[Biblemat] Article - What does the word "SCRIPTURAL" mean?

[GLClair at aol.com]

SCRIPTURAL 
Garreth L.  Clair 

Often we hear the term in our title used by elders, preachers and Bible  
teachers,   what does the term  mean?   The term "scriptural"  simply means that 
an action done in the name of religion is to be done according  to the revealed 
"Truth" (i.e., according to the "SCRIPTURES - the "BIBLE").  Whenever we say, 
an item or a function  of the church or the individual Christian is to be 
Scriptural we mean that they  must have "Book, chapter, and verse" for their 
activity.  Usually, mature Christians know that  this is one of the gauges to 
determine if a man or a church is sound in the  faith.  There are occasions where  
the long time member ought to be mature but his actions and inclinations  
indicate that he is not ... Hebrews  5:12-14, 
"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one  teach 
you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are  become 
such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.     For every one that  
useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.     But 
strong meat  belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason 
of use have  their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."   (KJV) 
The Christian possessed of soundness will display,  not only sound fruits 
(i.e., a public  adherence to Divine instruction in lifestyle) but will also 
audibly manifest the  spirit of soundness by his teaching and urgings upon others 
that he comes in  contact with on a daily basis.  Only  the sound Christian 
will fill his excess time with deeds that are approved by  God        
Jude 1:3,    
"Beloved, when I gave all  diligence to write unto you of the common 
salvation, it was needful for me to  write unto you, and exhort you that ye should 
earnestly contend for the faith  which was once delivered unto the saints."   
2 John 1:9-11,   
"Whosoever transgresseth, and  abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath 
not God. He that abideth in the  doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and 
the Son.            If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, 
receive him not  into your house, neither bid him God speed:    For he that 
biddeth him God  speed is partaker of his evil deeds."     
`           The unsound person  will demonstrate his lack of soundness in the 
faith by his lack of faithful  dedication, support of the truth under fire, 
manifestation of a spirit of apathy  or noncommittal in a crowd where there are 
differing positions about spiritual  concepts, and he will always be absent 
whenever a possible dispute over  spiritual things is to be discussed - the 
church of our Lord does not need  "unsound members".  Because this is  so each 
Christian ought to contribute to the defense of the faith where they  are, 
everyone can surely see the wisdom it this. 
Romans  10:1-3,     
"Brethren, my heart's desire and  prayer to God for Israel is, that they 
might be  saved.     For I bear  them record that they have a zeal of God, but not 
according to knowledge.     For they being  ignorant of God's righteousness, 
and going about to establish their own  righteousness, have not submitted 
themselves unto the righteousness of God. " 
Romans  10:1-3,     
"Brethren, my heart's desire and  prayer to God for Israel is, that they 
might be  saved.     For I bear  them record that they have a zeal of God, but not 
according to knowledge.     For they being  ignorant of God's righteousness, 
and going about to establish their own  righteousness, have not submitted 
themselves unto the righteousness of God."     
Matthew  23:37, 
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that  killest the prophets, and stonest them 
which are sent unto thee, how often would  I have gathered thy children 
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens  under her wings, and ye would not!" 
1 Corinthians  6:2-5, 
"Do ye not know that the saints  shall judge the world? and if the world 
shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy  to judge the smallest matters?     Know 
ye not that we  shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this 
life?     If then ye have  judgments of things pertaining to this life, set 
them to judge who are least  esteemed in the church.     I speak to your shame. 
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you?  no, not one that shall be 
able to judge between his brethren?"      
John 7:24,       
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous  judgment." 
 
The church today needs  more "sound members" and fewer "unsound members."   
Part of the problem of growth in  many congregations today can be attributed to 
the unsoundness of the membership.  Each member of each church ought to 
examine themselves to see that they are not  contributing to the decline of the 
church and its influence in the  community.  The church of Christ in any 
community is as influential  as its collective membership.

_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)  
considermagazine.com



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