Subject: What unmarried sexual acts are sinful? |
Bible Note: I wish you could hear my voice and the desire to share with a heart of truth. I am not afraid of doctrine as rightly handling the spoken Word of God is of extreme importance as it reveals God to us. However, neither am I afraid of "philosophy" if it is a sincere desire to know the truth and not a mere propounding of man's thoughts. There is a difference in doctrine and truth as truth is found in the person of Truth, Jesus Christ. Now doctrine, which is man's understanding of the objective and subjective truth of Christ is not that very truth itself but our understanding. Unless we realize this distinction between our understanding and the essence of truth itself (Himself) we run the risk of confusing our doctrine with His reality. Christ said, "You search the scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life." John 5:39f Christ confronted the Pharisees in that they had doctrine, but life is in the person of Christ who was right before them. Never confuse doctrine with Christ. Christ is always consistent and true to scripture which is infallible and always true, but our understanding and perception is quite fallible and can be false or incomplete. We must submit our own understanding to the truth and guidance of the Holy Spirit (now here is where many evangelicals run scared)who guides in truth and gives illumination and understanding--always consistent with the person and Word of Christ. Every church era has error--from the centrality of the pope to the deification of doctrine, let us know the reality of both objective and subjective truth which must (when true) be consistent and are both necessary, but neither is sufficient. |