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matters.
But, I am sure that you have noticed, not everything is so cut and dried as these. And it is the more difficult questions upon which many differences between Christians arise.
The other approach to understanding the Scriptures is much more cautious than the first. Instead of asking for proof that an activity is wrong, it says, "Prove that it is right." See the difference? One approach says,"Prove that I am wrong" while the other says "I must prove that I am right."
These two approaches will likely arrive at similar conclusions regarding the obvious things taught in Scripture, but are going to be butting heads in the more complex areas.
Which approach does the Lord want us to take? He has told us through the apostle Paul: "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect." (Romans12:1,2).
Being Acceptable to God
"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1).
The most important aspect of our service to God is the answer to the question, "Does God find what I do acceptable?" If not, then my worship is vain. Many seem to think that He is pleased with just about anything as long as its pretty. It is not so that "If I like it, then so must God." (Proverbs16: 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
(Isaiah 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.).
True service and devotion to God involves replacing our wills with His. This is the "living sacrifice" of this verse.
When Understanding Becomes Difficult
"...acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (Romans12:1b).
But not everything is as readily understood as the basics. The Bible affirms that this is so. Reaching the point where our discernment is mature takes time; its not something we are "born with" - or even "born again with." (Hebrews 5: 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. 12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.14 But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.;
1 Peter 22 as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;;
2 Peter 1: 5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.).
Also, it is the more complex issues where the false teacher will often base his false doctrines. Peter, in writing about some of the deeper issues that Paul had written about, said, "...in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.).
Those who take the "Prove I'm wrong" approach are much more susceptible to being mislead than those who take the "Prove it is right" approach as taught in our text. If we add to this the additional caution of "when in doubt, don't" (Romans 14:20 Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.21 It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.22 The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.23 But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.) then we will be on safe ground.
Nonconformity
"And do not be conformed to this world..." (Romans 12:2a).
It is definitely not a good approach to discovering the truth of how God wants us to be by looking at the world. When the world demands that we conform to its always changing standards, we choose instead to live by a higher standard. "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29). The standards of the world include religious teachings. Just because something goes under the name of "religion" does not mean that it is of God. Cults,human religious creeds and practices, and carnal social/political agendas are a part of the world. The Word of Christ tells us not to submit to such... that these are merely the commandments of men, "self-made religion" is the term the Bible uses (Colossians 2: 20 If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch 22 (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.).
The teaching of these precepts renders our service of God vain (Matthew 15: 9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.). The popularity (or lack thereof) of a belief or practice says not one thing about whether it is acceptable unto God.
Transformed
"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2b).
When a person becomes a Christian, it is time for a change. The Bible has many ways to express this change. It is referred to as "being born again" and "becoming a new creature" and "walking in newness of life" and "putting on the new self" and "being raised up" (John 3:2-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 2:6).
This change involves things which we say and do and are observable, but the source of the change comes from within. It takes place within the heart, or mind. When the mind is "renewed" then the outward changes occur.
What is it that "renews" the mind? It is the "will of the Lord." It is in the effect the revealed will of the Lord has upon the yielding heart. It is in the answer "Here I am" to God's call issued through the gospel. It is through the written revelation that we can know God's will, for it is the words of the Scriptures through which God has expressed His mind to us. The "natural man" may not accept them, but the one who is spiritual will
(1 Corinthians 2:10-16. cf 2 Thessalonians 2:14,15).
Proving What The Will of The Lord Is
"...that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect."
(Romans 12:2c).
It is up to us to "prove what is right." The Scriptures also put it this way: "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21,23).
In using this approach, as opposed to the "Prove its wrong" approach, we will go a long way toward a clearer understanding of what God expects of us.We will not be as likely to be confused by "controversial questions and disputes about words" because we have opted instead to make sure that our practice and teaching "agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:3,4).
When we take this approach, we can easily see what, for example, the practice of the New Testament church of partaking of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week tells us (Acts 20:7). By this Scriptural example, it can be proven the right thing to do. But one cannot prove that it is right for the church to observe this memorial on, say, Friday. If someone challenges, "Prove it is wrong to do so." I would simply issue the Lord's challenge; "Prove it is right."
I can scripturally "Prove it is right" on the first day of the week to gather into a common treasury funds to finance the work God gave the church to do. These funds are to come from the members of the congregation and are to be given freely and cheerfully according to each ones own determination and ability (1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 9:7). If someone says,"Well, prove it is wrong to have a church raffle on Tuesday." or "Bingo on Sunday" or "A church garage sale" and so forth, I would simply urge them to take their Bible and do what our text says, "Prove that it is right to do so." Since God's ways are not our ways, this is certainly the best course to follow!
" ...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect."(Romans 12:2).
(1 Timothy 6: 3 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,)
By Jon Quinn Contact the Writer: http://www.keynet.net/~jwquinn/
