(I’m going to start posting blogs in this category that are assignments from Truett McConnell University. I’m excited to see what I learn through this process and hopefully all of you my readers learn a lot as well.)
Introductory Thought:
“The greatest deception of the people is the kind of zeal for God which is invested without Scripture in the interest of the salvation of souls, the honor of the church, love for the truth, good intentions, usages or custom, episcopal decrees, and the indications of reason, all of which have been begged from the light of nature. These are lethal errors, when they are not led and directed according to Scripture.”
My Response:
Scripture is hugely important to followers of Jesus. Without it we would all most likely be lost and have little basis for a unified faith. As Psalm 119 says, His commands truly are a light to my feet and a guide to my path. Scripture reveals who God is and who man is in relation to God. It reveals God’s will for man, God’s plan for man, and the hope that man has because of God’s love.
The salvation of souls without scripture would be near to impossible. Without scripture there would be little basis that we need saving or that we can be saved. Scripture also gives us the laws and commandments of God and guidelines for how to be saved. Considering we knew those laws and beliefs even without scripture saving souls would turn into an attack trying to make them see how wrong they are and how right Christianity is. We would be stuck trying to make people believe in certain things to be saved. Yes, we must believe certain things to be saved but shoving those things in someones face is not the best way to go about saving their souls. Scripture teaches us to love people. We are to share what the Lord has done for us personally, what the Lord has done for us all, and make known the invitation He has given to each of us to respond to His love. We are to teach and share but always in love. That is how souls are won. Scripture tells us that it is our job to plant the seeds of the Gospel into people’s lives but it is not our job to make the seeds grow. God is going to send the rain and bring the sun and ultimately He is the one who is going to do the work of saving someone’s soul. That burden does not rest on us.
This is something that is very important to me in life but especially here on this trip. I am here because I want people to be saved. I want people to experience the same love of God that I have experienced. I want people to find freedom in this life and hope because of the next life. But I cannot save anyone’s soul by telling them how wrong they are and how right I am. I will not save any souls by making someone believe something. I cannot save souls. Only God can. It’s important for me to remember that my only job is to love people well and to tell them about God’s love for them.
Honoring the church without the direction of Scripture could end up being repulsive to nonbelievers. In the name of honoring the church believers might not allow unrepentant sinners in the doors for fear of defiling the church. But through Scripture we know that the church is not a building; it is a group of believers in community with each other. Jesus said that people will know that we are His disciples based on our love for one another. So honoring the church should look like loving each other well. This will end up attracting nonbelievers. Simply based on our love for each other we are planting seeds in the lives of nonbelievers.
This is something that is imperative to remember as I am on this trip. The best way to honor the church is to honor my brothers and sisters in Christ; to love them as God has loved me.
Love for truth without direction of Scripture will ultimately lead away from truth. Jesus said that He is the truth. To learn about Jesus, as recorded in the Scriptures, is to learn truth. Scripture is the Word of God and as such is truth. Without Scripture truth would simply be what we have grown up being taught and what society and culture has told us.
Jesus is truth. I cannot know truth without knowing Jesus. And probably the best way to know Jesus is through reading Scripture. As I go through this trip I want to be a light to all those around me. I cannot be a light if I am not living in truth and sharing truth. I will need to be in Scripture to discover the truth of who God is, the truth of who I am as His child, and the truth of what He would have me do.
My good intentions without the direction of Scripture will ultimately lead towards evil and away from good. Scripture is what fills me with knowledge of God and knowledge of what His purpose and plan is. It is through Scripture that I can know what my intentions should actually be. I learn what is right and wrong through Scripture and how to carry out God’s good work. Ultimately without Scripture my good intentions will become more and more self guided and less and less directed by God who is the epitome of goodness.
This year (and every year) I need to remember that my natural state is that of sin. No matter how “good” I feel I will result back to selfishness if I am left unchecked. I must abide in Jesus, my vine, and follow His example and live based on His intentions for the world, not my own.
The indications of reason without the direction of Scripture will ultimately lead me astray from God’s will. Many of Jesus’ commands revealed in scripture don’t seem reasonable. He says to pray for one’s enemy; to turn the other cheek; to go the extra mile; to be the servant of all; to abandon all for God; to take up one’s cross and follow in Christ’s footsteps. He who wishes to gain His life will lose it but the one who wishes to lose His life will find it. None of this seems reasonable in the world’s eyes. But with Scripture it is revealed to be the most reasonable thing of all. Scripture tells us to store up treasure in Heaven where it cannot be stolen or destroyed. It says to do all that you can to love God and love others in this life which often means doing things that seem crazy. But it is not crazy because this life is not the end goal. This life will pass away but the next one will last forever. So I should do everything that Jesus said, fixing my eyes on eternity with Him and my reward that is coming if I follow Him. It takes, faith, courage, perseverance, and much love but Scripture reveals it to be the most reasonable thing I can do.
This year I have left family, home, and comfort in obedience to God’s calling on my life. But it doesn’t stop there. I must not be complacent here on the mission field. I still must continually choice to pick up my cross and follow in Christ’s footsteps. I have already stepped out in faith so much these past few weeks on the field but I know God is continually asking me to step out in faith. I’m going to be asked to do things that seem crazy. It’s going to be scary. It’s going to seem so unreasonable. But in fact it is the most reasonable thing I can do to obey God’s call, pick up my cross, and follow Him.
