Define Your Terms by Bishop Keith A. Butler Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 The church of the Lord Jesus Christ has a tendency to fall into the ditch on either side of the road when the truth is usually found somewhere in the middle. I have been a licensed and ordained minister in the pulpit for 40 years, so I have a long vision. I have seen the extreme teaching on judgment and grace sweep the country, go away, and come back again. All judgment or all grace churches hold radical positions scripturally that emphasize the need to discover what the words judgment and grace mean in context. It’s no different than needing to make sure that both parties in a conversation are using a word in the same way, with the same definition and application. In addition to looking at the context, you need to define the terms. If the speaker and you don’t have the same definition for the words being used, there will be confusion. In doing a study in the New Testament, I found fourteen definitions for the words judge or judgment, and eighteen definitions for the word grace. If you are using the wrong definition for the word, you will not rightly divide the Word and are in jeopardy of arriving at a doctrine that is not scriptural. ** Prayer for Today ------------------------------------------------------------ Father, I praise you for faithful ministers of the Word who not only rightly divide the Word but also teach me how to do the same. Thank you for all those who obey and model a life surrendered to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen. ** Selah: Think on These Things ------------------------------------------------------------ * Romans 14:18 1 Timothy 4:13
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 08:18:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015