If we are being honest with ourselves , our culture cannot but influence the ways in which we see the teachings of the Word . Equality of the sexes , themes of tolerance or a merciful approach , rampant sex outside of marriage , secular versus spiritual trends , even particular religious strands that are more dominant in a given area – these things influence what we research and how we approach the messages of the Word .
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The picture that emerges is of a person who takes the time to set aside preconceived ideas , to get the heart and mind in the right place , to see teachings in context , and to check them against the whole of the doctrines . This student of the Word is much more likely to discover the Lord ’ s intended meaning in any part of His revelation .
5 . Letting the Word , Not Culture , Lead We come next to a sobering warning presented to us in the Gospel of Matthew . The Lord addressed the scribes and Pharisees with a challenging question : “ Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition ?” ( Matthew 15:3 ) He went on to give them a particular example of where they had encouraged people to give to the church ( them ) rather than using their resources to care for their parents . “ Thus ,” the Lord said , “ you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition .” ( Ibid . 15:6 ) Then He followed it up with an even more cutting quote from Isaiah , “ In vain they worship Me , teaching as doctrines the commandments of men .” ( Ibid . 15:9 ; Isaiah 29:13 )
If we are being honest with ourselves , our culture cannot but influence the ways in which we see the teachings of the Word . Equality of the sexes , themes of tolerance or a merciful approach , rampant sex outside of marriage , secular versus spiritual trends , even particular religious strands that are more dominant in a given area – these things influence what we research and how we approach the messages of the Word .
If we are being honest with ourselves , our culture cannot but influence the ways in which we see the teachings of the Word . Equality of the sexes , themes of tolerance or a merciful approach , rampant sex outside of marriage , secular versus spiritual trends , even particular religious strands that are more dominant in a given area – these things influence what we research and how we approach the messages of the Word .
Yet none of us would want to find ourselves guilty of the Lord ’ s reprimand of the scribes and Pharisees . I note that the Lord quoted Isaiah . Isaiah was a prophet , and the prophets were often called to say things to the people of the day that they did not want to hear . In many of those cases , it was a trend in
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