Thursday, November 24, 2022

day no. 16,103: don't call it something you're not willing to treat is as

"To be all bark and no bite is a good way to bring the authority of the pulpit into disrepute. Don’t call it something you are not willing to treat it as. But the balance here should be determined exegetically, and not by a pragmatic cowardice." -- Douglas Wilson, Eleven Theses on Birth Control

Do not call something a name more aggressive than you're willing to treat is as and don't make your willingness to treat that way subject to the tenacity of your courage, but rather to the clarity of God's Word. In other words, do not adhere to the principle by being an honest coward. Do not avoid hypocrisy by becoming a pansy.

Additionally, do not borrow your definitions of what you call something from the world. If God calls it, "sin," that is what you must also call it -- even if the world calls it, "enlightened," and you a "troglodyte." And if the world calls something a "sin" that God calls "righteous," you must not subscribe to their dictionary. You must agree with God. Your words must be His Word. His dictations are our definitions.

The word "confess" comes from the Greek word homologeo, meaning "same words." In other words, confessing is using the same words for what's going on as God would use. Our words are derivative and God's are substantive. He is the Word and the origin. Our words must be received from Him and we must refuse the temptation to be editors.

Deuteronomy 4:2
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I am commanding you 

Deuteronomy 12:32
Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take anything away from it.

Proverbs 30:5-6
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18-19
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

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