What a powerful reminder below, from the pen of John Wycliffe, to “prove all things according to the Word of God.” All matters of life and godliness ordered according to His truth (2 Peter 1:3-4); not according to our feelings, desires or whims. No genuine Christian would dispute that claim, would they? But yet in the current spiritual climate in evangelicalism we find well-meaning believers abandoning this simple axiomatic truth of the sufficiency and authority of God’s Word (cp, Psalm 19:7-10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Whether it be an issue in the culture, politics, family, one of church polity, worship, missions, music, personal relationships, etc., may our hearts, minds and consciences be bound to the eternal Word of our Lord. May they not be bound to what some call “the flavor of Scripture”; or bound not to what I want it to mean to suit my own fancy or desires; but bound to what in reality it is actually saying. There is no spiritual authority afforded any pastor, eldership, congregation or individual believer in the Lord outside of the authority of the Word of God.
May we be like Jeremiah, beloved, finding “the joy and rejoicing of our hearts” in the immutable truths of God’s Word (cf, Jer. 15:16).
Grace and peace to you,
Steve
Psalm 119:1-9
-Psalm 119:32
The true Christian was intended by Christ to prove all things by the Word of God, all churches, all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices. These are His marching orders. Prove all by the Word of God; measure all by the measure of the Bible; compare all with the standard of the Bible; weigh all in the balances of the Bible; examine all by the light of the Bible; test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which can abide the fire of the Bible, receive hold, believe, and obey. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. This is the flag which He nailed to the mast. May it never be lowered!
A church which does not honor the Bible is as useless as a body without life, or a steam engine without fire. A minister who does not honor the Bible is as useless as a soldier without arms, a builder without tools, a pilot without compass, or a messenger without tidings. Stand fast on old principles. Do not forsake the old paths. Let nothing tempt you to believe that multiplication of forms and ceremonies, constant reading of liturgical services, or frequent communions, will ever do so much good to souls as the powerful, fiery, fervent preaching of God’s Word. If men want to do good to the multitude, if they want to reach their hearts and consciences, they must attack them through their ears; they must blow the trumpet of the everlasting Gospel loud and long; they must preach the Word.
