Remember this thing called truth? …
Philosophy is not biblical truth.
Neither is “positive thinking” or any of the tidbits routinely thrown out for achieving “success.”
Just because you “believe it” doesn’t mean you can achieve it, or even that you should.
If you think you’re a success, you still might be wrong!
Just because you can “dream it” doesn’t mean it’s God’s will for you.
Unfortunately, much of what is blasted around various media for business and “personal growth” reasons are now all too often spouted as being something biblical. Some church leaders and some Christians in general “back into” scripture by looking at what they want to achieve, and then searching out a Bible verse to try to support their goal. The result is that you increasingly hear from some church leaders a whole lot of what sounds like motivational prose and positive thinking mantras rather than sound biblical teaching.
Truth is not a bumper sticker, a 140-character tweet, a quote in a best seller, a business concept, or a coaching lesson. It’s not a story in a “chicken soup” book, something you find in a horoscope, or something you simply “feel.” Here’s what Jesus said about truth: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me,'” John 14:6.
Instead of turning to every kind of human source around — of which there seems to be a multitude of options — if we want truth for living then we must turn to Jesus Christ. We need to get past the prose and platitudes spewed so readily today to the substance of God’s Word. That is where we will find the only reliable guide for living out this great adventure called life. Instead of “backing into” scripture to get out of it what we want, let’s look at it straightforwardly, the way God gave it to us, see what it says, and allow the truth to set us free.
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,'” John 8:31-32.
Scotty
June 16, 2009 at 3:31 pm
"Instead of "backing into" scripture to get out of it what we want, let's look at it straightforwardly, the way God gave it to us, see what it says, and allow the truth to set us free."
Exactly. One of the things that drives me wild is how certain people can be that the Bible says X or Y in some instances. I know I'm as guilty as anyone of reading my own ideas into the biblical text unintentionally. We must always ask ourselves if we are reading God's word, or reading in to God's word. It takes a lot of vigilance and the vigil never ends.