Jesus Revealed in Doctrine THE DOWNWARD PATH
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov. 16:25.
The downward way at times appears to be right. But the Bible principle of how to deal with gray areas is to ask where they lead. Jesus admitted to His disciples that He wasn't taking them out of the world (John 17). But He did pray to His Father that they be kept from the evil.
Many of the worldly pleasures that have come in recent years don't show up in Scripture as such. There is not always specific chapter and verse to guide us. That's why we have to underscore the fact that the Bible, for the Christian, is going to have to be used in at least two ways--for information and for communication. Which is the primary purpose of the two? Which is more important? Maybe we shouldn't even try to separate them. We tend to separate them because we have often been given the impression that all you have to do is memorize five hundred Bible doctrine texts, and you are secure. But information alone will not be sufficient.
The primary purpose of God's Word is to lead us to know God, and to come into fellowship and communion with Jesus. But, of course, communication is based on information. You have to have both. If communication wasn't based solidly on information, you would be wide open to error. Your communication with God has to be based on the information He has given through His Word. It cannot be based simply upon your own experience. It cannot be based upon feelings. So let's hang on to communication based solidly on information. But the information given is not always specific, and it in itself is not enough.
So how do you draw the line between Walter Cronkite and "Charlie's Angels"? How do you decide whether you should even own a TV? Where do you draw the line between playing Frisbee on the front lawn with the kids, and major league competition? There are some who think bowling is a sin, and other who think it's a healthy exercise. The important question is, :What has God told you about it?" The only way you can expect to get clear signals from Heaven on a gray area in your own life is through your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. It is only through personal communication with Him that you are able to keep an open channel to hear what God wants to tell you regarding His specific will for you.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov. 16:25.
The downward way at times appears to be right. But the Bible principle of how to deal with gray areas is to ask where they lead. Jesus admitted to His disciples that He wasn't taking them out of the world (John 17). But He did pray to His Father that they be kept from the evil.
Many of the worldly pleasures that have come in recent years don't show up in Scripture as such. There is not always specific chapter and verse to guide us. That's why we have to underscore the fact that the Bible, for the Christian, is going to have to be used in at least two ways--for information and for communication. Which is the primary purpose of the two? Which is more important? Maybe we shouldn't even try to separate them. We tend to separate them because we have often been given the impression that all you have to do is memorize five hundred Bible doctrine texts, and you are secure. But information alone will not be sufficient.
The primary purpose of God's Word is to lead us to know God, and to come into fellowship and communion with Jesus. But, of course, communication is based on information. You have to have both. If communication wasn't based solidly on information, you would be wide open to error. Your communication with God has to be based on the information He has given through His Word. It cannot be based simply upon your own experience. It cannot be based upon feelings. So let's hang on to communication based solidly on information. But the information given is not always specific, and it in itself is not enough.
So how do you draw the line between Walter Cronkite and "Charlie's Angels"? How do you decide whether you should even own a TV? Where do you draw the line between playing Frisbee on the front lawn with the kids, and major league competition? There are some who think bowling is a sin, and other who think it's a healthy exercise. The important question is, :What has God told you about it?" The only way you can expect to get clear signals from Heaven on a gray area in your own life is through your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. It is only through personal communication with Him that you are able to keep an open channel to hear what God wants to tell you regarding His specific will for you.
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