All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
Charles
G. Finney believed that Bible teaching without moral application could be worse
than no teaching at all and could result in positive injury to the hearers. I
used to feel that this might be an extreme position, but after years of
observation have come around to it, or to a view almost identical with it.
There is
scarcely anything so dull and meaningless as Bible doctrine taught for its own
sake. Theology is a set of facts concerning God, man and the world. These facts
may be and often are set forth as values in themselves; and there lies the
snare both for the teacher and for the hearer.
The Bible
is more than a volume of hitherto unknown facts about God, man and the
universe. It is a book of exhortation based upon these facts. By far the
greater portion of the book is devoted to an urgent effort to persuade people
to alter their ways and bring their lives into harmony with the will of God as
set forth in its pages.
Actually,
no man is better for knowing that God in the beginning created the heaven and
the earth. The devil knows that, and so did Ahab and Judas Iscariot. No man is
better for knowing that God so loved the world of men that He gave His only
begotten Son to die for their redemption. In hell there are millions who know
that.
Theological
truth is useless until it is obeyed. The purpose behind all doctrine is to
secure moral action!
No comments:
Post a Comment