Doctrine and Context

Swedish Smörgåsbord (Commons)

I am an aged woman, thus I've compared how some approach theology as a "smorgasbord"- which literally means a table full lof open sandwiches.  However, in today's society, "salad bar" is used much the same way, but "pot luck" fits just as well. What ever choosing what you like out of the Bible can be a dangerous thing, a concept recognized by others:

“The theology of most Americans is less like choosing from a salad bar and more like going into someone else's kitchen blindfolded and dumping random ‘ingredients’ into a bowl.” — @WardrobeDoor (if you are on Twitter that link is to his page)

I met Aaron Earls (Mr @WardrobeDoor) at the foot of an article "Consistent Inconsistency" and thought it added quite a bit to yesterday's post here about knowing doctrine and its source.

I'd like to introduce you to someone who knows the scriptures very well and were able to quote them as needed:

for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Matthew 4:6b (KJV)

Recognize the individual? How about this earlier scripture:

and he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1b (KJV)

Now do you recognize the speaker? He's introduced in the first book of the Bible, mentioned several times by many writers inbetween, and confirmed as one and the same as the dragon in the last book:

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2 KJV)

Most of the temptations thrown our way are similar to his reply to Eve:

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (Genesis 3:4 KJV)

He might as well be saying:

God didn't mean what He said. God really does love you and wants you to be happy, to have everything your heart desires. Why, doesn't His word even tell you:

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalms 37:4 KJV)

All you need is to be delighted and you will receive all your desires!

May I suggest that God does mean what He says?

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8 KJV)

The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. (Psalms 33:11 KJV)

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8 KJV)

Perhaps I like these because they are succinct and full of meaning. There are many other verses that speak to this same subject - God is the I AM. The tempter, seducer, liar, the maker of mirror images that look good but lead to death, is the opposite. He is the created, not the creator. He is the usuper, not the ruler. He is the failure, God remains on His throne.

Scripture is used here because I believe it. I believe it because it has worked in my life and I've seen it wwork in others. Part of why it works is we placed faith in biblical foundations, God's promises - which usually have an "if/then" in them, so if I do my part, God responds with His promised result. There are plenty of examples in the Bible, and in the world we live in, where the "if" part was not done. The results were just as inevitable. 

All this does have to do with doctrine. We don't get to pick and choose between verses or promises. The verses have context and their words are powerful when used in context. The plan laid out is a path. It's a map that when followed leads to a defined, specific destination. Taking a different path, you get a different destination.

Does your doctrine include:

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:5-6 KJV)

If not, why not?