Words of Faith, Words of Insecurity

Does anyone else out there ever feel like this when God’s children come together to agree on sensitive matters?

• I believe that the whole Bible is the breathed-out words of God; 

• that God said what he meant and means what he said; 

• that the old covenant is so fulfilled in the new covenant in Jesus’ blood that we no longer live by the law of the old covenant, but live by faith in every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God in the new covenant; 

• that sound doctrine is absolutely essential to know how to live in the righteousness that is by faith in the fullness of the Spirit; 

• that I thoroughly want the life of the church described in the New Testament, living as the body of Christ, maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and speaking all the truth, in fullness of love, for the building up of the whole body; 

• but when we get together to discuss doctrine, I feel confident to look at what Scripture says, but cannot necessarily keep up to the definitions, descriptions, doctrinal distinctions, and personal positions, that are outside. 

Now, I know this is me saying things that are summaries and descriptions that are outside the immediate quoting of God’s words, and so it may cause the same effect in others as what I am trying to describe in my personal sharing (sigh).

However, I hope the gist of it is plain enough to get the point across and see if we can build stronger fellowship in living by the whole counsel of God, along with greater compassion, mercy, and grace, when people are trying to put into words what they think they believe at the moment in the large conclusions required of God’s words.

When Paul tells pastors, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1), the “sound doctrine” part may be plain enough, but teaching “what accords” with the sound doctrine may require a larger dose of love, and joy, and peace, and patience, and kindness, and goodness, and gentleness, and faithfulness, and self-control (kinda like the sound doctrine describes ~ Galatians 5:22-24), than what is often experienced when God’s children tread into that land of “beyond what is written” Paul warned about (I Corinthians 4:6).

© 2016 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)