If we live in the Spirit of the Lord
Then let’s walk according to His Word
You and I can walk in love and truth
Live so they see
Our words and deeds agree
If we live in the Spirit of the Lord
Then let’s walk according to His Word
You and I can walk in love and truth
Walk in the light
‘Cause He is in the light
If we live in the Spirit of the Lord
Then let’s walk according to His Word
You and I can walk in love and truth
You say you do
Does your life prove you’re true?
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tradition and Truth (or, "Observance of Days, Times, and Seasons, Become Common. Contrasted with Truth")
Today, I hear it more and more -- I hear it in Christian Club at school, I see it in the lives of my friends and acquaintances, I see it in the church -- a following after traditions and celebrations, an observing of this day or that day, seasons that Christians make a special effort to set apart.
In the 1940s, A. W. Tozer said “From this bondage reformers and puritans and mystics have laboured to free us. Today, the trend in conservative circles is back toward that bondage again. It is said that a horse, after it has been led out of a burning building, will sometimes, by a strange obstinacy, break loose from its rescuer and dash back into the building again to perish in the flame. By some such stubborn tendency toward error, fundamentalism in our day is moving back toward spiritual slavery. The observation of days and times is becoming more and more prominent among us. “Lent” and “holy week” and “good” Friday are words heard more and more frequently upon the lips of gospel Christians.” [One might easily add “christmas” and “advent” to this list.]
How much more enslaved to tradition are we today? Tozer saw what he saw sixty years ago – now, we have sixty more years of life behind us, and now those who grew up observing times and seasons are not mere children, but the pre-eminent people in the church. What do we have today? Are we not more entrenched in our observances than ever before?
I hate tradition. I hate tradition, because, even though it often is begun with a real purpose (as a means to accomplishing an end), it often ends up controlling our lives – the tradition itself becomes an end in itself – it usurps the value and the authority of the initial reason it even exists!
“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
– Amos 5:21-24
Traditions should only exist to serve a purpose greater than themselves. If they do not plainly serve that purpose, they cease to be useful. In fact, they become worse than useless – they shackle the mind and begin to enslave, yes, enslave our will, so that we no longer live or fight for a goal or purpose that is valuable in and of itself, but we begin to fight for the tradition. This is horror of the greatest magnitude. To zealously go into battle for something that has no intrinsic value is utterly ridiculous.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
– Colossians 2:8
The only thing that is of real intrinsic value for any intellectual life activity is truth. At the root of all conflict, of all science, of all things worth fighting for, you will find truth. It is the one thing worth dying for. “I’m right and you’re wrong” we say as individuals. We say it as nations too: “you can’t treat people that way – it’s not decent, it’s not human – it’s not right!”
If truth is worth dying for, if it is worth fighting for, it is certainly worth living for! That is why I am here – to tell you, if you haven’t realized it already; to drive it home to you, if you’ve been thinking about it; and to encourage you, if you know it already – if truth is not the ruling principle in your life, you will end your life with nothing of any real value to you.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
– Proverbs 4:7
Thus, our most important pursuit in life is to know and act on truth; to live our lives by it. Anything less is worse than useless. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" True freedom is found only in Truth.
"Be a lover of truth. Let neither majority nor authority be more important to you than truth."
– Dennis Carrol
The only real authority is derived from truth. Truth is not determined by popular vote, for it remains the same whether or not the whole world refuses to acknowledge it. Truth is not determined by authority, by the word of a leader, for many is the leader who has led through falsehood and deception.
"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."
– Proverbs 23:23
Truth of supreme importance, and because of its importance, our lives must be led by his guide. Truth does us no good if we know it and yet ignore it through our actions. We must know it and live by it. "The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." (Proverbs 12:19) If you settle for less than truth in your life, in your motives, in your actions, your life is wasted. "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
In the 1940s, A. W. Tozer said “From this bondage reformers and puritans and mystics have laboured to free us. Today, the trend in conservative circles is back toward that bondage again. It is said that a horse, after it has been led out of a burning building, will sometimes, by a strange obstinacy, break loose from its rescuer and dash back into the building again to perish in the flame. By some such stubborn tendency toward error, fundamentalism in our day is moving back toward spiritual slavery. The observation of days and times is becoming more and more prominent among us. “Lent” and “holy week” and “good” Friday are words heard more and more frequently upon the lips of gospel Christians.” [One might easily add “christmas” and “advent” to this list.]
