On Teaching and Conversation...

Proverbs tells us the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. That is, in order for our thoughts and knowledge [In all things not just theology, however, we shall restrict ourselves to such in this instance.] to be consistent and certain, our heart and mind must be completely dependent on the one who created this world; the one who causes it to exist. This dependency is not just some verbal promise to stay true to God, but achieved by a constant effort by the believer, through faith in Christ, to work out his salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).

Too many times I see man try, in their own ignorance, to reason their theology out and ignore scripture all together. When this is done, we forsake the very pillar of truth which our faith is founded on. When we abandon scripture for the sake of personal goals, we are abandoning Christ himself. A good example of this is the exhortation given at the Baptist Student Union (BSU) last week. According to the speaker, if one was given a pair of gloves, and let them sit on a table, they could do nothing in themselves, however, if one puts the gloves on, the gloves, controlled by the wearer, can do many things. Such as take care of widows and orphans. The analogy is that the gloves represent God and He can do nothing without us. This is sacrilege! Granted, if I was to question the speaker about this I guarantee that he would affirm God's sovereignty and he was only trying to get a point across. But this is the precise mentality I am writing against. We tend, in true sincerity, to depend on our on abilities and knowledge to instruct others in the way they should go. However, in doing this, we are forsaking our dependence of the only source of truth. Believe it or not, man is sinful, even redeemed man. And his thoughts are bent toward falsehood. This is why we have a canon (Bible), a standard in which to measure things, instead of the yardstick of our own stupidity.

Now don't get me wrong here, I am not saying analogies are inherently evil. What I am advocating is that if we use analogies we make sure they are biblically based. When we teach others, even in conversation, we should teach with fear and trembling. Or do you not remember the verse in Matthew, "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." (18:6 NASV) Or Christ's sermon on the mound, "Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Mat. 5:19 ESV) Point being, we should not be lax in our speech of God.

Understand, we will be held accountable for such errors in our teachings and in our conversation. Yes, preachers and teachers of scriptures have a greater burden than those who are laymen of the church. But don't think just because you are a layman you are off the hook. It troubles my very soul to think that I might have caused someone in my day to believe in a false doctrine. It may be a doctrine I whole heartedly affirm, yet in my sinfulness can not see its flaw. It maybe something I said in the rashness of debate, a phrase uttered not because I thought it true, but because I wanted to win.

Christian here my stand, we are not to convince the world of Christ, but God who draws. We are not to win souls to Christ through the wisdom of preaching, but the foolishness thereof. Not through our wisdom, but through wisdom of the one in which all knowledge stems. When we reject our dependence on God's knowledge only to replace it with our own understanding and cultural practices, we run the danger of leading others astray for the sake of vain glory. We should be constantly refining our thoughts with scripture so we may not cause others to stumble, but encourage one another, letting "the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, to which indeed [we] were called in one body. And be thankful. [Letting] the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in [our] hearts to God. And whatever [we] do, in word or deed, [let us] do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."