The Sluggard

“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep” - Proverbs 6:9

Proverbs plumbs the depths of the sluggard’s laziness and comes to the conclusion that he needs to “go to the ant and consider her ways” (Proverbs 6:6).

Who isn’t familiar with this guy? He is a professional for explaining why the job didn’t get done. He hates the clock. It’s a formidable foe, and the conviction from the chronometer is more than he can bear. It reminds him of deadlines which he never meets. It tells him that he has slept long enough and it’s time to rise, but he can’t because he’s “hinged to his bed” (Proverbs 26:14). Life is just one big siesta. Time is never on his side but always on his back. Excuses for unfinished projects abound. He talks of work, but the horsepower of his mouth is never translated to his hands. He is idle, lazy, and slothful. He is in fact a sluggard!

A casual glance at Proverbs will show that God has no small dislike for laziness. Diligence is exalted as a virtue and should transcend every area of our lives. When diligence reigns in eating, one is able to say no to the cake that calls, the pie that pleads, the bread that begs, or the dessert that dares. When diligence is not at the helm in the home, then the hand that could turn the wrench turns on the tube, and in the wake of such decisions lay unfinished projects, still unfinished. When diligence is lacking in business, the seeds of procrastination take root and the fruit of delay is not far from harvest. “The boss is gone. It can wait until tomorrow. It’s not all that important anyway.”

Unfortunately, the saddest sluggard has not been yet addressed. He is not easy to spot. As a matter of fact he is paradoxically disguised by his diligence. He is diligent in his business, works well around the house. The shine on his car and the well-manicured lawn will testify to this. But he is a sluggard. His Bible would flinch with pain if it were ever opened, that is, if he could find it. His prayer life is virtually non-existent. When asked to do something for the glory of his Sovereign rather than praise of himself, the former is dismissed with the ever-present excuse, “I’m too busy,” and God is again placed on the back burner. But that’s okay. He can take the heat. The question is, can the sluggard? That’s the way I see things.

A Year Like Every Year

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
- James 4:14

Well, 2005 is past tense. As with most years, the ledger sheet will reflect both the good and the bad. I suspect it won’t go down as the most eventful year in human history, but no doubt some of her chapters will be dog-eared from future fingers researching the past. Be assured, 2005 will not rest in peace – as historians are noted for performing autopsies of bygone eras.

As far as headlines are concerned, this past year has distinguished herself as the year of more high crimes and misdemeanors. Gay marriages are now accepted by many. On the international scene, terrorism and war vie for top honors. But all of this is mere human history passing through the narrow corridor of time. When I speak of human history, I mean the vast numbers of lost humanity moving aimlessly about this globe. As Christians, however, we have a different perspective. We look beyond our natural horizons and see the sovereign hand of God at work. Though we see through a glass dimly, we are assured that the confusion on planet earth is the natural consequence of sin. We are not taken by surprise when we observe man’s futile attempts to improve life through materialism or technology. We know better – God, and He alone, is the only answer to life and its attendant problems.

However, I never cease to be amazed at the number of Christians who have become absorbed by the world system. If 2005 was not spiritually fruitful, I would challenge you to take 2006 by the jugular – sometimes it is the only way to get attention. That’s the way I see things.

Moral Discernment

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” - I Corinthians 10:12

Few Christians, if any, plan to get themselves into a moral crisis. As much as we have convinced ourselves that we will never be in a car accident or fatal plane crash, we have equal confidence that the strong undertow in the current of moral perversion will never claim us as victims. Yet how shocked we are to find that those holding to our same lofty principles have gone the way of all flesh. We are visibly shaken to hear that Fred and Sally are splitting up, or that George is seeing another woman on the side. We are floored to hear that the author of countless books on the family, who has taught in the seminary classroom and lectured throughout the world, has been leading a double life. His traveling companion is his homosexual partner.

Christians never expect this will happen to them. After all, we have the Good Housekeeping seal of approval stamped on our soul. No Christian looks to the future and plans to get divorced or commit adultery. Who in his right mind wants to become an alcoholic, drug addict or thief? Nevertheless, it happens, and with far greater regularity than we would like to admit. Why? Because exemption’s wall surrounds only those who know they are not exempt.

Many a man has walked through the doors of my office and said those all too familiar words, “I never thought it could happen to me.” But it did, and along with the tears, the questions begin to flow. “How can I prove to my family that I still love them?” “Will my wife ever forgive me?” “Can our relationship ever be the same?” It is of little benefit to quote our opening verse about “taking heed lest we fall” when infidelity has left its scar.

Somewhere in the past, man has adopted the idea (for the sake of mental comfort) that such sins and their attendant consequences only happen to the other guy. Perhaps it stems from the fact that none of us have a realistic appraisal of ourselves. Somehow, youthful lusts don’t war against our souls. Life has a better script and such tales of woe are reserved for our next-door neighbor. We are exempt! As Lot looked over the plains of Sodom, would his wildest dreams have carried him to a cave where the last chapter of his life would be stained with drunkenness and incest? When David strolled the rooftops, did he foresee a scenario of adultery and murder? A man after God’s own heart? Never! Had they been warned, would not their cry of exemption have been, “It could never happen to me”? Without moral discernment it may be said of us as it was said of David, “thou art the man.” That’s the way I see things.

Reminders

“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” – Deuteronomy 8:2

Reminders. They’re nasty, tactless, and vicious. They can be rude, crude, and downright ugly. They mock us at every turn and strike without warning. They’re unwanted guests that view us as vacant lots in which to set up shop. From age spots to bald spots, from Just For Men to Oil of Olay, from Dr. Shoal’s footpads to orthopedic Nikes, the handwriting is on the wall: “Age is getting the upper hand.” A reminder we would just as soon forget.

