I was just reading an interesting article in a homeschool magazine today. The author mad a couple of comments that I thought I'd share with you. First, let me preface this by saying that some may say that I am completely anti-commentary, anti-concordance, anti-audio, anti-study bible, anti everything that is not the bible. I am going to go on record by saying this is not the case-entirely. Some of it is true, as I will explain.
The comments the author of the article were relating to bible study, and since we are learning how to study the bible for ourselves, I thought they were rather timely. The first comment made was that , "I have never been content to set my bible aside, grab some commentary and take someone else's word for what God has to say...".
The author went on, "I don't want to learn His truth 'through the grapevine'...I don't want to have a hear-say religion that goes something like this, 'Matthew Henry said that Jesus said that John said...', I am more inclined to say, 'LORD you spoke some amazing truths to those men, way back when, let me sit here with you awhile and listen to Your heart as well as your Words..."
Very well chosen statements and very timely. You see, this is my heart. All too often, believers take the "gospel" written by man over the Gospel written by God. We tend to put our bibles aside and take another man's word for it, so to speak. My friends, this ought not so to be. The writings by man have done more to damage and and cause division than they have helped. It has happened in our church, recently.
Are those things listed bad and not to be fooled with? No, not at all. Commentaries and the like should be taken with the same scrutiny as any thing else you might read. We are to be "Berean" about the teachings of man. The only way you can be sure of your favorite author's opinions and insights, is to weigh them against scripture. Go ahead and use them, just know that they were written by man, not God.
For example, I like Michael Pearl a great deal. I trust him and what he teaches. This trust is only because I know what he studies and how he studies and teaches. I have listened to him for years and found the he is right much of the time, because I have weighed it with scripture. Does this mean I agree with everything he says? Of course not. But, nine time out of ten, I do.
As we traverse the scriptures, learning about God, through our own study, let us seek to listen to the heart of God and to His words. When we pray, let us pray the He rules the day and our study. I promise that you will be enlightened and richly blessed. I am looking forward to applying this lesson to my own study, as well. Hey, I'm not perfect, but God is working on that.
Scott
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2 comments:
I am in complete agreement. Almost every week I remind our Ladies Bible study group that content from a commentary, book, DVD or even our study workbook is from that person's perspective and MUST not be accepted as fact. These can be used as aids to understanding the subject but must always be compared to and aligned with scripture. Thank you for you insight on this topic of inductive Bible study... may it lead to a thirst for more study of God's word.
Just found your site and think I am going to enjoy it. I like the emphasis on Bible study. I use a lot of helps in Bible study, but they must not be allowed to skew the meaning of the text.
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