Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

PERCEPTION AND REALITY: A REASON TO FEAR

(MY SOAPBOX)

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34.

There is an old saying that perception perpetrated long enough becomes reality. That principle often dominates in the world of ideas. One tuned in to news of current events, even occasionally, will hear much in the political arena of ideas about our country being a democracy. That simply is not true. The United States of America as a political system is a Constitutional Republic! There is a difference. It is an important difference.

The diffusion of power in a nation has always been a problem to freedom loving people. The world has had more than its fill of monarchies, oligarchies, democracies, communism, socialism, fascism, and dozens of aberrations of those forms. The wise founders of this nation wrestled in the world of ideas about how to fashion a government of, by, and for the people to insure the maximum freedom to individuals, and limited, but sufficient powers to government. Their wrestling and their wisdom paid off big time! In outspoken disdain for democracies with their consistent failures, and obvious disdain for monarchies and oligarchies, a new and far better form of government was hammered out that is under siege today more than most people realize.

Listen, listen. It is not “Constitutional Republic” that rolls off the tongue of would be rulers. Rather it is “Democracy” that one hears. Moreover that is repeated often and purposefully. When the thought pattern of democracy is ingrained enough, the tenants of a republic are set aside. When the government becomes the expression of the majority vote of individuals, all the safeguards of the constitution are negated. It is a case of perception becoming reality.

Resistance to this infringement on the best form of government the world has ever known depends upon education and testimony. It really is incumbent upon every citizen to know what kind of government constitutes his homeland. It really is incumbent upon every citizen to discern error from truth and speak out about it. This nation is a nation of states all of whom have rights, and all of whom ratified the United States Constitution, under which unparalleled freedom is enjoyed. It is the Electoral College that affords all of the states undeniable rights in selecting the executive branch leader of the nation. It is the Constitution of the United States of America that guarantees freedom of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, etc. Let it be proudly announced that we pledge allegiance not to a democracy, but to the republic for which the flag stands. May it ever remain within the crafted confines of freedom until the absolute best ever form of government is initiated by the King of kings.

FOR THOUGHT: Do you appreciate the wisdom of our founding fathers who gave us a republic, “If we can keep it?” Do you agree with the statement: “For evil to reign, all that is required of good men is that they do nothing!”? Do you understand the safeguards of freedom the constitutional republic form of government affords every individual?

PERFECT: A BIBLE “BE”

The reference to Bible “BE” almost always calls to mind the beatitudes of the beloved Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5-7. However, there are other important usages of the topic. One such usage is “Be Perfect!” Think with me about it.

Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48. Some folks explain this as the ideal, but unachievable. Such reasoning puts Jesus into the context of playing mind games with His hearers. Unthinkable! What then is one to make of this exhortation? Often heard at home, school, and church is: “nobody is perfect.” That is evidence that the term is commonly understood as “being without fault.” However, that is not the usual meaning attached to it in the Bible. Consider some scripture contexts.

Let the reader think “complete” when “perfect (ion)” is read. The mystery then gives way to understanding. It is the will of God that His people achieve a perfect (complete) understanding of the tenants of His Holy Word together with the moral compass it includes. Hear the writer of Hebrews in 6:1, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto(completion); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” To this, James exhorts, “But let patience have her perfect (complete) work, that ye may be perfect(complete) and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4. Paul told the Philippians in 3:15, “Let us therefore, as many as be, (complete) be thus minded:. . .” It should be noted that Timothy was told in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, (completely, or) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

God knows better than any mortal that sinlessness in human flesh is impossible to all the offspring of Adam. He also knows that spiritual understanding and obedience to that understanding is altogether attainable with the spiritual help of the Lord. Consider how this applies to the faith once delivered to the saints. Aside from mental acquiescence to those tenants, what do you personally know about the hereditary depravity of the total man; salvation by grace alone; eternal security of the believer; the proper method, subject, and administrator of baptism; the nature of the New Testament church? Are these things being left up to the pastor? If so, such parishioners would make good Catholics. It is not the pastor only who is to go on to perfection, but every true disciple. These things will be underscored in unimaginable ways at the return of our Savior and King.

FOR THOUGHT: Does the Bible meaning of “Complete” associated with the term “Perfect” change the way you understand many verses of scripture? What do you understand the call to perfection in the Bible to mean to you personally? Will you now evaluate your completeness in ability to analyze the Bible? To enumerate core doctrines of the New Testament?