John Perdew Editorial: Text Driven Teaching

First Currents NOW Past by Rev. John Perdew, Associate to the Executive Director

Saturday, March 18, was a busy day at the Gulf Stream Baptist Association office.  The Hispanic Pastors Fellowship met in Dr. Minshew’s office while the Deacons from Metropolitan Church met in the conference as Dr. Minshew taught them about the Biblical role and pattern of the ministry of the Deacon.  Even though the teaching on the Deacon and his ministry was good, something more important took place.

Each person was taken to the Scripture to see what God’s Word had to say to us and about our ministries.  There are many opinions that people hold concerning life, attitudes, processes, and roles.  Because of tradition or “practical” considerations, many form views that are heralded as spiritual truths but are not rooted in the biblical teachings.  In fact, many concepts that have been dearly possessed may actually run contrary to Scripture but will be defended as time honored truths of God.  From the teachings and the discussions, all were encouraged to look at the teaching of the Word of God.  However, grabbing a passage to proof text is not the method sought.  Our goal should be to look at the whole counsel of God to see His methods, His character, His purposes, His goals.

As we come to God’s Word with the honest desire to know His will and ways, we may be challenged to the core.  A long held belief may have to be abandoned or a time honored tradition may have to be let go.  We have been called to obey God completely, whether it makes sense to us or not.  The goal for the follower of Christ is not to find our way through life using our wisdom, methods and taking our ‘best shot at it.’  The goal is a yielded life that will follow Christ no matter what He may ask us to do.  The only way to come to that point is by giving ourselves to text driven teaching and accepting its truth for what it really is – the wisdom of God.