An innocent remark that you’re “getting a little thin on top” strikes deeper than you’ll admit, and serves as another reminder that you’re no spring chicken. An old college yearbook brings back the days when you wore a size 6 dress. Without hesitation this tactless intruder tells you your present size is somewhere between your phone number and zip code, and another reminder bears its teeth like an angry canine.

Insensitive as they are, reminders will blitz if given the opportunity. Been to the nursery lately? The kids who used to occupy the playpens are preparing for SATs. Yet with a sigh of bewilderment we quote those all too familiar words, “My, how time flies.”

Reminders. Why don’t they just leave us alone? Why don’t they go back to the pit where they belong? Why don’t they stop plaguing us night and day with the philosophy that “our cup is not half full but half empty?” How does Scripture suggest we handle these professional irritants? Proverbs tells us, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Not bad advice. Maybe we ought to change our frame of reference. Is it really all that bad that we’re getting older? We’re also getting a lot wiser. Life doesn’t play as many tricks on us as it used to. We’re able to sense that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” well before we enter its gates. The ebb and flow of the world system is somehow more predictable and no longer takes us by surprise.

Sure the kids will be grown and gone before we know it. But is it really all that bad? I must admit I look forward to my tribe coming home for the holidays. And guess what? There are all kinds of reminders in our home. Pictures on the wall, photo albums, and slides that have frozen time tell the story of days gone by. We laugh together and rib each other over fond memories. We hold hands at the table, and perhaps a bit more firmly, as we thank God for His goodness. A kiss on my bald spot is followed by a few one liners from my offspring as our clan demonstrates a healthy sense of humor inherited from a home where reminders don’t rule but serve. Come to think of it, my cup’s not half empty or half full; it runneth over. That’s the way I see things.

In Light of Eternity

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” – Psalm 39:5

Time has its nerve. With calendars and clocks, datelines and deadlines who can ignore this intimidating giant? He knows nothing of rest, never tires and has the audacity to remind me that I’m running late. I wish I could boycott all expressions bearing his name: “Wait a minute,” “Just a second,” “from time to time,” “year in and year out.”

Scripture calls time out on this minute muncher. No longer must we view time as a measuring stick inexorably winding its way through history. This temporal beast is brought to its knees in light of eternity. Consider the following: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4). “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:53). “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (II Corinthians 4:17). “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (I John 2:17).

God, as the above verses give witness, consistently places the temporal next to the eternal. The purpose seems obvious; time is only a measuring device for the here and now. Eternity is what really counts. When that last grain of sand passes through the hourglass, it will mark the end of time and the beginning of eternity. What will history be, but His story? Will it really matter how many Big Macs were sold? Will the heavens shake because the Redskins lost the Super Bowl? Will anyone really care how many times Elizabeth Taylor was married, or what the Dow Jones Industrials closed at on that final day? “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (I Peter 3:10).

I don’t wish to mock time nor do I wish to be mocked by it. Time is important but only in light of using it for eternal purposes. That’s the way I see things.

Distractions

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – I Corinthians 15:58

Pesky rascals that they are, distractions will never go away. They never take a day of rest, vacation isn’t in their vocabulary and they have more substitutes than the Redskins. Ever wonder why God allows them? Why, for example, should the phone ring just as you sit down to dinner? Why must the guy across the street mow his lawn at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning? Why do your kids ask ten thousand questions while you’re trying to find exit 36D (which you just passed) on the Beltway?

I believe distractions exist for at least three reasons, all of which are found in Nehemiah 6:1-3. “Now it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah, and Geshem, the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates), That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”

1. Distractions help us sort out our priorities.
You’re reading the sports page and little Ricky wants to play catch. He’s a distraction, right? Wrong! The sports page is the distraction. Nehemiah knew the wall was not a distraction from meeting with the enemy but the enemy was a distraction from completing the wall. If priorities are confused, distractions will reign.

2. Distractions test our convictions.
Tonight is family night and nothing is going to get in the way. Ring, ring! “Hello.” “George, this is Fred, your stock broker.” “Wait a minute, Fred, while I go to the downstairs phone where I can talk in private.” Nehemiah had his convictions tested by distractions but met them head on, saying, “I am doing a great work; why should I come down?” Convictions will always be tested in the crucible of distraction.

3. Distractions build character.
Someone once said, “The test of a man’s character is what it takes to stop him.” Nothing stopped Nehemiah from finishing the wall, nothing stopped Abraham from seeking another country, nothing stopped Paul from planting churches, and nothing stopped Christ from going to the cross; but TV, newspaper, and the phone stop us from time with the family and the Lord.

So let’s take a lesson from a man who knew how to square off with distractions. They may have the first shot but should never have the last word. Well, I had best bring this to a close; there’s a cricket under my desk that’s about to drive me crazy. That’s the way I see things.

Testing Your Faith

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17

If you have been shopping recently, you have probably seen the portable blood pressure units in the middle of the shopping malls. Just insert 50 cents, slip your arm into the sling, and presto – 170/99. Gulp! How interested would you be if there were a faith testing device? One that you could operate in the privacy of your own home. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on which side of the ledger your faith is on, there is a way to measure it, and it doesn’t cost a dime to operate. Here it is: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed.” Obedience has always been God’s way of measuring our faith.

You need just one more sale to qualify for the big bonus. Just one little white lie to the prospective buyer will clinch it. Your flesh says, “Tell the lie, make the sale, and get the bonus.” The Spirit of God says, “I will prosper the man who is obedient.” Your faith is on the line.

Your calendar reminds you of an April 15 commitment and guess who’s coming for dinner? You can almost feel the cold hands of the IRS dipping into your savings. But your flesh reminds you that some undeclared income and a few devious write-offs could stay the hand of Uncle Sam. The Spirit brings to your remembrance “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21) and once again your faith is tested.

