Truth is having sound doctrine. Satan tells half truths or lies that those who don't have sound doctrine think are true. The purpose of the belt is to hold together the other parts. Heart right, motives have no malice, bitterness. Truth means nothing is hidden. Truth equals honesty.
William Gurnall, a Puritan who lived in the 17th century in England. These points have been rewritten in modern day English.
- Be sincere in seeking the truth. Approach it with a sincere heart. This will make all the difference - 1 Tim 1:5
- Receive the ministry of the Word from those God has equipped to serve it. God has given gifts to the body of Christ. A sincere heart will aid you in discerning the truth - Eph 4: 11 - 12
- Accommodate the whole body of Christ. Don't restrict yourself to the teachings or doctrines of any one particular group or denomination in your quest for the truth. God has not given the totality of His truth to any one particular group. We must discern the body if we are to grow.
- Beware of curiosity 2 Tim 4:3
Strange and sometime obviously wrong doctrine will appear. Witchcraft, New Age and all kinds of teachings will be repackaged as Christian doctrine. Don't let curiosity take you beyond the bounds of your hearts warning. - Be a humble seeker. Never assume perfection in any doctrine or teaching. Watch out for pride. Pride can make you a stranger to the throne of grace and turn humble praying for the truth into ambitious arguments.
- Do not be offended at different opinions. It will only allow bitterness and malice to fester.
- Know the value of truth in your heart. When you find truth embrace it and keep it. Let nothing tear it away from you. More importantly live it.
The Christian in Complete Armour
OK
What do I do with the above?
Hmm...
Let's take Gurnall's points one at a time.
1. Sincere in seeking truth. This must be where my motives come into it. Sincere in seeking truth. I must seek truth without trying to make it fit into what I want, to hit other people over the head with it, to judge others. I need to seek truth sincerely.
2. I need to keep in mind who is telling me. Do they have an understanding of God's character and ways? Why would I listen to worldly advice and think it is true? Why do we listen to what the world has to say about anything important? OK so if the person is a Christian I can believe them, right? Use some judgment. Is this person living the faith? Is this person in the Word?
It still comes down to your own heart and your own sincerity. God will give you discernment if you are seeking with sincerity.
Hold on a minute. I know a lot of sincere people who are wrong. Yes, that is very true. What is the rule? Always check it out against God's Word.
3. The whole body of Christ. This is not saying all religion or all religious groups. Gurnall is not saying to check out other faiths. He is not saying to accommodate cults. He says the whole body of Christ. Again... the rule? Always check it out against God's Word.
4. Listen to that small voice warning you to stay away or even run the other way. My grandmother was a very Godly woman. Yet in her later years she let curiosity take her away for a while. She dabbled in some new age thinking and started to doubt what she knew was truth. She began to question what was true. But Grandma knew deep down that she should have run the other way. She shared this with me after one of her strokes. She warned me to listen to the warnings the Holy Spirit gives us. It is sometimes just an uneasy feeling. Sometimes it is stronger but often we can ignore it or justify our curiosity and enter into an unwise or unsafe place.
5. Humble. I am not God. I am not God's Son. I am not the Holy Spirit. I don't know it all. I really don't know much at all in the entire scheme of things.
I am a child of God. I am His creation. I am worth much in His eyes. I have the Holy Spirit to guide me.
Keep it in perspective...
6. Don't allow someone else to derail you in your quest for truth. They may be closer to the truth than you. They may be farther from the truth than you. Unless the Holy Spirit tells you to correct someone, let it go. Pray if you really think they are less correct. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in them. Allow God to fight the battle.
7. Know the value of truth in your heart. When you find truth embrace it and keep it. Let nothing tear it away from you. More importantly live it. Very well said.
So make sure that belt is on. It keeps your pants up. What happens to your mind if your pants fall down? It is there to hold your sword. It keeps your hands free to hold your shield.
If you made it through this one I am amazed. I warned you that this is where I share some of the ponderings in my heart... Know that I pray and love all of you.
