Have you seen a movie scene where the "bad boy" hits his girlfriend out of rage? What usually follows is a confession from him like, "I am sorry, baby! I didn't mean it! I love you so much! I would never hurt you!"
When I watch a scene like that I often think what he means when he says, "I love you" to her. It breaks my heart that this is a reality, and all the while generation after generation confuses "abuse" with "love". Imagine how many young men and women could be protected from terrible relationships if they learned a definiton of love founded in truth.
DOCTRINE #2: DEFINITIONS
Words can have more than one meaning. However, words have a definite and specific meaning depending on the word itself and the context of its usage. The minimum requirement for intelligent thinking is for you to be able to define the words you use. Saying, "Words don't have a definite meaning when used" is the most immoral statement that can be made. If a person believed this, they should use something other than words to communicate this. Another way to say it is, in order for them to be right, they need to admit their method is wrong...which makes them wrong.
Question: Do you believe God has a specific meaning when He uses words?
Next Doctrine: Doctrine #3
Table of Contents
If you need it, here is the support from God's Word...
SCRIPTURE
Here is an extended version of a passage we saw in the previous Doctrine:
"14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.
15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
16 But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
17 and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: or whom is Hymenaeus an Philetus;
18 men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:14-18)
(People who have the wrong definitions don't rightly divide the word of truth. In fact, their speech is a profane babbling that leads to ungodliness.)
"41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
42 saying, What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet?
45 If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." (Matthew 22:41-46)
(Earlier in the same chapter, Matthew 22:15 stated: "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk." The Pharisees attempted to use a question in order to trap Jesus in His words. Jesus' answer depended on knowing the definitions for two words: (my) Lord and son. In fact, earlier in Matthew chapter 22, the Sadducees attempted to trap Jesus. He not only avoided the trap, He stated they erred and didn't know the scriptures nor the power of God because they didn't know the meaning of am. Here's that very story below!)
"23 On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him,
24 saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;
26 in like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27 And after them all, the woman died.
28 In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29 But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33 And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching." (Matthew 22:23-33)
(The Sadducees were trying to trap Jesus! The Sadducees didn't believe in resurrection at all. He said that they didn't know the scriptures and they didn't know the power of God! Jesus stated not knowing the definitions of key words was err. God is the God of the living. He currently IS the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob!)
"11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;
16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)
(This was Paul's "meaning of life" sentence. This sentence explained how we will spend eternity being perfected individually as well as corporately as the Church/Bride. Notice, what we will be doing in eternity is speaking the truth in love. We need to be able to define our words so we can make sure we are speaking the truth in love for eternity. Guess the "meaning of life" question has been answered for quite some time now!)
"6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 5:6)
(Two chapters later, Paul warned we shouldn't let anyone deceive us with empty words, words that have a wrong, or no, meaning. What did Paul call someone who used empy words? What happens to someone who deceives with empty words?)
"36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one." (Matthew 5:36-37)
(We need to be definite with our words. When you say "yes" do you MEAN "yes"? If you do not follow the right definitions of "yes" and/or "no" how can you follow other definitions?)
"3 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain." (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
(Sound words are words whose meaning is consistent with the usage. If people don't know the meanings of their words, they can be deceived into a belief that contains no truth. Is your pastor teaching the same, or a different, doctrine than Jesus? Do the people who have spiritual authority in your life define the words they use?)
"1 I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
(Again, sound Doctrine is a belief that can be defined...it can be taught...explained.)
Having a definition allows you to flow through the Bible and read with a high-lighter. Who would turn that down? Do most people turn that opportunity down?
Do you want to continue to think the way you do or do you want something more? Do you believe that your thought process can always improve? Do you want to think? Would you like to know how we think as people? Keep reading if you do!