Why does God always have His children in between a rock and a hard place? Because faith grows best in that kind of soil and performs best on that kind of stage. Remember “to obey is better than sacrifice” (I Samuel 15:22). That’s the way I see things.

Educated Beyond Experience

"Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." - I Corinthians 8:1b

It is no secret that we live in the information age. However, when we use this expression, we tend to think about how quickly news travels and how much information is at our fingertips because of the internet and satellite communication. Might I help push your thinking into the spiritual arena when it comes to information. We have access to great Bible teachers with the touch of a button. The best expositors and scholars are all online. There are Christian bookstores that cover every known subject regarding the spiritual life of a believer. Seminars, DVDs, CDs and a host of other information sources are readily available, yet there is little if any change in the spiritual horsepower of the church.

Jesus has some advice for us on this matter of being educated beyond our experience. “These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him” (John 12:16). His disciples had been educated with “these things,” but not experienced. When the experience came to pass “when Jesus was glorified,” it shed light on their education. Jesus made a similar statement when He said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot hear them now” (John 16:12). He seems sensitive about not giving them more spiritual information until they had digested and obeyed what they knew at that time.

The church today suffers from a glut of instant spiritual information. Our arteries are clogged with spiritual cholesterol. Rather than this being a blessing it has become a curse. How many of us are dealing with a sinful habit or character flaw that we know is a violation of His Word yet proceed to feed ourselves massive doses of biblical information when we have not obeyed what we do know. Gaining information beyond our experience is like reading a book on fishing but never baiting a hook. That’s the way I see things.

Doctrine Vs. Intimacy

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." – II Corinthians 3:6

There has been a longstanding war in Christian circles which again leaves Christ’s people with a black eye. This war is not a declared war but one that subtly rages between pastors, theologians, and individual believers. On the one side you have those who profess to know God based on sound doctrine. While on the other side there are those who claim to know Him through revelation, which leads to intimacy. You ask what the difference is? Doctrine is that collection of truth that when systematized defines the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. The deity of Christ, justification, sanctification, the trinity, and a host of other teachings complete the foundation upon which the church is built. Without doctrine you can drift into heresy which is the fertile soil in which cults take root. Revelation is the belief that doctrine in and of itself is incomplete in giving us daily guidance. Revelation is the Holy Spirit opening my mind and illuminating my heart to personally hear from God in such a way that I do not violate doctrine but go beyond the facts and into a more intimate and personal encounter with God.

The war exists based on the fear of what the other side is teaching and what negative affect it may have on Christianity. If you are of the more doctrinal persuasion, you fear that those who claim to hear from God will be driven by emotion, feelings, hallucination, visions, dreams and the like. If you lean to the side that claims intimacy, you fear the doctrinal Christians will spread a gospel that is sterile, intellectual, and bookish. The truth is that both sides have plenty of Scriptural and experiential ammo with which to blast the other side. The Bible is quite clear that doctrine is important, otherwise the church morphs into a mass of confusion and everyman does that which is right in his own eyes. We see this from Scripture as well as church history. Equally true is dead theology which leads the church into head knowledge but no real life in Christ.

So how do we solve this problem? Much like other issues in life, the truth often lies somewhere in between. Before someone yells, “Compromise,” hear me out. Many times one side points to flawed extremist views of the other side. Those who claim to hear from God have a longstanding history of false prophets, doctrinal error, and experiences which counter biblical truth. Not to be out done, the doctrinal purists have a history of fighting over every nuance of Greek verb structure (including execution if you don’t see things my way) and boring people to tears over intellectual studies reserved only for those with 170 IQ or higher. They often answer questions nobody is asking.

The truth is that both sides are most clearly represented in Scripture with boundaries. The Scripture warns against cold intellectual teaching referred to as the “letter of the law,” but add a counter balance to those who will not “endure sound doctrine.” Just because each side has its exhibits of nut cases on the other side does not nullify the Scriptural truth upon which that side adheres.

When someone says, “I heard from God,” or “God told me,” the doctrinal purists react by saying, “Did He speak to you in a bass or baritone voice?” If someone said that to me, I would respond by saying, “Apparently you have never heard from God, for He doesn’t speak with a bass or baritone voice but a spiritual voice, which can only be spiritually discerned (I Corinthians 2:14).” Their cute rejoinder is based on what they perceive is the extreme view. The person who rejects hearing from God uses terms like, “I got a great insight from Scripture today.” To which I want to ask, “Was the insight in blue or green?” Insight is just a euphemism for hearing from God. Remember extremists are marginalized and don’t speak for the majority view of either side.

Another concern from the doctrinal side is that if you claim to have heard from God you are adding to the closed cannon of Scripture. Not so! To add to the cannon would be to add universal doctrine for all believers, whereas to hear from God is a personal revelation regarding your own life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Justification, sanctification, and propitiation are not a lamp for my feet but for all feet.

Well I’ve hit the purist so now let me give equal time to those who claim intimacy. There is a tendency coming from their camp to throw doctrinal caution to the wind. The reformers, Puritans, and church fathers gave their lives to protect the church from heresy. Scholars and theologians are to be commended for standing as sentinels at the doorway of the church to keep the heretics at bay. They have acted as shepherds to drive the wolves back into the hills where they belong. Thank God for doctrinal purists who have kept the truth, the truth. Those who draw from intimate revelation need to walk close with the purist who will help keep you in bounds. Purists need to walk with the mystic who finds Christ to be personal and will help the purist to experience life.

