A Better Covenant

As we write, speak, teach, serve and give what should be our end goal? I think our goal is to edify. The reason I start this way, is because as I post going forward I want what I write to do exactly that. For that.

I won’t write what I won’t speak face to face

I will write as if Jesus was beside me (He really is)

I will ensure that my responses contain the same goal. Which is edification.

I write this because as I have matured along this journey I have written some things I regret. I have written some things that I believe of no real benefit, and I have written some things that have changed my life. I also write this to challenge all bloggers in their pursuit for God’s truth. What we write reveals our hearts. Out of the abundance of the heart the fingers type. As I can make a fair judgment by your speech and conduct, I can make a fair judgment by what you write about, the words you use and the tone in which you write them. I know because many have emailed me personally about my tone.

Paul says “if eating meat offends my brother, then I will NEVER eat meat again”. This is the key to Ephesians 5:21. We are to submit to one another in love. As we write and as we speak. We have to keep the weakest Christian in mind. We must ensure that we have the most fragile of Christian in mind. Why? Because it is our duty to protect, nurture, and build them up (edify).

I enjoy writing and stirring the pot, but I can’t sacrifice another Christian in the process. We can write provocative stuff, but we must remember that other Christians some not as mature as us may fly by. We also must ensure that our defense of the truth and the Gospel meets the prerequisites of 1 Peter 3. The bottom line is what we do we are to do it in a spirit of humility, meekness, grace and ultimately love. Why? Because the Spirit makes this clear through Paul.

The word edify the Greek being “oikodomē” is used 12 times in the context of “one anothers”. My primary goal with every single Christian I encounter is to “edify” them or build them up. I also believe this is why Paul gives the disclaimer to be patient, kind, forgiving and loving because as someone once said “we are but a truckload of porcupines”. This is very true and if you have been in community with other believers you have been pricked maybe more times than you would like. However even in being poked maliciously or not our main goal is to respond in a way that edifies not only the offender but those who may be observers.

I understand that we are striving for truth, but in this we are to be careful that our truth doesn’t become an atomic bomb and blow everyone in a 100 mile radius to smithereens. We are to let truth stand, but we are not to be arrogant, self-righteous or condescending. If we are the mature ones (which we equate spiritual maturity with theological truth which is the gravest of all “educated” or “reformed” error) then we should be able to discern good from evil. We are to speak the truth but always with the other party in mind.

If we are exposing the error of the WOF, if we are exposing the error of the Western Church movement, or if we are just exposing error on some theological truth, our end goal is edification. What I see most of the time is a fight for “truth” with “truth” being the end goal in mind. If we give someone truth and we don’t edify what good is that. I don’t care how truthful something is, it will not be received in a spirit of de-edification. Which includes but is not limited to, mockery, slander, ridicule, condescension and corrupt speech. You can have the greatest truth known to men, but the way we present it must be in a way that edifies.

I hope that all I post is done for the edification of the saints. As Paul asked the Corinthians “what do you have that wasn’t given and if it was given why do you boast as if were not given”. This is the million dollar question. For us to say I have no intention on edifying moves us out of the will of God and grieves the Spirit. Why? Because the Spirit’s very purpose is to edify. Rather that is convicting of sin, guiding into truth, or leading into all righteousness. His purpose is to glorify Christ’s ministry and to finish what was left undone in Christ’s earthly ministry. We can’t have a goal that the Trinity doesn’t have and say we are doing in His name. That is blasphemous. If we are doing in His name, then we must be in agreement of His purposes.

I leave you with this. If you are a blogger, street preacher, pastor, or small group leader, or just on this journey, please ensure that all you do is for the edifying of the saints of God. Lets make sure we are in the parameters the Spirit has set in the scriptures and lets ensure that whatever we do in word in deed it is done to the glory of the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ and the Gospel are at stake. We can ruin our testimony and truth be told we are given so much authority that we can ruin His.