333 Words

333 WORDS….

Many false teachings assailing christianity are skillfully deflected by students of The Word who wisely give priority to the words in red print.

Some impress us with their knowledge of the Old Testament, having spent more time there than in the New. They see analogies and types most of us don’t. Perhaps wisdom would suggest such students of the OT compare their conclusions with those of Christ, for He, too, was a student of the Old.

When a child, Jesus was “filled with wisdom”. At twelve He was found “sitting in the midst of the teachers” who “were astounded at His understanding”. Lord Jesus foiled the pharisees (also students of the OT) by His keener insights into the same books. He quoted from memory many verses from various books, and used Scripture to authenticate Himself as the promised Messiah.

Surely it is folly to ignore this Galilean when trying to figure out the ways of God, be it study of the Old or New.

Though “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God”, and though Christ’s sayings are sometimes difficult to comprehend, the christian who gives more consideration to red words than black will be safer and wiser.

The man embracing a wrong teaching regarding his christianity will make a wrong turn. And a wrong turn results in waste and distress.

In determining the will and ways of God, students should also note that which Lord Jesus did not say, perhaps equally important. For example….

Our Lord said almost nothing about tithing, and never exhorted his disciples or anyone else to tithe. Yet evangelicalism is financed, mostly, by the tithe. The salaried are salaried, mostly, by the tithe. Buildings are built and maintained, mostly, by the tithe. Tithers tithe because they didn’t give sufficient attention to missing red words.

So what did The Teacher say about licenses, and salaries? Nothing.

And layman and clergy and denominations? Nothing.

And evangelicalism itself? Nothing.

What He said and didn’t say should most matter to His own.