BHiles
July 15th, 2004, 12:52 PM
"Show me Chapter and Verse"
A common phrase by people when a subject of Biblical principle has been taught in which there is disagreement. The Bible is full of principles in which we can govern our lives by as direced through the Holy Spirit. The scripture may not state every single wrong situation that we can place ourselves in but in is clear and inexhaustably filled with principles when applied make for a more fruitful life.
Let me give a few examples:
In our family we have certain rules. Some of these rules in fact most of them cannot be found in scripture to the letter but they do have Biblical principles.
Dating: Our sons are not allowed to car date. They can group date or court with either family but car dating is not allowed. It is a very old fashioned principle to not allow oneself to be placed in a position of of knowing temptation. Is someone sinning by car dating? Well in my family yes because it breaks the rule. My oldest is 21 and my middle is almost 16. We teach our children that their first kiss should be at the marriage alter. We teach our children not to touch a women and that touching of a woman is reserved for marriage. My oldest has been dating His girlfriend for 3 1/2 years and has told me that He has honored this principle and intends to until marriage. It is quite common at our church to witness the first kiss between a man and wife at the pronouncement by our pastor. It is quite a special thing. Where the Chapter and Verse? Well you could make many applications of Scripture but this one comes to mind. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Yes I know what the word touch means so save the explanations. But if my son were to "stumble" in this area and hold her hand:): that is a far cry from stumbling from a rule of "fondling allowed but no fornication" to fornication now isn't it.
Curfew: Curfew in my house is 11:00pm. Only on a special occasion is there an allowance for extension. I want my house settled before 11:00pm. I want to know where everyone is and everyone settled in for the evening. It is based on a Biblical principle. Proverbs 7:6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) But It also is backed with experiencial principles of myself and other believers/teachers/pastors of how to raise young people. "Nothing good happens after midnight".
Many would call me old fashioned, too strict, repressive and a whole host of other things but these things and more were given to me by generations of pastors who preached the Word of God and have the experience of years in counseling many who have chosen a wrong path. My oldest child is now in his third year of seminary planning to become a pastor and My middle son is planning a life on the mission field.
There have been many discussions on this board dealing with issues that although there may be no chapter and verse or there are chapters and verses by the multitude but there are examples that seem to be the exception to the rule where everything worked out ok It still no less makes it a Biblical principle in which we should guide our lives by.
One man who was used greatly by God to create the children of Israel was Jacob. Jacob had a wife named Leah and married her sister named Rachel and then had children by both of them and their two handmaidens Zilpah and Bilhah that became the the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Gen 30 So what gives? Does this mean that because God used him and there is no mention of him being sinful of this in the Bible that this is a pattern that we should use for our lives? Heavens No! The Bible shows us in principle that a Man ought to be married to one Woman and tells us this in scripture.
Now as to the other areas of discussion Biblical Principles should be looked for in every instance - in what we watch, what we wear, whatever we do. We can't just look for chapter and verse. Look for the principle that God is putting across also listen to wise counsel and pastors who teach Biblical principles based on their own counseling experience and Biblical application. Too many times we as Christians want to find the loophole to squeeze in what we want to do instead finding out the of the Heart of the Father. If it says it is not wise to do something in any manner and at any point in time even if it is under the law then we ought to scrutinize it and be prone to error on the side of caution to make sure that we are following the Godly prinicple set forth.
Make your own application.
I Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
A common phrase by people when a subject of Biblical principle has been taught in which there is disagreement. The Bible is full of principles in which we can govern our lives by as direced through the Holy Spirit. The scripture may not state every single wrong situation that we can place ourselves in but in is clear and inexhaustably filled with principles when applied make for a more fruitful life.
Let me give a few examples:
In our family we have certain rules. Some of these rules in fact most of them cannot be found in scripture to the letter but they do have Biblical principles.
Dating: Our sons are not allowed to car date. They can group date or court with either family but car dating is not allowed. It is a very old fashioned principle to not allow oneself to be placed in a position of of knowing temptation. Is someone sinning by car dating? Well in my family yes because it breaks the rule. My oldest is 21 and my middle is almost 16. We teach our children that their first kiss should be at the marriage alter. We teach our children not to touch a women and that touching of a woman is reserved for marriage. My oldest has been dating His girlfriend for 3 1/2 years and has told me that He has honored this principle and intends to until marriage. It is quite common at our church to witness the first kiss between a man and wife at the pronouncement by our pastor. It is quite a special thing. Where the Chapter and Verse? Well you could make many applications of Scripture but this one comes to mind. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Yes I know what the word touch means so save the explanations. But if my son were to "stumble" in this area and hold her hand:): that is a far cry from stumbling from a rule of "fondling allowed but no fornication" to fornication now isn't it.
Curfew: Curfew in my house is 11:00pm. Only on a special occasion is there an allowance for extension. I want my house settled before 11:00pm. I want to know where everyone is and everyone settled in for the evening. It is based on a Biblical principle. Proverbs 7:6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) But It also is backed with experiencial principles of myself and other believers/teachers/pastors of how to raise young people. "Nothing good happens after midnight".
Many would call me old fashioned, too strict, repressive and a whole host of other things but these things and more were given to me by generations of pastors who preached the Word of God and have the experience of years in counseling many who have chosen a wrong path. My oldest child is now in his third year of seminary planning to become a pastor and My middle son is planning a life on the mission field.
There have been many discussions on this board dealing with issues that although there may be no chapter and verse or there are chapters and verses by the multitude but there are examples that seem to be the exception to the rule where everything worked out ok It still no less makes it a Biblical principle in which we should guide our lives by.
One man who was used greatly by God to create the children of Israel was Jacob. Jacob had a wife named Leah and married her sister named Rachel and then had children by both of them and their two handmaidens Zilpah and Bilhah that became the the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Gen 30 So what gives? Does this mean that because God used him and there is no mention of him being sinful of this in the Bible that this is a pattern that we should use for our lives? Heavens No! The Bible shows us in principle that a Man ought to be married to one Woman and tells us this in scripture.
Now as to the other areas of discussion Biblical Principles should be looked for in every instance - in what we watch, what we wear, whatever we do. We can't just look for chapter and verse. Look for the principle that God is putting across also listen to wise counsel and pastors who teach Biblical principles based on their own counseling experience and Biblical application. Too many times we as Christians want to find the loophole to squeeze in what we want to do instead finding out the of the Heart of the Father. If it says it is not wise to do something in any manner and at any point in time even if it is under the law then we ought to scrutinize it and be prone to error on the side of caution to make sure that we are following the Godly prinicple set forth.
Make your own application.
I Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.