The purist is afraid to leave his doctrinal moorings for fear of spooky mysticism, while the intimate crowd fears being tethered to narrow teaching that might restrict their free spirit in sailing spiritual seas unrestrained. Will the former miss the voice of God while the latter is tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine? Certainly much more could be said. Doctrine is a protective fence around the church to keep her pure and untainted from worldliness and heresy. Once inside her walls the personal Christ leads his sheep through intimate revelation based on sound doctrine and obedience to His Word. There will always be those few who misrepresent both sides. Dead intellectual orthodoxy pitted against wild claims of “God told me” will always be with us. In the meantime “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” (II Timothy 2:15a). Learn to “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). Be careful to listen to His voice which will never contradict His written word. Doctrine and intimacy should never be at odds. Doctrine is the glove. Intimacy is the hand that fits snugly therein. That’s the way I see things.

The Pilgrimage

After entering into new life with Christ, we soon discover that this is a harder road than we may have bargained for. I would like to examine why the Christian life seems so much harder than the life of the unbeliever. This is not given as an excuse to whine, but to rejoice that our names are written in heaven. “…rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20b).

At the outset of this short study of the Christian life, I wish to make it very clear that we are referred to in Scripture as pilgrims, sojourners, and strangers. These titles or names are given to us to describe a journey. The terrain is often rugged and our footing unsure. We will always be going against the grain of this present evil world. “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4). Our mindset, worldview, and morals are a challenge to those who are of a different lineage. They are from Adam and we are from Christ and never shall the two meet. They will always disagree. We will be going uphill, upstream and always against the flow of world system thought. This is our calling. Here is a short list of reasons why the believer’s life seems to be more of a challenge than his unbelieving next-door neighbor.

1. God disciplines his children. Hebrews 12:6-7: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Since we are children of God through the new birth in Christ we will be disciplined for our disobedience. God chastens everyone who is truly His child. The unsaved will not experience His hand of chastening.

2. Satan is our enemy and seeks to destroy us. He puts many obstacles in our way and attacks our mind to bring about doubt and discouragement since unbelievers are his children. He does not treat them this way.

3. Our flesh is a constant battle. Now that we are born again and are given a new spirit there will be a perpetual war between the flesh and the spirit, which the unsaved will never experience. They only have the flesh, which they willingly follow and thus have no internal battle.

4. The world is foreign to the believer. This is not his home. “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:9-10). He is challenged daily to do warfare with its morality, entertainment, and materialistic structure. The lost find this to be their home and are very comfortable with the surroundings. Here again we are at war but for them there is not battle.

5. The Lord sends believers trials to strengthen their faith, but the lost do not experience this since they do not have God as their Father.

6. The believer and the unbeliever both experience life in a fallen world and the natural consequences of sin.

So as you can see we experience greater daily resistance than they do. This can be draining. To get out of bed and face another day of conflict by resisting temptation that the world flocks to will take its toll. To say no to loving this world can be exhausting since this is where I live.

To stop at this point would be depressing. So let’s see what Christ says about our present state. In John 16:33 he tells us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” This is a profound statement. Daily we must preach this gospel of victory to ourselves. We must see life as short and eternity as long. We must be excited to tell others about our eternal home as we see them settling down in what will some day melt with fervent heat (II Peter 3:10). That’s the way I see things.

Evidence That Has Been Documented Or Documentation That Claims To Be Evidence

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” – Romans 1:22

Time has a way of eroding the meaning of words. It tends to dull the edge of truth. Actually time is not the culprit, we just use time as a convenient scapegoat. Time plays a role as it records the history of thought and the downward spiral of civilization. Man gives new meaning to words in order to fit his religion of relativism. A case in point is the term documented evidence. So what happened to the original meaning of this term? Did it have a falling out with truth? Did it lose its way and become the victim of a liberal society? Has it been used so casually that its original intent has been diluted, or is it a tactic of intimidation used to silence those who oppose our views?

To document was the safe keeping of the all-important evidence. Document was the servant and evidence was the master, but all that has changed. There has been a role reversal. The word documented is almost without exception followed by the word evidence. In other words, if something is documented, it automatically becomes evidence. Take any opinion, study, or statistic you want and put the word documented in front of it and voilà, you now have documented evidence.

I started noticing this as claims were being made from every quarter on every subject. Since evidence deals with truth, how could there be so many contradicting claims all backed by documented evidence? It came to a head recently when I read an article about the ill affects of milk and how a more nutritional substitute was soymilk. So I purchased some, after all, it was documented evidence. I liked it. I decided to do a little more research by going on the web. Low and behold there was more documented evidence to the contrary saying how dangerous this milk was. Now I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know a contradiction when I see one. Two truths cannot oppose each other unless one or both are not actually the truth. Is this another sign of relativism?

God, on the other hand, has plenty of evidence regarding His existence, and it is well documented. Listen to the words found in Hebrews 11:1 & 3, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” Why does the writer use the word evidence? Romans 1:20 says, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Note here that invisible things are clearly seen. The reason God uses the word understood is that He brings the evidence of His existence into the courtroom of the mind where the truth is examined. A guilty charge will be brought to bear upon any explanation that denies God as creator, however the natural mind is a clever devil. When asked from where the universe comes, many theories surface, all backed by documented evidence. So again I press the question. Is it evidence that has been documented or a theory prefaced by the word documented, thus transforming theory into evidence? God, on the other hand, holds man accountable for the unmistakable evidence of His existence and creative power. He has documented this in His Word. But isn’t this circular reasoning? Haven’t I laid the foundation for a self-defeating argument by saying that the Bible has documented a creation account; and since creation follows documented, it is now evidence? Isn’t this the very point of this article? Not at all. The Scriptures are simply employing the very argument it knows man will call upon in scientific research. NASA, for example, goes into outer space and visits Mars in hopes of finding signs of life. Signs of life are not the same as life but simply point to the existence of life, which created the design. Would they not be thrilled to find a clay pot on Mars? Signs is another word for intelligent design. The Scriptures take this logic a step further by demanding an explanation for the biggest sign of all, the universe and all that it contains, which include clay pots. So there you have it, documented evidence without diluting the truth. So what about the soymilk? It’s great in coffee. Since that has now been documented, its all the evidence you need. That’s the way I see things.

