If It Ain’t Scriptural, It Ain’t Biblical

I remember when I was a younger Christian, it used to drive me crazy when people would correct me. I hated it! But I came to realize something as I matured (I’m still not quite there, and I’m still maturing!): when people corrected me, it wasn’t because they hated me, it’s because they care about my trajectory! It was my point of pride that prevented me from grasping that. Eventually, I was able to take things a bit better, and, even relish the ability to be corrected. One preacher pulled me aside in a matter of opinion and said “Remember, Brian, if it ain’t scriptural, it ain’t Biblical. It might not be wrong, it might be, but we need to check everything against God’s word. Otherwise, our pride gets in the way, and we act as if we know better than Him!”

I’ve come to realize that that issue of pride is a big one. Our feelings, emotions, comfort, traditions and more have a tendency to get in the way of what God’s word says. There are even preachers who OPENLY deny basic Biblical truths or what the Bible says because they don’t agree with it. If I disagree with the Bible I’m wrong. If my feelings, thoughts, or emotions don’t reflect Scripture, I’m wrong. If social norms or my traditions don’t reflect the Living Word of God, I’m wrong! I have to test every thought, action and word against the Scriptures, and then make changes accordingly. I would rather be right toward God than wrong in my mode of thought or action!

1 Corinthians 10

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.