Apr
7

What Do I Believe?

Featuring Bob Kauflin Posted on April 7, 2010

Let's say you and I run into each other at Starbucks, and you start telling me how much you've enjoyed getting to know my son, Jordan.

I'm delighted.

You go on to describe him as a five-foot-two saxophonist who has an avid interest in cooking Italian food and playing cricket.

I give you a funny look. “You must be thinking of someone else. Jordan is a six-foot-tall drummer who loves to eat, not cook, Italian food. And though he excels in many sports, cricket isn't one of them.”

But you continue extolling a short, sax-playing, pasta-cooking cricket player as you repeat several times, “He's just a great guy!”

Such praise would be meaningless because it would be based on inadequate and inaccurate information. Your “doctrine of Jordan” would be wrong. And however strong your appreciation, I think you'd like him more after discovering what he's really like.

It's like that with us and God. He calls us not only to love him but to “lovethe truth” about him (2 Thessalonians 2:10). We worship the One who says he is the truth and who tells us, “the truth will set you free” (John 14:6; John8:32). God wants everyone “to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). And he reveals his wrath against those who “suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). Jesus said he would send “the Spirit of truth,” and he askedGod to sanctify his disciples “in the truth,” which he identified as God's Word (John 16:13; 17:17).

The better (i.e., the more accurately) we know God through his Word, themore genuine our worship will be. In fact, the moment we veer from what is true about God, we're engaging in idolatry.

Regardless of what we think or feel, there is no authentic worship of God without a right knowledge of God.

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