See entry entitled “Parachute Theology” posted on January 9.

A Dim View Of Reality

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” – Deuteronomy 29:29

Paul tells us that we see through a glass dimly but then face to face (I Corinthians 13:12). Why do we see dimly? What is it that is dim or not clear? Though he doesn’t spell it out, the very experiences of life don’t always square with Scripture. We are puzzled by many of life’s strange twists. We see and hear about things that don’t make much sense in light of what God says. He tells us He will never leave us or forsake us, but many situations in life dim the view of such a promise.

Something dims the clarity of His Word as it enters into our hearts. Can we find any clues in Scripture that may help us in this? When the Lord clearly defined the parameters for Adam and Eve regarding the forbidden tree, what dimmed their understanding? Satan offered another interpretation. Through sin, darkness came over the human soul. Redemption restores the light but dimness still has its way. Abraham understood God’s call and he departed from his homeland, but fear soon made the call unclear as he feared for his life while entering Egypt. Saul understood the call of God but disobedience and jealousy clouded the Word of God. Anger got the best of Moses and watching wicked people prosper veiled the eyes of Asaph. Simply put, sin keeps us from seeing Him clearly. Paul goes on to say, “but then face to face.” This is an expression of clarity. What will we have in heaven that will give us such clarity? Lack of sin.

We have a principle here. The more obedient we are, the more clarity we have in this life. The fog will never lift totally until Heaven; but as we follow Him closely, we will see more clearly. If we look back over church history, those who seemed to know Him best were those who “loved not the world.” These are always people who see life as a pilgrimage and thus were given a clearer vision of the Savior. That’s the way I see things.

Looking Beyond The Promise

While studying the life of Abraham, I came across a simple yet profound truth that I think is consistent throughout Scripture. God makes a promise then seems to renege or makes it seem impossible. This is not a new discovery. Some have called it the birth of a vision, the death of a vision, and the supernatural fulfillment. I would like to take this a step further. I believe that when a promise is made that doesn’t look as though it will be fulfilled, the person to whom it is made is forced to look beyond the promise and believe that God will bring it to pass in a greater way. Let me suggest three examples.

Moses was told to take the children of Israel to the promise land. When they got to the Red Sea it looked hopeless. The Egyptian army was fast approaching and the sea before them stood fast. And this is why Moses said, “Stand fast.” He had not been given prior revelation that God would part the Red Sea. What he had been given was a promise which demanded fulfillment. But how? Moses didn’t know, but what he did know was that God could not lie, and thus salvation of some kind was at hand. He looked beyond the promise and believed God would bring it to pass in a greater way.

Abraham serves as our next example. He was promised a son, but after his son was born (Isaac, the son of promise), he was told by God to offer up his son as a burnt offering. He was told to put the promise on the altar. Since the Lord had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation, his son would have to live in order to carry out the covenant. This is now an impossibility. The eye of faith is based on divine revelation to look beyond the promise and believe that God will fulfill it in a greater way, i.e. resurrection. In Hebrews 11 we are told that Abraham believed God could raise his son from the dead. So it is not just the death of a vision and supernatural intervention but what the promised individual was forced to believe.

The third place we see this is also found in Hebrews 11, but it is in reference to all true believers. We read in Hebrews 11:10, 13: “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Note carefully the wording in Hebrews 11:13, “These all died in faith.” This means when they faced death, they continued to have faith in a promise that was never fulfilled, “not having received the promises.” It seems as though they, like Abraham, “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Since God cannot lie, we again find great people of faith “seeing them [the promises] a far off.” Note that they had to look beyond their natural horizons, which is a simple definition of faith, and believe the promises would be fulfilled in a greater way. Is this not the Christian life? Will all the promises of health and wellbeing be fulfilled here? Will the promise of peace on earth and good will toward men be experienced now? Does not the earth groan to be released from its bondage so the promise of a new heavens and a new earth can be fulfilled? Do we not groan in like manner desiring to be clothed with our new glorified bodies?

If all of our hopes in God’s promises are seen as being fulfilled in this life, we will be of all men most miserable. Savor the hope that we will someday be free. Cherish the thought that He will wipe away all tears (Revelation 7:17). Rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). All these promises when viewed from a life of faith will be fulfilled in a greater way. That’s the way I see things.

Can Knowledge Save Us?

“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” – I Corinthians 1:19

Present day evolutionary prophets are predicting a rosy future for mankind. Just give the human race a few more years, and time coupled with natural selection will do its magic. Eventually all the kinks will be round out. Two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul predicted a different scenario in II Timothy 3:1-5:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Six hundred years before that, Jeremiah the prophet said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Eighteen hundred years before that Moses said, “…for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth…” (Genesis 8:21). The fact that each of these men predicted a gloomy future for man is not what’s so amazing. What is amazing is that such a prediction makes no logical sense. It goes against the grain of human reason. Anyone who has ever lived knows that man is increasing in knowledge and is building upon past knowledge. Since knowledge is designed to make life better by solving human problems, then it is only sensible to predict a more perfect future. Had the humanistic philosophy of evolution been around 4,000 years ago or 2,000 years ago, it would have painted a picture of a future life with most if not all problems solved. The Scriptures go out on a limb and take a gamble, if you will, by forecasting a future that denies what logic demands. However, if the Scriptures are inspired by an all knowing God then there is no gamble, but what Las Vegas would call a sure bet. So what does history tell us about what Scripture prophesied? What does our present day tell us? What is the future starting to look like? Had Scripture been wrong and man’s wisdom been right, then we could all fall back on human wisdom and reject the notion of God. But man’s wishful thinking turned out to be a fairy tail and the real story is found in the inspired Word of God proven by history and present experience. Maybe that’s why we call the Word inspired. That’s the way I see things.

