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| When God’s Word isn’t practical |
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At a recent men’s prayer and accountability get together, we had just read a passage of scripture containing some spiritual admonitions, when one of our participants suggested that we move on to other things “more practical”. In other words, if scripture doesn’t literally tell us what to do in certain situations in our lives, then somehow it just isn’t practical. That bugged me for a while afterward, because it agitated a thought in me. Do we really segregate scripture, either consciously or subconsciously, into the practical versus the spiritual, or the “useful” versus the latently “informative”?
My first thought was, doesn’t Paul say to Timothy that...
3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
"Complete" and "equipped for every good work". Sounds like it covers everything we need, including the practical!
Philippians 2:13 was also triggered in my mind, that it is “God (who is spirit) who works in you (spiritually, with our spirits, at a spiritual level) to will and to act (Spirit at work translates into action in the physical realm) according to his good purpose (a purpose which has at it’s root spiritual health)”. Wow, how much more practical can you get?
And in Galatians 5 Paul urges us to “live by the Spirit”, then lists the very practical (e.g. the practice of) fruit of the Holy Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control, i.e. the practical outworkings of a spiritual in-working!
There's plenty of scripture showing that what we do in the physical world flows directly from our spiritual outlook. So if I want to get practical with God’s Word I first need to get spiritual with it. Basically that means I simply need to get in God’s Word, as Paul tells Timothy. Through God's Word, he will inform my spirit and prompt me to do as he would have me to do. How much more practical can you get?? |
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ali |
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August 06, 2007 at 8:15am |
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| indeed my friend, God is extremelly practical. "if I have not love, I am nothing." We have to LIVE scripture if we want it to yield fruit in ourlives. Yay for a good post! :D |
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| Thanks Ali! Just had to check and make sure it wasn't just me or something! (and thanks for the star Jennifer!) |
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jam137 |
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August 06, 2007 at 9:24am |
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Mike, you reminded me of Romans 1:16-17, 1 Timothy 4:16. The preaching of the Gospel sounds "impractical" because it's a preaching of what God has done in Christ rather than a set of principles for us to follow. But, the Gospel is not just informational---it is the power of God for salvation. And, all of those seemingly nit-picky doctrinal conflicts over God's teachings (as opposed to conflicts over human philosophies and speculations) can make a critical difference in the lives of many people.
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Deb |
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August 06, 2007 at 9:56am |
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| We can't live God's word if we don't read it. Great post Mike! |
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A true heart issue outspoken. It sounds like your brother there had a very similar problem to the guy I encountered after Harvest Friday night: your guy only wants to read "what's practical", not realizing that most of it always is (and all of it can be), while my guy only reads one specific section because he feels that's the only thing worthwhile to read. Best case scenario: your guy has come to that place because of poor studying in the past, and has now grown somewhat weary of studying when he doesn't think it's doing any good. Weariness and disappointment can be overcome with "good stuff" now, so that would be the more desired reality. Worst case is, he views Bible study the way my guy does, as a means to an end, leaving out the "Middle-Man" so to speak, and as such is missing the whole point of the Scriptures in the first place. The Bible was not intended to be a mechanical process you subject yourself to in order to create a finished product -- though I've heard far too many so-called preachers and pastors refer to it as various forms of just that -- but rather its a common meeting point for two-way communication with the Father, where He can impress upon you more of His heavenly viewpoint and you can responsively ask Him for help in the various areas you newly recognize that you need help in. :) Oh, that we would remember the Bible as the holy communication place that it was meant to be! |
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| "a common meeting point for two-way communication with the Father..." Jason, interesting, very interesting...! |
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Very obvious that the guy had no understanding of the scripture, so he tried to push it off as not important. It is a coping mechanism. It may be he really wants to know & understand, but hasn't been enlightened to the truth. I feel like we, who are stronger in the faith, need to bear up those weaker ones, in love. The scriptures are not meant to cause debate, but to provoke us to good works. We must lovingly correct, or provoke, each other to good works. Provoking one to dig deeper is a great way to correct someone. We must be careful with Gods Sheep. If we are leaders, we have high standards, for we answer to God for every idle word spoken. We do have to be careful to not pick & choose the scripture that seem to fit our current situation. All though we are divinly lead by the Holy Spirit in the scriptures that will pertain to our situations. We just need to not manipulate the scriptures. I guess I just had a quick vision of you talking with this person, & correcting him in love & wisdom, & it being recieved, because it was Holy Spirit led. :)
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| Practical it is, scripture gives me the guidance that applies to everything. Scripture changes me in our fathers time and way. If it doesn't seem practical I just need to remember that I'm just the clay and the potter's in charge of what he makes of me. Although I do a lot of whining along the way. |
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| What, you whine? No way Dave, I can't see it! |
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Sue |
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August 06, 2007 at 9:26pm |
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| Isn't it amazing just how practical God's Word can still be for today even after all of these years? |
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Sue, you bet! It really is a testament to the divine authorship of the Bible, to see how relevant it is for all times, places, cultures, age groups, etc.
