I had an interesting conversation with a friend yesterday where the subjects we explored ranged from mistranslation of the scriptures to being Spirit led versus being led by humanistic reasoning. It got me to thinking about the various shaky areas in which so many Christians place their confidence. Some depend on “leadership” to shape and confirm their belief system and/or even hear God for them. Others lean on their own ability to reason things out logically. Still others “stand on the word” as their blueprint and rule book. With most I know who are stuck in religion, it’s a combination of the above.

But I also know many who are growing in a relationship with Father as they learn to hear his voice and trust him to guide them by his Spirit. They yield to the work of the Spirit in their lives as Christ is being formed within them. These people would never consider substituting another’s understanding for the truth that can only be realized through an experiential relationship with Christ. Nor could they ever trust their own intellect to comprehend mysteries that can only be spiritually discerned. And they’ve seen that those who lean on the Bible as their “road map” have all gone down a thousand different trails and built entire doctrines on mistranslation of original scripture. They’ve learned by sometimes painful experience that “the letter kills, while the Spirit gives life” and that the Spirit is faithful to interpret the scriptures in keeping with the character and nature of God. They place great value on the Bible, appreciate godly brothers and sisters and are not afraid to use the mind God gave them. But their trust is placed only in the One the scriptures point to.

David F