Here’s a thought for every Christian reader of this blog.
How important do you think it is to God, that we his children, hold to what the scriptures teach?
…or…
How important do you think it is, that you hold to precisely what you’re learning from the scriptures?
These questions may have different answers, but in some ways they are equally important. The first one recognises that God has given us the Bible in order for us to know precisely how (in the words of the Shorter Catechism) we may glorify and enjoy him.
The second recognises that each Christian, after regeneration, begins a life-long period of growing. Part of this growth, is in our understanding of the Bible.
However, many Christian’s stop growing very soon after conversion, at least, when it comes to theological issues. They begin to take a lot for granted, and if they are ever questioned about some aspect of what they believe, they tend to ignore it. They don’t possess the spirit of the Bereans.
The result is, they build a barrier to certain things, so that even if God is trying to teach them something, because it’s going against what they know, they repudiate it. They want nothing to do with it
Dead orthodoxy…
I titled this post, ‘I Believe…’ because I want you to think about some things which you hold to, and ask yourself why you believe what you do. If you can’t come up with an answer, be a Berean, and engage in unbiased study until you get an answer.
Here’s a personal example - about two years ago in our youth, we all engaged in a study based on the topic, ‘Worship’. On the Friday night when we all met together, we’d share what we had learned, or what questions had arisen in our minds because of the study. During my study of the topic, I was brought to ask myself the question, why do we use instruments in worship? I brought it up at the youth, and still to this day, I’ve never received a satisfactory answer. The best answer I was given was, “it’s/they are an aid”.
Apply the initial two questions to this example:
- i) In regards to ‘worship’, surely it is extremely important that we hold to what the scriptures teach.
- ii) Surely as I learn about certain aspects of worship from the Bible (in this case, instrumental aids), I am bound to apply what I’ve learned to my life. Or am I?
I would hazard a guess, that the vast majority of you are doing things (or not doing things), and you don’t even know why. Why do you read the Bible translation you read? Why were you immersed when baptised? Why do you think you’re not going to be raptured? Why are you convinced the Holy Spirit is God? Why do you not drink alcohol? Etc…
Are you satisfied with going through the motions, or do you know why you believe what you believe? Let’s discuss. If you have any such questions, and you’d like me to look into it, then go right ahead and let me know.
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Added Commentary
By Jermayn Parker
on 18.02.08
In Revelations does not John talk about the Angels using trumpets, harps and other instruments to worship God??
By Armen
on 18.02.08
Jermayn - Granted, the argument is more implicably stated, than explicitly stated, but there appears to be no scriptural grounds for instruments in worship in the New Testament dispensation. In fact, from what I gather, instruments were never really used for the first 1500 years or so (by in large) in the Christian church.
I’m sure there may be good arguements, it’s just that I’ve never been informed by anyone of them. It’s a matter for further study in my own life. I must continue to be a Berean in this area.
By Jermayn Parker
on 18.02.08
What about the old testament? Are there scripture grounds for that?
I ask because the old and new do preach and teach the same.
By Armen
on 18.02.08
Jermayn - Well, there are those who claim that the usage of instruments in the O.T. was part of the ceremonial law, and therefore they are abolished along with everything else (in the ceremonial law).
That argument appears to hold a lot of water from what I’ve already studied, but I must confess, I really need to look into it more.
By Jermayn Parker
on 20.02.08
btw what does Berean mean???
By Armen
on 20.02.08
Jermayn - In the book of Acts, you find Paul coming into a place called Berea, just after he left Thessalonica (if I remember correctly), and it tells us there that when they heard Paul preach, “they searched the scriptures…”
So when I say that we are to be like a Berean, we are to be those who diligently search, and learn the scriptures.
By Jermayn Parker
on 20.02.08
Oh ok now I understand!!
Do you read books or just the bible?
By Armen
on 20.02.08
Jermayn - No, I read other material too. Mostly commentaries, dictionaries, and theology books. I read books about Christian people, and church history now and then, but not much.
By Carl
on 23.02.08
Worship to me is our body’s response to God’s Holiness coming into room/church/where ever you are. eg. We lift up Holy Hand, or when Paul said “I bow my knee before the father”.
I have discovered through the old testament that numbers of people were responding differently when God’s presnece came, some “bowed their heads and worshipped”, others “lifted up holy hands”, some “knelt”, others bowed the upper part of their body, while some say that the highest form of worship was to be “flat on your face”, because God’s presence was so strong that you could not stand any way.
I have found a good teaching on this from a great teacher called Derek Prince.
But yes agree with you, we should search the scriptures for ourselves.
Haven't you got anything to say?