How much more enslaved to tradition are we today? Tozer saw what he saw sixty years ago – now, we have sixty more years of life behind us, and now those who grew up observing times and seasons are not mere children, but the pre-eminent people in the church. What do we have today? Are we not more entrenched in our observances than ever before?
I hate tradition. I hate tradition, because, even though it often is begun with a real purpose (as a means to accomplishing an end), it often ends up controlling our lives – the tradition itself becomes an end in itself – it usurps the value and the authority of the initial reason it even exists!
“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
– Amos 5:21-24
Traditions should only exist to serve a purpose greater than themselves. If they do not plainly serve that purpose, they cease to be useful. In fact, they become worse than useless – they shackle the mind and begin to enslave, yes, enslave our will, so that we no longer live or fight for a goal or purpose that is valuable in and of itself, but we begin to fight for the tradition. This is horror of the greatest magnitude. To zealously go into battle for something that has no intrinsic value is utterly ridiculous.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
– Colossians 2:8
The only thing that is of real intrinsic value for any intellectual life activity is truth. At the root of all conflict, of all science, of all things worth fighting for, you will find truth. It is the one thing worth dying for. “I’m right and you’re wrong” we say as individuals. We say it as nations too: “you can’t treat people that way – it’s not decent, it’s not human – it’s not right!”
If truth is worth dying for, if it is worth fighting for, it is certainly worth living for! That is why I am here – to tell you, if you haven’t realized it already; to drive it home to you, if you’ve been thinking about it; and to encourage you, if you know it already – if truth is not the ruling principle in your life, you will end your life with nothing of any real value to you.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
– Proverbs 4:7
Thus, our most important pursuit in life is to know and act on truth; to live our lives by it. Anything less is worse than useless. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" True freedom is found only in Truth.
"Be a lover of truth. Let neither majority nor authority be more important to you than truth."
– Dennis Carrol
The only real authority is derived from truth. Truth is not determined by popular vote, for it remains the same whether or not the whole world refuses to acknowledge it. Truth is not determined by authority, by the word of a leader, for many is the leader who has led through falsehood and deception.
"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."
– Proverbs 23:23
Truth of supreme importance, and because of its importance, our lives must be led by his guide. Truth does us no good if we know it and yet ignore it through our actions. We must know it and live by it. "The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." (Proverbs 12:19) If you settle for less than truth in your life, in your motives, in your actions, your life is wasted. "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Broken Hearted Warrior
There stands the soldier of truth. At his feet lies his foe, ever elusive, deceptive, but now with nowhere to hide. The soldier's sword glimmers in his hand, his feet firmly planted and his banner held high, as he gazes round the battlefield. His heart fills with sorrow as he sees the innocent dead, the wounded and dying, all who have perished in the struggle.
"You've killed them." The liar says, as he yet cowers on the ground. "There, the blood is still wet on your sword -- you, in your rash zeal for this 'truth,' you've destroyed these, and look at the others...at him, he has deserted because of you -- this pain needs to stop. Come, let's stop the hurting, stop breaking relationships. Is it really such an enormity? It should never have come to this; should we not stop now, while there is yet time?"
Can such an one ever rest from guile and subtilty in his contriving to cover his sin of former time with smooth words and a twisted truth? Ah, it is a hard thing -- nigh impossible.
"No." The soldier says softly, as his eyes well with tears. "For me to lay down my sword and banner, and allow you to stand is to betray my King and His trust in me, to betray my brotherhood, and to exalt the very enemy of the crown and throne and sceptre of the Kingdom for which I stand."
His voice a little stronger, "The blood of all these people may drip from the sword of truth, but it is on your hands, and the King will require it of you...in full."
...
Why, why must the victory of truth stand atop the graves of honest men, women, and children? Why must the triumph of truth come at the cost of honest and innocent souls?
"You've killed them." The liar says, as he yet cowers on the ground. "There, the blood is still wet on your sword -- you, in your rash zeal for this 'truth,' you've destroyed these, and look at the others...at him, he has deserted because of you -- this pain needs to stop. Come, let's stop the hurting, stop breaking relationships. Is it really such an enormity? It should never have come to this; should we not stop now, while there is yet time?"
