Subject: Salvation Poll |
Bible Note: Hi, fmp... Labels were invented by God (Genesis 1:5), even before there were humans. The Bible is full of labels -- in grammar we call them nouns. God uses them. Christ uses them. The Holy Spirit uses them. The Three Persons even use them for one another. The prophets used them. Angels used them. The apostles used them. The church used them for over twenty centuries. God has specifically chosen language as the means of communication, the mechanism by which He has revealed Himself to us. This is why we call the Bible His Word (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:1). If we are to be judged for every idle word we utter (Matthew 12:36); if we are to exhort one another (1 Corinthians 14:31); if we are to correct one another (Proverbs 27:5); if we are to encourage one another (Ephesians 4:29); if we are to overcome by our testimony (Revelation 12:11); why not use language as skillful and as carefully as we are able? Why be afraid of it or disdain it? You said you liked the word doctrine. You even gave it a good definition. Doctrine means instruction. Imagine embracing sound doctrine without labels. Imagine making any sense of the Bible after throwing away the labels. (cf 2 Timothy 4:1-3) Pretty silly, huh? You asked if I would like to be labeled: I hope that I have done so as well as I am able (see my profile). I am a Jewish convert to Christianity -- see all those labels? Before God saved me, I was lost (three more labels). When He saved me, I became a Christian. After a significant amount of Bible study: I am Reformed, a Monergist, a Paleo-Orthodox Calvinist, a Particular (Historic) Baptist. All of these words are labels, and I will happily define them, explain them, use them, own them, and apply them. So I will be careful in the future, when talking to you and Ed at least, to use some other word than theology -- since you will be thinking one thing and I will be thinking another. You will also be able to understand if you read any of my other posts what I mean when I say theology. Cool! Labels are awfully handy things. In Him, Doc |