Has anyone ever said this about you ?"He doesn't practice what he preaches"? I suppose we all have been accused of that at one time or another. The thing that is so troubling about this
particular accusation is that it's true. We may be accused of 1001 things that are completely untrue. But this is not one of them. It is true. We don't always practice what we preach. The Bible that we preach is a revelation of a perfect God in whom is" no darkness at all"(1Jn.1:5). The effects of the fall have left us incapable (in this life at least) of perfect obedience to the perfect precepts and commands of Holy Scripture. Our problem in this regard is that although our fallen natures have not been irradicated by the new birth, we are called upon to declare glorious truths and lofty concepts. And since there is little or no impediment to our talking better than we live, we become guilty as charged.
Though we don't always practice what we preach, we do always practice what we believe. What we really believe always comes through in our actions. A correct understanding of God and His attributes will cause me to live in a way that is consistent with that understanding. Likewise, a faulty conception of God will allow me to live far below the Scriptural standard.
This is why the study of theology is so important. Wrong thinking leads to wrong living and wrong living leads to a confrontation with a holy God.
This is also why we, as pastors should be as passionate about the preparation of our sermons as we desire to be in their delivery. We must expound the scriptures to our people tirelessly so that they may think rightly about God. Paul's words to Timothy were "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."(2Tim.4:2)
Preach the Word, brethren. It will have a life - changing effect on it's hearers. "And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."(2Tim.3:15)
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9 comments:
Yep.
I found myself quite handicapped in ministry during the early years because of guilt. How could I tell others what to do if I didn't have it all together? It was while reading Colossians 2 that I had the "Eureka" moment and realized that I didn't measure up but that Christ did! I knew that, but I didn't know that, know what I mean?
Terry
Jeremy,
Yep.
Terry,
Thank God, we are accepted in Christ and all the good stuff He did has been imputed to our account.
Though we don't always practice what we preach, we do always practice what we believe.
This is a very powerful statement. I would say that I enjoyed this post, but I was under too much conviction to enjoy it. I'll say that I appreciate it, instead.
Very true and very good post!
So very true. I think this is why Jesus speaks of God's Word sanctifying us. What we really believe is integral to what we do and do not do. Truth and doctrine really do matter. Knowing Jesus and believing what God says to us are inseparable.
I love your turn of phrase quoted in Gordon Cloud's comment above.
Trinitarian Don,
Thanks for the visit, the comment, and the link. I tried to write this at your blog, but my comment was eaten by BLOGGER BUGGERS.
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