A Diamond Turned To Rock

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” – II Corinthians 3:6

If you have been a believer for any length of time, you soon realize that Christians tend to set up camp in those areas where they have the most interest. I’m not sure whether this is a genetic or soulish bent that causes us to lean in one direction in favor of another. Having spent literally thousands upon thousands of hours discussing the Christian life with many different people from all walks of life, I have finally come to appreciate why some are drawn to major in one facet of the diamond while others chose another facet. The church is a massive diamond with many facets.

There is an inherent problem that keeps the diamond from reflecting the light of Christ. Unlike choosing a major in college where some want to go into marketing and others sales or management, choosing a major in the world of Christianity is often met with harsh opposition. People tend to read differences as compromise at best or heresy at worst. By differences I don’t mean doctrinal or moral mishandling of Scripture. I mean that some find intimacy with Christ in different ways. Those who find God as a loving Father they can trust and go to, often have a very strong but simple faith which may be looked down on by those who find Almighty God in theology. The simple lover of God will accuse the scholar as knowing about God but not really knowing God. The scholar will look down at those with simple faith as not knowing who they have their faith in because doctrine describes Him.

As valid as both sides see their argument, we know from church history that God has used the scholar and the mystic. Spurgeon and Moody, Whitfield and Wesley, Edwards and Muller all represent facets of the same diamond. How often do we hear pastors or theologians make reference to past heroes of the faith by adding a few disclaimers. Luther was great but he was off on his ………, or Calvin had an amazing mind but clearly was mistaken about ….…. I think we need never compromise over theology in the process of co-laboring with believers, but I also think we need to take a hard look at how God uses people that emphasize one facet over another.

I have had the distinct privilege of working with people who could no more define justification or sanctification than they could explain Einstein’s theory of relativity, but they have touched many lives by the power of Christ living through them. I have had equal joy in rubbing shoulders with those of a more theological bent who bless many that have deep questions about God. One is not better than the other. These are complimentary facets, which reflect the glory of Christ; but when pride says my facet displays Christ more brightly than yours, the diamond turns into a rock. That’s the way I see things.

Forgetting To Remember And Remembering To Forget

“That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” – Psalm 78:7

Ever since we were young we have repeatedly heard these all too familiar words, “Don’t forget your lunch,” or “Remember to pick up some milk on the way home.” These are minor exhortations in comparison with how Scripture uses the words remember and forget. Let’s take a look at a few passages.

“…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13b).

“Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments…” (Deuteronomy 8:11a).

“…this do in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:24).

“Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance” (II Peter 1:13).

When Scripture tells us not to forget the Lord, it is simply stating in negative terms to remember; and when it tells us to remember Him, it is simply saying in a positive way, not to forget. Depending upon what the Lord wishes to emphasize, a negative or positive statement can be employed. We must take these words ever so seriously because they are words of warning and thus have consequences if not obeyed.

There are many things in life that God wants us to forget. For instance, we must forget those things that have caused us bitterness and dragged us down. The word forget in such passages does not mean that our memory bank has been erased, but it means that forgiveness has occurred and you daily remember to forget the hurt because you have released it to the Lord’s grace. When our Lord tells us that our sins and iniquities He will remember no more, it is not to be taken to mean that He has no recollection but that He will no longer hold those against us.

When Scripture speaks of remembering, it does not mean that we have forgotten. But it does means that our focus is blurred. When our Lord says, “Do this in remembrance of me,” He is not suggesting that we have no recollection of His death but that other things have gotten in the way and dulled our appreciation. So we can’t forget to remember what the Lord has done for us at Calvary.

This is why in Deuteronomy 8 He is concerned that when Israel has built nice homes and when silver and gold has increased, they will forget who delivered them from bondage. In this case material gain was the potential culprit that could replace the Lord as number one.

In the midst of daily living, do we ever look back and remember what the Lord has done? Unfortunately America has an unstated motto, “What have you done for me lately?” which has bled into our spiritual lives. Yes Christ died for my sins, but what has He done for me lately carries over into our present state of affairs. So what has He done lately? While you go about your life, your every breath is sustained by Him. He not only saved you, but is saving you and will ultimately save you. So there you have it, past, present, and future. So let’s remember to forget who we were in Adam and never forget to remember who we are in Christ. That’s the way I see things.

Parachute Theology

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” – Romans 3:3

Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that reads, “Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open”? Though I’m not sure of the source of this cute expression, I suspect it is an attack on people who hold to moral absolutes, telling them to open their minds and start seeing life from a broader bandwidth. Christians are too narrow. I would like to employ this logic regarding the teaching of intelligent design in the classroom. Though I have already written on this, my first entry came from a different approach. Let’s examine this in new light.

A true believer should not be afraid of true science. In other words, he should never fear that some new discovery in the science lab will discredit the Bible or the Christian faith. Therefore he should want to examine science from a biblical perspective and examine Scripture from a scientific perspective. If both have the same author, then there will be no discrepancies but the complementing of one another.

A true scientist should not be afraid of true religion, because all truth will blend and never contradict. Why then is the scientific world afraid to investigate intelligent design as an alternative approach to understanding how the world came to be? I know that the argument is that we can’t mix religion and science. I would absolutely agree if they were mutually exclusive disciplines, but scientists just might find that true religion and true science occupy the same territory.

