WHO IS YOUR TEACHER? by Precious C Philip

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."1 Corinthians 2:14

From this scripture above, we understand that it is impossible for anyone who's not born again to understand the Bible or accurately interpret the teachings of the Bible; this is because they do not have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible, without Him, no man can really understand the Bible when they read it. Therefore, non-Christians and "Christians" who're not born again use logic to try to understand and interpret the Bible. The motto of Christians who're not born again in relation to God's commands in the Bible is: If it makes sense, I'll obey when it is convenient; if it doesn't make sense, I'll not obey. 

However, a born again Christian can also fall into the temptation of using logic to interpret the Bible when they're carnally minded or walking in the flesh; that is, when they're ruled by the flesh or controlled by their senses. The Bible warns: "If our minds are ruled by the flesh (sinful nature) we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace" (Romans 8:6). It also says, "Those controlled by the flesh (sinful nature) cannot please God" (Romans 8:8). It is therefore dangerous to be a carnal or fleshly Christian.

The Bible's stand on 'no sex before marriage' is for instance flouted by Christians who're not born again and by carnal Christians because it doesn't make sense to them and it's not convenient for them; they consider it a foolish command. The Bible's injunction to dress decently does not make sense to them either, so they wear whatever they like, they dress half-naked, they dress seductively.

If this is the case, why then should a born again, spiritual Christian seek spiritual counsel, biblical explanations, or interpretation of the scriptures from a carnal Christian or a Christian who's not born again? Is it not a foolish thing to ask someone who has no proper understanding of the Scripture to explain a Bible instruction, command, or teaching to you?

Remember, non-Christians, Christians who're not born again, and carnal Christians operate by logic: If it is not logical, it can't be true. If it is logical, it is true. But the Bible is not a book written to be understood using logic, but the enablement of the Holy Spirit. This is why every person who accepts Jesus is immediately given the Holy Spirit by God the Father to teach them the word of God and reveal the truth to them - because He is the Spirit of truth: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13). 

How do you explain using logic Jesus feeding five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes? How do you explain by logic a virgin woman conceiving by the Holy Spirit and giving birth to sinless Jesus? How do you use logic to explain Naaman being healed of leprosy by dipping himself seven times in Jordan river? How logical is it for a woman bleeding for 12 years to be made whole by just touching Jesus' garment? How do you explain by logic Jesus raising the dead son of a widow simply by saying to him "arise" ? Or Jesus making a man born blind to receive his sight by spitting on the ground, making some mud with the saliva, and placing it on his eyes? Or Jesus raising Lazarus dead for four days to life? How do you explain all these and many more supernatural real-life incidents recorded in the Bible with logic?

Can you explain using logic how a widow gave her last meal to prophet Elisha in the midst of severe famine in the land and God supernaturally made her jar of oil not cease till the famine is over? Can you also explain by logic how Elijah outran Ahab who was on a chariot by foot? Or how Philip disappeared after baptizing the Egyptian Eunch and appeared somewhere else? Or how handkerchiefs and aprons that touched Paul healed the sick and expelled evil spirits? Or how a corpse came to life after it got contact with Elisha's bones? Or how Elisha was taken to heaven from earth?

If you carefully ponder on these supernatural incidents, you'll understand how ineffective it is to try to use logic to understand and explain the Bible. Therefore, as a born again Christian, you should never seek spiritual counsel or an explanation of the scriptures from someone who is not born again because their interpretations and explanations would be inaccurate.

Finally, it will be foolish and very dangerous for you to join non-Christians and Christians who're not born again on social media to lambaste men of God who teach what the Bible teaches and uphold biblical principles - it will be very foolish of you to do that as a born again Christian. Because God may take it lightly with them because He knows they lack understanding of the Bible not having the Holy Spirit in their lives, but He'll never take it lightly with you because He has given you the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth, so you ought to know the truth. This is why God did not take it lightly with Aaron and Miriam when they spoke against Moses. Tread softly.

What these people are saying on social media may make some sense, their arguments on biblical injunctions, their explanations on the subject of tithing, divorce, homosexuality, sex before marriage... may be logical because they work with logic, but it'll not convey the truth. Only with the enablement of the Holy Spirit can you grasp and convey the truth of God's word. 

Why should someone smoking weed explain the principle of tithing to you? Why should a prostitute be the one to tell you whether premarital sex is right or wrong? Why should a homosexual interpret the scriptures to you? Why should a smoker, a drunkard, a womanizer, a stripper, a fraudster, a drug peddler teach you the commands of God? They do not qualify at all. Don't give them a listening ear on social media. Since they do not posses the Holy Spirit, the devil posses them to advocate and advance his cause: division in the body of Christ, confusion among believers and hatred for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember, God's ways are not man's ways. The principles and laws of God's kingdom is never the same with the principles and laws of this world.

As a born again spiritual Christian, always ask the Holy Spirit to teach you God's word, to explain a complex Scripture to you and interpret the commands of God to you. Seek His teachings, counsel and advice, and you'll never fall into error. When you have the Holy Spirit and you're intimate with Him, you'll be able to identify mature born again Christians who the Holy Spirit can speak through to give you godly counsels. 

Shalom!