The Firmest Foundation
How can we know what is right and what is wrong? There are so many conflicting ideas, and one becomes confused. Is there really any rule to go by?
The Bible says: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God." I think before one can know what is right and wrong, he must first align himself with God. Only then, is he in a position to do right.
J. Wilbur Chapman once said: "The rule that governs my life is this: Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it."
When I have a problem of deciding right from wrong I always give it three tests. First, I give it the common-sense test, and ask if it is reasonable. Then, I give it the prayer test. I ask God if it is good and edifying. Then, I give it the Scripture test. I see if the Bible has anything to say for or against it. Then, I may add a fourth; the conscience test. But the most important thing is to follow Jesus' suggestion: "If any man wills to do his will he shall know."
What Christian grace in my heart can make me a better Christian and a better witness for Christ?
The greatest Christian grace is love; not the sentimental feeling often called love today but that deep regard for the welfare of others which will prompt us to help them when they need help; to be sympathetic when sympathy is needed; to make us say kind things about people instead of being critical; to make us long to win them to Christ if they are not Christians. Love is at the very heart of everything which comes from God, for He is love. It was love which prompted the sending of His Son into the world to die for our sins. It is love which is mentioned first when the Apostle Paul enumerates the fruits of the Spirit. It is love which must characterize our attitude to God and man, if we are to fulfill His law. In Matthew 22:37-38 we read: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Following this, Christ said: "The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." After that, Christ tells us: "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." It is God's love which should constrain us. The Bible says: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation of our sins." If you have a loving heart, you will bear fruitful witness for Christ.
I have recently begun to read the New Testament. Now I am told that the church existed before the New Testament, and therefore is in possession of more authority than the Bible itself. Can you explain this problem to me so that I can study with restored confidence?
Historically, the church was in existence before the New Testament. That does not place it in authority above it, for you will notice that the writers always appeal to the existing Old Testament as authority. Also, you will notice that God approved the genuineness of the work and the dependability of the writer, by miraculous demonstration and by general consent of the body of believers in every place. The books we call canonical were able by the weight of their contents to separate themselves from all spurious and pseudo books. The evidence is in the books themselves, not alone because of their historical accuracy and approval, but on the basis of the power of their combined message, and the vitality they exhibit in every generation causes this work to commend itself to you as being superior to continuing organizations or conflicting voices in any age. Its power to transform lives is its best apologetic.
I find it helpful to read my Bible in the train on my way to work each morning. Some of my friends tell me I ought not to do this, as it is flaunting my religion in the face of others and probably makes them feel uncomfortable. What do you advise?
If I were you I would not worry too much about what other people say or think in a matter of this kind. If you bother unduly about the opinions of others you will never do anything at all!
By all means read your Bible in the train if you find this helpful. While those around you are filling their minds with the bad news about man in their daily papers, steep yourself in the good news about God in His precious Word!
Of course, I will admit that a crowded railway car is not the best place for reading the Bible, for it is not easy to concentrate in such circumstances; and real Bible study requires concentration. Nevertheless, it is well to use every moment of the day to the best advantage, and there is no doubt that a great deal of time is wasted on journeys which could be employed in a much better way.
I do not quite understand why the fact of your reading the Bible in public should make others feel uncomfortable — unless they are non-Christians or backsliders. And in that case they have no right to be comfortable! They need to be aroused out of their comfortable indifference and reminded of the claims of God's Word; and it may be that your example may serve to remind them of the Book they have neglected.
I would like to have a better understanding of the Christian religion, but never seem to get much out of the Bible when I read it. Can you tell me of some book or commentary that will answer the question in a more simple way?
No book ever takes the place of the Bible. It is its own best commentary. I would urge you to go on studying the text of the Bible itself. Only when you find it in the Bible are you sure it is Scriptural truth. As a help, I would make a few simple suggestions.
First, be open minded. If you begin with a prejudice, you will be blind, or else you will read into the Bible what is not really there.
Second, act upon the basis of what you discover. The Bible is a guidebook, leading men to God in a personal faith. Like a map or guidebook, it will show you the way, but you must take it one step at a time.
Third, ask God to enlighten your mind. In other words, read it prayerfully. The sound of the words will not help, for you must understand what you read. God provides enlightenment for those who wish it.
Finally, continue your study. Be patient, for the knowledge of God comes gradually and slowly. The fact that God is infinite makes the study of His word a lifetime occupation. The Bible is to your soul what bread is to your body. You need it daily. One good meal does not suffice for a lifetime.
In beginning to study the Bible for myself, are there any particular matters of method I should observe?
Very definitely there are. First, you must read it with a desire to know and to accept any truth you discover. You can be critical but you must be fair and open-minded. Second, you must read systematically, and not at random. The Bible will yield the richest blessing in the long run to those who study systematically. Begin regular reading of the Bible from beginning to end in your morning Bible reading time, and concentrate on a specific book in your evening time. I would suggest the Gospel of John and then the book of Romans. Third, you must study prayerfully, relying upon God to enlighten your mind and enable you to understand what you read. Pray frequently as you read and you will discover a fellowship with God that is both intimate and satisfying. Fourth, make use of dependable helps but do not rely upon them. Many helps are actually a hindrance. Make sure you are learning the Bible and not the views of some individual. You may be in perfect agreement but there is a blessing in knowing you got it from God.
I am a new Christian and I honestly want to know and do God's will but how can I know what His will for me really is?
There are many ways by which God leads us but it is only when we have minds and hearts surrendered to Him that we are able to hear His voice. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, sometimes while we are praying. I know a man who was faced with a very difficult problem. He was an earnest Christian and he prayed about this particular problem and while he was praying he had a clear sense of the answer, so much so that he got up from his knees and wrote it down. Later in the day, during a conference in which the problem was under discussion, he read this statement. Immediately the entire group, although they had differed sharply one with the other, felt this was the answer and unanimously agreed. As a result, an issue which had divided Christians for months was resolved in absolute harmony. God sometimes leads men through the words or acts of other people. He often gives direct leading as we pray about it and read our Bibles. There are times when a group of individuals may come to a conclusion which indicates how one of them should act. The important thing is to be willing to do God's will. When that is true, God will surely make it known. Many Christians have experienced the fulfillment of the words of the Prophet Isaiah: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (30:21). Another promise is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
For the benefit of those who are confused, would you explain your position on tithing? Should we give a tenth of our gross income or a tenth of what we have left after expenses are paid?
I can only tell you my personal convictions in the matter. If I were to wait until all expenses were paid before I tithed my income, there would be none left for the Lord. Income means, what comes in, and if we give one tenth of our income to Kingdom work, then we must give a tithe of our gross income.
The trouble with too many of us is that we try to see how little we can get by with rather than how much we can do for God. Even the federal government recognizes tithing and charitable giving as a citizen's duty and allows such to be deducted from income tax. I have had many people tell that nine tenths of their income went farther with God's blessing on it than ten tenths of it did without His blessing. We have found that true in our own experience. Did not God say "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse . . . and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open ye the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).