Perhaps an illustration may help. If my religion, through a study of Scripture, told me the moon was made of cheese and I became the first astronaut to visit the moon and found that all I had been taught was nothing more than idle cheddar (sorry about that), I would chuck my religion based on the empirical evidence offered by true science. Doesn’t the CIA look for clues? Doesn’t NASA look for signs of life on other planets? Isn’t the word sign just a code word for intelligent design? Wouldn’t NASA have been thrilled if the Mars landing provided pictures of clay pots or food of some kind? Such signs of life would be evidence that someone lives there. Why isn’t the same logic employed when it comes to the complexity of the universe, which by the way is no clay pot? Let’s reverse the illustration for a moment. Suppose I had been told that the universe had no purposeful design and I am nothing more than the product of time and chance. Do I accept this because true religion is not allowed into the equation and thus limits my options? Does the astronaut who finds no cheese, stick to his guns and say, “The Bible says it is cheese and that settles it”? That would be turning a blind eye to the truth.

I have some news. The universe and all that it contains shows the fingerprints of God. Why is that so frightening for scientists to admit? By not allowing truth to shine through the window because it comes from a different discipline is not being open to truth. Are they afraid of truth that might upset their previously held views? Pull the cord and let the parachute open. That’s good science, and it’s good theology. That’s the way I see things.

The Else Factor

“The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” – Proberbs 18:17 (NIV)

Whenever there is conflict between two people and I am asked to play referee or counselor, I sometimes employ a series of eight questions. For example, if a husband and wife are in conflict and they come in to see me, I will engage them in the following manner:

1. George, what do you believe you have contributed to the demise of this relationship? He answers, “I have been angry and withdrawn.”

2. Sally, without adding to what George has said, do you agree with his assessment of what he has contributed to the demise of this marriage? She answers, “Yes, I do.”

3. Sally, what do you believe you have contributed to the demise of this relationship? She answers, “I have been demanding and nagging.”

4. George, without adding to what Sally has said, do you agree with her assessment of what she has contributed to the demise of this marriage? He answers, “Yes I do.”

5. Sally, what ELSE would you add to what George has said regarding his role in this marriage conflict? She answers, “He does not lead spiritually and refuses to talk about the problem.”

6. George, do you agree with what Sally has added to your assessment of the problem? He answers, “Yes.”

7. George, what ELSE would you add to what Sally has said regarding her role in this conflict? He answers, “She uses the children to turn against me and refuses to stick to a budget.”

8. Sally, do you agree with what George has added to your assessment of the problem? She answers, “Yes.”

The key word in all of this is the word else. Usually people will admit to what they know they have contributed to the problem or conflict. It’s the else factor that often gets in the way. The else is what your adversary sees that you don’t. This may be the blind spot that contributes heavily to the conflict. You may not agree with the else factor but it is key. If I can nail down what both sides agree upon, then I don’t need to waste my time there. They have owned up to that and need to seek forgiveness. It’s the else factor on which I need to shed the light. My point in all this is that we usually contribute more to the problem than we can see. If our adversary sees what we don’t see, then two possibilities exist. They are right and we need to own up to our fault, or they are wrong but perceive me to have a fault to which I can’t agree. So I must explore why they perceive me in this manner. Perception is huge in the else factor.

Conflict is inevitable in life. The Bible assures us that we will experience it in marriage, in friendships, and in the workplace. An honest assessment of ourselves in the midst of conflict is necessary for resolution.

The else factor that we can’t see must be seriously considered in the light of truth or perception. If it is true, we admit it and seek forgiveness. If we believe it is false, we look to find why we are creating this perception and correct it. That’s the way I see things.

What Makes A Good Book Good?

“The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” – II Timothy 4:13

Reading is a dying discipline overtaken by sound byte education, videos, and a host of other assorted pleasures. I wish we would get back to reading and reading good books. There are wonderful books that have no religious axe to grind. There are books that are referred to as the classics – Moby Dick, War and Peace, The Lion, The Witch, And the Wardrobe. Reading makes you think. It expands the mind and calls upon our sense of reason. We learn about words and their proper usage. We begin to see life through the eyes of others and gain insight into life. A good book can move you to tears and make you laugh. Your emotions may be touched as no other medium of expression can.

But what makes a good book good? Secular classics are always written well. Words and sentence structure are crafted by the genius behind the pen. Good books hold our attention and draw us into the suspense and make the characters real.

But what about Christian books – what makes a good book good? I have but one word – transcendence. Transcendence means it cuts through time and culture. Read A. W. Tozer and you don’t know if what he wrote was 500 years ago or last week. It makes no difference where you are when you read him – it transcends. Most Christians literature is market driven and targeted to certain needs, which are often frivolous and faddish but sell very well. Whenever a book is a best seller you can be almost certain that it is man-centered. This is not always the case but 9 out of 10 times it is. People want something light, refreshing, and a quick fix. Books on holiness, prayer, revival, missions, and our pilgrimage are not usually found at the top of the list in sales.

John Piper is a rarity today. You can read Piper on the beach in Hawaii, in a prison cell or in a hospital bed and it will transcend. His books will not tell you what a happy life is in store for you. Try telling that to a hurricane Katrina victim. He won’t tell you if you obey God all will be well, because that may not be the case. He will tell you the truth and back it up with Scripture. Here are a few of my favorite authors: John White (The Fight, Drawing Near), Jay Oswald Sanders, A. W. Tozer, John Piper, Andrew Murray, Kurosake (Let’s Get Back to Christian Unity), Watchman Nee, Dallas Willard (Divine Conspiracy), and Chambers.

That’s the way I see things.

Have You Ever?

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
– James 3:17

The only tests I love to take are the ones that aren’t for a grade – ones that don’t count. I also love tests that I grade myself and no one else knows how I did. Well you’ll love the following test. There is no one watching, no grades to be given, and you can grade your own paper.

1. Have you ever honked at someone in front of you because they didn’t move when the light turned green, but got upset a week later when someone honked at you because you didn’t move when the light turned green?

2. Have you ever rejoiced when your enemy got sick or in an accident and said to yourself, “This is God’s judgment”? But when you were sick or in an accident, it was Satan attacking you.

3. Have you ever been upset because no one called you when you were sick, but soon realized that you rarely, if ever, call to see how someone is doing?

