love to hear from you if any of this is or has been helpful, or if you would like to add something I have forgotten.
With you for His glory
