It is quite common for believers to ask other believers what they think about a host of matters related to God's word. It's not uncommon for Christians to quote what others have said or written about various bible passages or issues of doctrine. Unfortunately, it may be less common for believers to search the scriptures themselves with a desire to find what God's word says about any given matter.
When I was a young believer I had many questions about various aspects of the Christian faith and doctrine. During the time of my life I'm referring to, which was in the early 1980's, Pastor Richard Casad was shepherding a small community church in Jewell, Oregon. On many occasions I felt compelled to ask him what he believed about these matters of doctrine that I would find myself considering.
I won't say that he never shared his personal thoughts on a passage of scripture or on a particular topic, but more often than not, Pastor Casad would encourage me to prayerfully read the Bible and see what the word of God had to say. Regarding matters of faith and doctrine, he stressed the importance of scripture and the significance of having God Himself reveal truths to the believer through His word.
I have often thanked God for having used Pastor Casad to advise me as he did. As I look back, I feel there were three particularly important lessons that I learned, or began to learn, during that time. The first was how much more meaningful it was (and is) to come to know something that God has revealed to you in His word than to simply believe something that someone else has taught or told you of. The second was how significant it was (and is) to read God's word and find that it speaks to various matters of doctrine on its own. To me this was much different and more powerful than when I would start with a particular doctrine and look for scripture verses to support it or disprove it.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that teaching the word of God to others is not important and that believers should not submit themselves to the teaching of others whom God is using for their growth and edification. And I'm not saying that there is never an appropriate time to search for various scripture texts as they relate to a specific topic. But what I am saying is this. Whatever you have learned through God's provision of a gifted Bible teacher or preacher, and whatever biblical doctrine you have gathered proof texts for; they will become the things you are assured of and convinced of when you see for yourself God's word speaking to them. Praise the Lord!
Well, I said there were three lessons that I began to learn back in those earlier days and the two that I have mentioned are directly related to the third. In harmony with the exercise of gifts that He has given His church, when we prayerfully read the word of God and allow Him to speak to us through it, He reveals His Son to us. We will not grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ apart from His word. The wonders of Jesus are found in the word of God. Do not put knowing biblical truths and doctrine ahead of knowing the Savior better. Seek to know Him and as the Spirit reveals Him through His word, the Spirit will use the word to speak to the matters of truth and doctrine. "In Him all things hold together" and this includes biblical truth and doctrine.
Approximately 28 years have passed since those early words of advice from Pastor Casad. God has again blessed me during these last several years with my current pastor at Lewis and Clark Bible Church, Jerry Conklin. Pastor Jerry offers the same advice and regularly asks and holds up as the deciding factor in all matters of faith and practice, "What does the word of God say?"
I felt compelled to write this short article after recently receiving notice that Pastor Casad had experienced the wonder of being absent from the body and present with the Lord. The one who had advised me many years ago to always look to the word is now himself in the presence of The Word. Praise the Lord.
