A Christian may say “Thus says the LORD” whenever he quotes God’s Word or faithfully confesses it. After all, Holy Scripture is the living voice of the living God. It is faithful and true. It is what God has revealed of Himself to us and for us. And every bit of it centers in Christ crucified for sinners, as Saint John writes: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
But a Christian may not say “Thus says the LORD” when he speculates what God might be thinking. For outside of God’s self-revelation in Holy Scripture, no one knows the mind of God.
Sadly, many well-intentioned Christians fall into this error.
A natural disaster devastates a region. Is this some sort of specific punishment from God. The best we can answer is: Maybe! No one can definitively say Yes or No, because God has not revealed His mind on this matter.
So-and-so gets cancer. Is this some sort of specific punishment from God. The best we can answer is: Maybe! No one can definitively say Yes or No, because God has not revealed His mind on this matter.
An ungodly leader is elected or sinful legislation goes into effect. Is this some sort of specific punishment from God? Again, the best we can answer is: Maybe! No one can definitively say Yes or No, because God has not revealed His mind on this matter.
Sadly, many well-intentioned Christians fall into this error.
A natural disaster devastates a region. Is this some sort of specific punishment from God. The best we can answer is: Maybe! No one can definitively say Yes or No, because God has not revealed His mind on this matter.
So-and-so gets cancer. Is this some sort of specific punishment from God. The best we can answer is: Maybe! No one can definitively say Yes or No, because God has not revealed His mind on this matter.
An ungodly leader is elected or sinful legislation goes into effect. Is this some sort of specific punishment from God? Again, the best we can answer is: Maybe! No one can definitively say Yes or No, because God has not revealed His mind on this matter.
In all three cases, the question of whether or not this might be some sort of specific punishment from God is the wrong question. For such a question attempts to delve into the unrevealed mind of God.
There are plenty of fire and brimstone Christians out there who are quick to label events as God’s judgment against the specific sins of a person or group. But there are also plenty of Christians out there (many in my own denomination) who are quick to deny that God might be judging the specific sins of a person or group. In both cases, stop speaking for God where God Himself has not spoken. “Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:7).
Instead of speculating, let us be faithful to Christ and His Word of truth. Faithfully confessing it. Rightly distinguishing and applying Law and Gospel. Saying what He has given us to say. No more and no less. “Let him who has My word speak My word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28).
There are plenty of fire and brimstone Christians out there who are quick to label events as God’s judgment against the specific sins of a person or group. But there are also plenty of Christians out there (many in my own denomination) who are quick to deny that God might be judging the specific sins of a person or group. In both cases, stop speaking for God where God Himself has not spoken. “Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:7).
Instead of speculating, let us be faithful to Christ and His Word of truth. Faithfully confessing it. Rightly distinguishing and applying Law and Gospel. Saying what He has given us to say. No more and no less. “Let him who has My word speak My word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28).
After all, only the faithful proclamation of “Thus says the Lord” will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish His purpose and succeed in the thing for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:11).
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.