Can such an one ever rest from guile and subtilty in his contriving to cover his sin of former time with smooth words and a twisted truth? Ah, it is a hard thing -- nigh impossible.
"No." The soldier says softly, as his eyes well with tears. "For me to lay down my sword and banner, and allow you to stand is to betray my King and His trust in me, to betray my brotherhood, and to exalt the very enemy of the crown and throne and sceptre of the Kingdom for which I stand."
His voice a little stronger, "The blood of all these people may drip from the sword of truth, but it is on your hands, and the King will require it of you...in full."
...
Why, why must the victory of truth stand atop the graves of honest men, women, and children? Why must the triumph of truth come at the cost of honest and innocent souls?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Angry Young Men
Angry Young Men
By Randy Stonehill
“He wants some angry young men
Ones who can't be bought
Ones who will not run from a fight
Ones who speak the truth whether it's popular or not
Ones who'd give up anything to walk in His light
Chorus:
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for some angry young men
He wants some angry young men
With fire in their eyes
Ones who understand what Jesus gave
Ones who have grown weary of the world and all its lies
Ones who won't forget they've been delivered from the grave
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll come back for the angry young men
Yes He will
Bridge:
They say if you don't laugh you cry
I say if you don't live you die
Well, well, the road to hell is paved with some impressive alibis
But unless you thirst for Jesus first
Man, heaven will pass you by (uh huh)
Heaven will pass you by
You'll be tempted, tried and tested
There'll be wars the devil wins
But God's love is not a license to lie there in your sins
He understands the human heart
His mercy is complete
But His grace was not intended
As a place to wipe your feet
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for some angry, angry men
He wants some angry young men
Who love the Lord they serve
Ones who'll do much more than make a speech
Ones who'll act their faith out with the passion it deserves
'Cause if we cannot live it – tell me, who are we to preach?
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll come back for the angry young men
Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for the angry young men
He'll be looking for the angry young men
Where’s the angry men?
Yes He will,
He’ll be lookin’
Yes He will
Hey!
Where’s the angry men?”
_________________________________________
An “angry young man.” Yes, this is what I want to be. In fact, I’ll ask you – am I:
One who can't be bought?
One who will not run from a fight?
One who’ll speak the truth whether it's popular or not?
One who'd give up anything to walk in His light?
One with fire in my eyes?
One who understands what Jesus gave?
One who has grown weary of the world and all its lies?
One who won't forget he’s been delivered from the grave?
One who thirsts for Jesus first?
One who loves the Lord he serves?
One who'll do much more than make a speech?
One who'll act his faith out with the passion it deserves?
One who lives it?
Tell me – am I one to preach?
…...Are you?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
My "Statement of Ethics"
Ethics are, simply put, "doing what is right." What is right? "Right," according to the dictionary, is the state of being in conformity to facts or truth; thus, any ability to "do what is right" implies that there is a truth to conform to, and that that truth is applicable to the situation. I believe (based on evidence) that ethics have an absolute basis, not changing according to my culture or individual sentivities. This absolute is Jesus Christ - for He is the Word of God - He is the way, the Truth, and the life.
My values are derived from what I know to be true - thus, my highest value is that Truth is more important to me than anything else, including my life. For several reasons I have found the Bible to be the epitome of truth, not only true as a whole, but true in all of its parts as well -- literally, the word of God, given to man. Because I am dedicated to Truth, I choose to abide by the principles and laws given in the Bible, which are, in essence, two:
My values are derived from what I know to be true - thus, my highest value is that Truth is more important to me than anything else, including my life. For several reasons I have found the Bible to be the epitome of truth, not only true as a whole, but true in all of its parts as well -- literally, the word of God, given to man. Because I am dedicated to Truth, I choose to abide by the principles and laws given in the Bible, which are, in essence, two:
- "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
Thus, my mission in life is to carry out this edict. I show this by obeying the commands given by God.
- "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself..."
"...On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." This means that all of the other descriptors of righteous living are merely attributes of this one motive -- benevolence -- service to God and my neighbour. Integrity, honesty, loyalty, self-denial, work-ethic, patience, meekness, etc. are all manifestations of my obedience to this second command.
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