Most, if not all, of the current issues in the Church today can be traced to our lack of understanding or belief in the authority of scripture. Further, many don’t even pretend that scripture carries authority in their lives anymore. It doesn’t. Rather, many have an amalgamation of beliefs, often not based in or on scripture, that govern their lives, leaders, and legacy. My question: What ever happened to the authority of scripture in the Church? That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.
“Using scripture to justify what we do isn’t the same as applying scripture in our lives. “—Scott Wallis
It seems, in our rush to fill the void created by the absence of godly leadership, we have cultivated a leadership base that fails to apply the authority of scripture to their lives or ministries. Rather than submitting to God’s Word, the leaders we have hit the delete button on things in scripture they don’t like. For example, recently, as different leaders are vilified on social media, I have to wonder: have the ones banging their social media drums considered scripture in what they’re doing?
How many today who claim to be acting scripturally are operating under the wrong spirit because they don’t know the Word of God. The Word of God isn’t only letter; it’s also Spirit. Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63 NKJV. My question: Are we evaluating what we’re doing by that standard? Is what we speak Spirit and does it convey life. Sadly, many who know some of what the scripture says, never think about the effect of what they’re saying. Why? Self-centeredness. The person they are speaking to is themselves not those coming for help.
The scriptures, when rightly divided, bring health and healing. They cause blessing and life to spring forth. That’s what happens when mature prophets prophesy. They correctly handle scripture and the words of the Spirit to communicate life, health, peace, and blessing. If that doesn’t happen when someone is prophesying, teaching, ministering, or otherwise speaking the Word of God, then they’re likely speaking, not for God and the Spirit, but for their own flesh under their own authority with their own motivation, which is likely wrong, like the Apostles James and John, who Jesus rebuked for being of the wrong spirit.
That brings me back to the point of my post. Do we truly know God’s Word? Are we really walking in the Spirit, as we are called to do? Or are we just giving God (and others) lip service? Yes, we talk a good game, but when it comes to scoring points for the team, we have zero goals or points on our scoreboard for God’s kingdom. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do — bear fruit? I think we’re more fruity than fruitful. And that’s across the denominational and non-denominational spectrum. I have a word for the Church. It’s not a pretty word. It’s not a glitzy or glamorous word. It’s not a word about your job, business, new home, or new car. Rather, I have one word for the Church today — Repent!
I think we need to hear that word more. And we need to hear about another word today that’s similar to the word I just shared and goes with it — Sin. Yes, on those words the balance of Christianity and the world hangs. Without them, we gradually slide into hell. Last question: Have you looked — I mean really looked — at our world or the Church today? If so, then you know and can see the slide that we are quickly sliding into hell. And only the Church and preachers can stop that slide. To do that, we need to return to the authority of scripture — truly return and not just give God lip service.
Let us pray!
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