4. Have you ever told someone, “You’re defensive and really have no excuse for what you did,” but soon find yourself in a similar set of circumstances trying to explain why you did it and then getting upset because your accuser said you were defensive?

5. Have you ever been critical of someone’s poor performance and then wondered why people don’t cut you some slack when your performance is poor?

6. Have you ever wanted to justify your actions because you knew there were extenuating circumstances, that if known, people would understand? But when others try to justify their actions, you say they are making up excuses.

7. Have you ever yelled at someone in order to tell them to calm down?

8. Have you ever been furious because someone pried into your life without your permission, but later enjoyed reading someone else’s diary without permission?

9. Have you ever been angered because the bumper sticker on the car in front of you showed the fish symbol with Darwin written on the inside, while your bumper sticker said, “God will make a monkey out of Darwin”?

10. Have you ever felt others were hypocritical?

We’re a strange breed, aren’t we? That’s the way I see things.

A Test of Honesty

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8

Have you ever questioned your own integrity and been found wanting? I have. When I read Scripture I find myself not measuring up. That’s not necessarily a problem, as none of us will ever meet the standard in this life. What I don’t like is when I claim to believe something that my life clearly denies.

TEST

1. Do you believe Jesus when He says, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15)? I define materialism as enjoying the things of life independent of glorifying God. Do our lives reflect that we believe this teaching of Jesus?

2. Do you believe the Apostle Paul when he said, “And in food and raiment let us be therewith content” (I Timothy 6:8)? If you lost your home as many did in the devastation of hurricane Katrina, would you be content if you still had food and clothing?

3. Do you believe that God will give back to you in abundance if you sacrificially give to Him? “Give and it will be given unto you…” (Luke 6:38).

4. Do eternal rewards mean more than temporal treasures? If push comes to shove, does your life clearly showcase an eternal perspective?

5. Do you believe that prayer and Bible study are priorities for the believer? How is it going?

6. Do you believe it is better to give than to receive? Would your checkbook and credit card statement reflect this?

7. Do you believe that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us? Who in your life is presently the beneficiary of that belief?

8. Do you believe that truth and morals are absolute? Do you find yourself looking for ways around this?

9. Do you believe that we should flee youthful lusts (I Timothy 2:22)? Does that belief reflect in your clothing, TV, movie, and magazine diet?

10. Do you believe that you are a pilgrim passing through a strange land?

You and I believe only what we act on. All the rest is just religious talk. That’s the way I see things.

Six Ways Around A Difficult Text

“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully.” – II Corinthians 4:2a

Believe it or not, we all enter Scripture with a theological bias. You have been raised to think a certain way about the Bible. You may be reformed, pentecostal, charismatic, dispensational, or unable to pronounce these words. You may not even be familiar with all four terms, but we still enter our time of devotion with a desired outcome. Of course the desired outcome is always threatened by monkey wrench verses that thwart that desire if not demolish it. Some difficulties in Scripture are more than speed bumps, but act as roadblocks and defy interpretation as viewed through the lens of our theological bias.

This naturally forces us to find some way around the difficulty. Certainly difficulties must be resolved but never at the expense of honest interpretation. The finest of pastors and scholars are capable of being disingenuous in relating to such matters. I have come across countless interpretations motivated by a theological system, bias, or desired outcome that often seemed shameless. I no doubt have fallen prey to such schemes.

Here are six ways around any difficult text. They can be legitimate or illegitimate. Motive will determine legitimacy.

1. Original Language
Knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is of great value, but what layman hasn’t been baffled by scholarly works that claim different meanings for words. I am always suspect when the word is made to fit the author’s doctrinal bias. It’s a little like watching an instant replay. Half of the crowd says he had possession of the ball, while the other half says he didn’t. It is interpreted by a desired outcome.

2. Compare Scripture with Scripture
As you may well know, this is an excellent way to find God’s mind on a subject. He often says much about a subject in many of the books of Scripture. Here again when we find ourselves in trouble, we start looking for the exit ramp, and if not careful may come up with a desired interpretation, but nonetheless erroneous.

3. Context
What could be more logical than considering the context? Yet I have read many a commentary where one scholar looks at the immediate context while another, who doesn’t feel this will serve his purpose best, will say you need to consider the overall context of the book, or we must look beyond the context to the overall argument.

4. Secular Sources
Often if a word leads to a troubling outcome, pastors and scholars will scratch around secular literature of that era to see if the word could have a different meaning. Given enough time, they will probably come up with what they are looking for. Don’t evolutionists do the same while looking for fossils that support their theory?

5. Translations
This may be the most humorous of all. How many pastors say, “A better translation here is the KVJ, NIV, NASB, etc.” when in fact he has no clue. He read in a commentary where some scholar told him this. Another commentary may pick another translation. Unless you are a textual critic, you really don’t know and are at the mercy of your own best judgment.

6. Original Manuscripts
When all else fails, just say, “This verse isn’t found in the most original manuscripts.” How many times has that been used?

My purpose here is not to question Scripture, which I do believe is without error in its original autographs, but to encourage a genuine approach to the Word. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate interpreter. We certainly need sound scholarship. I always consult commentaries after I have listened to the Spirit of God through meditation and prayer. The Sprit can bring my attention to context, language, and comparing Scriptures with Scripture through a scholar. What I am always on the lookout for is a forced interpretation that brings about the author’s desired outcome. I know many authors and thus have a pretty good feel for how they will examine a text.

We are all susceptible to being biased in our approach. We will even agree with an author who arrives at the conclusion we want even if he doesn’t interpret the text the way we would. Who cares? He landed where we wanted him to land. This too is not genuine.

Seek the Spirit of God who will guide us into all truth. The Word is true, the Spirit is true, but our desired outcome may skew the truth. That’s the way I see things.