The Plumbline

Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims. (I Corinthians 6:12 MSG) Technically legal? Isn't that the excuse we use to indulge in those things that are 'marginally outside of God's will'? We argue, "Technically, the Bible doesn't say anything about this." The Word of God isn't going to address each and every little thing we could encounter in life, but there are general principles taught about how we should act, what God allows, and when it is appropriate for a believer to act. We sometimes have to apply the principle to the situation or question and allow God's Spirit to help us determine if the action is just 'technically legal' or the 'absolute best for our lives'.  The absolute best is ultimately God's desire. It may be technically legal for me to eat rich foods every night, but it isn...

God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life. (I Corinthians 4:20 MSG) If you haven't noticed, there are a whole lot of 'churches' that are nothing more than 'meeting halls' where people gather once a week, then go about their 'regular lives' the rest of the week. They hear words from the pulpit, but they don't really impact their hearts. They are 'nice' and 'safe' sermons - the ones that tickle your ears, but never really convict your heart. If Paul were alive today, he might write them all a letter similar to the ones he wrote to the Corinthian church! Why? There is no life within their walls - only niceties and a bunch of namby-pamby, lukewarm 'Christians'.  God wants us to be challenged - to learn to walk on our own two feet spiritually. He wants us to feel the conviction of his Spirit showing us where we need to make adjustments in our lives. God's Way isn't just mere talk (nice words) - it is suppo...