Head Wound

Simply standing adamantly for something the Bible admonishes us to receive as children of God does not necessarily mean we have been purified in the Spirit of it. The fruit of our tree is the final judgment upon us, not our knowledge of that tree.

As we are quick to point out the discrepancies of others, let's first consider the plank we have impaled in our own eye.

Philosophical Hypocrisy

Human reasoning alone may appear to answer Biblical issues in close context, but broadly, its theology will be found inconsistent in satisfying the questions yet to be considered. Even if we may be confident in one dynamic of our Christian walk, the blinders on our spiritual understanding prompts the Holy Spirit to challenge the sufficiency of that single wisdom regarding other areas we have yet to be enlightened to.

If we fail to embrace this challenge, our growth will remain stunted and are therefore unable to establish a sound theological foundation that is purely sanctified and intimately relational with God. We are then left to rationalize God's truths through the lens of our humanity, burdening ourselves and others with an inconsistent mixture of theology and philosophy. Our wisdom thus remains hypocritical.

It may be asked, why wouldn't anyone who has been enlightened by the Spirit continue to press in for the greater understanding that comes from God alone? The answer is this: it comes with the realization of having to surrender our mind's covetous desire to understand and plan its own way. This is the stumbling block set before all.

PJR

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones."
(Proverbs 3:5-8)

Idle Words

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,"
(Matthew 12:36)

Every word we speak is drawn from the heart within, revealing its true spiritual condition. As Christians, our idle words express those incessant realms of our own heart's desires that certainly reveal the unsanctified areas of our lives. If the devotion of our efforts, which should be asking God for His Spirit, instead professses more of an allegiance to the world, then our conversations will become as tasteless salt, a seasoning to no one. (Matthew 5:13) We should be bearing the life of the Holy Spirit that dwells within, not quenching it with idle talk.

PJR

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33)