Concepts Have Consequences
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
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Geeks say it this way: Trash in, trash out.
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COLUMN: Final Phase
Concepts Have Consequences
by J. Randal Matheny
In 1976, Biblical Research Press published Arlie
J. Hoover's study book called "Ideas and Their
Consequences." He demonstrated that the tenets of
modern naturalism have disastrous results. "The
thesis is simple: bad theology and bad philosophy
make for bad consequences" (p. 1).
What we believe produces in our life inexorable
consequences. What we espouse and teach multiplies
those consequences in many lives.
So Jesus says. How does one recognize false
teachers? By the consequences of their teaching.
"You will know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16).
"Fruits" is a picturesque way of saying results,
consequences, product.
The old saw says, you are what you think. No less
true for its overuse.
Perhaps the most important concept is one's belief
about God. In his book "Your God Is Too Small," J.
B. Phillips charged that limited views of God have
devastating results for our faith.
Paul quotes from Psalm 116 to express this truth,
"I believed, therefore I spoke" (2 Cor. 4:13). His
"speaking" expresses not merely a flow of words,
but the entire effort of a lifetime to preach the
gospel as the greatest demonstration of love
possible. His "concepts" of God, of Christ, of
salvation, of Christian responsibility, all led
him to a specific course of action.
Whatever we believe about God, about others, about
ourselves, about our world will affect our actions
and the outcome of our entire lives.
Boiling it all down: To have the right concepts,
the proper ideas, the truths which reflect reality
as God created it, I go to the Scriptures. They
guide my thinking, burst my illusions, correct my
errors, open up the truth that may bring, to me
and those around me, the eternal relationship with
God.
As Paul advised Timothy, "Pay close attention to
yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these
things, for as you do this you will ensure
salvation both for yourself and for those who hear
you" (1 Tim. 4.16).
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