I can't read the Bible and NOT find something applicable to my life. Just goes to show how BADLY I need it, haha! ~mike |
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Doesn't scripture feed the spirit? Is a fruit of the spirit patience? It seems that these days more and more of us are wanting more and more extreme entertainment. Maybe if entertainment = relevance, we might struggle with applying scripture. Couldyou imagine if the apostles went to the upper room after Christ's resurection and after a half of an hour decided nothin's happening here and split?
2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 2:5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
But no one was there 'cause they all got bored and went home to play video games. I think many of us just crave to much entertainment. Now that I think about it wasn't that one of the downfalls of the Romans? |
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Linda |
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August 07, 2007 at 9:22am |
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| Really excellent post, Mike. God is beautiful for every situation. Thanks. <>< |
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Dave, that hunger you speak of is the hunger for amusement. Interesting word, amusement. Comes from "a-", meaning without, and "-muse", meaning to think. Therefore amusement is time spent without thinking. OUCH!!
Linda, thank you for your affirmation sister! God bless you! ~mike |
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JayKTX |
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August 07, 2007 at 9:42am |
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This post is a great reminder to us of the power of God at work in us through his word if we approach it with receptive hearts. Thanks, Mike. The comments and dialogue afterwards are also reinforcing. Stars to everyone! |
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Thanks Jay! Great idea, stars for everyone!  |
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Great words here, Mike.
It may be explained that people want to do God's will but they want to do it their way, which is to them a practical and more understandable way to do the things of God.
Remaining to live the life of God through the means of the flesh (self-powered; self-willed) rather than by the Spirit, is for many a practical way of life.
It seens so natual and so practical to examine life by how we see, hear, feel, taste and touch it. It seems so unnatual for many to trust and wait and depend on God to guide us through life.
We walk by faith not by sight is the supernature workings that only God does in each of us who love Him and trust in Him to fulfill the life of Christ in us.
Great Blog, Mike.
--JR |
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Jen |
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August 07, 2007 at 6:36pm |
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| Good thoughts, Mike. My experience has been that the more I get into the Scriptures the more I realize how very practical they are! The first definition in my Webster's dictionary for the word practical is: of or obtained through practice or action. What a great filter to run Scripture through! I can take every word of God's and ask: "What practice or action can I apply in my life to this Word?" If what I am reading seems to have no "practical" application, I then get the joy of meditating on that Word in hopes of illumination. :-) Either way, it's all good! |
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Thank you JR, love your thoughts as always! Yes, we want to live sensually (by the 5 senses), don't we? We want to "see" Jesus, "hear" God, "feel" the Holy Spirit, etc. But that is how we interact with and experience the world around us, so it's difficult to get out of that mode. Therefore when scripture doesn't tell us exactly what to do with our hands and feet and mouths, it can seem foreign to us, a little uncomfortable. Meditation on God's Word is the cure for that! (as Jen points out as well!)... Thanks for the comment Jen, it's wonderful to hear from you.
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| Excellent post and discussion, 2 days later there's still so much to ponder. |
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Hey there Mike, and all saints..I have been considering lately just how "subjective" living the Christian life really is. We all see scripture through the eyes of our environment (teachings) and experiences. That to me is very subjective. It amazes me how the Spirit can take a passage and personally apply it to our lives. Now that's what I call practical!
The problem comes when we (in the body of Christ), judge or discount when that application does not fit our concept. This is the very reason I believe our "fellership," oneness with another canNOT be dependent on our interpretation, experience or application of scripture.
God, by His Spirit will quicken the same verse personally to us according to where we are at that moment in our walk (it may or may not ever be applied that way again). Our oneness is in His Spirit (that is very objective). However the living word of God applies that objective truth to us personally in whatever situation we are in at that moment. How much more practical and intimate can that be?!! |
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| Amen, Charlie. Loved reading your observations. I always find God's use of scripture in our lives so amazing. He IS God! Thanks for posting! ~mike |
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