PDL in NT

Preface

When I wrote this about 10 days ago, I was following through an idea which came to me while digging the garden. I found that I could not write more than the few lines of parody, because I did not feel happy about this way of using Holy Scripture. Any form of study which does not start with the Bible and let it speak, and speak through the whole verse in its context, is not being true to the Word of God. Anyone can take part verses, as did the preacher who took as his text, “Hang all the law and the prophets,” Matthew 22:40b. He was not trying to keep the congregation in suspense. He simply failed to turn the page and read the whole verse, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

There is a place for “proof texts”. It is the simplified presentation of Biblical truths which have been derived from the exegetical study of complete Scripture passages, taken in context, and using the most accurate translations and where possible the original Greek and Hebrew texts. True exegesis also compares every related Scripture so that God’s meaning of any word is established by how that word is used throughout the whole of the Bible. If this systematic or thematic teaching is not thus supported, it becomes human thinking dressed up in Biblical language.

The other aspect with which I was not completely happy is this. It seems to me that Rick Warren is (or at least was) someone who is sincerely seeking to bring people to know Christ. Where he leaves himself open to criticism is that he has achieved numerical success by using secular management principles and communication methods, instead of relying upon God. He does not use expository preaching, but proof texts in paraphrases to support what he wants it to mean. He may be sincere, but he comes over as a perfect example of the preachers referred to by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson. In their book “Seduction of the Heart”, they say, “Many sincere preachers get off the theological track because they don’t know enough theology to realize their errors”. That is, not knowing enough of the Bible, they neither know that they are wrong, nor why they are wrong. Further, having got into the way of error, and not relying directly on the Scriptures as their guide, they drift further from the truth of the Gospel.

We must learn to mourn over such at the same time as warning about these errors. In this case, the error that God loves us just as we are and we please him by living out our lives as we are. This is a parody on the truth that God loves us in spite of our rebellion and sinfulness, that we come just as we are to repent, find in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ our cleansing from sin, that our old life is put to death and that we please God by living a new life in Christ. We do not please God by living out what we are naturally. Likewise, we do not please God if we fail to live out the new life we enter after He has put to death our old nature, cleansed us by the blood of Christ, and given us a new life through the work of the Holy Spirit who regenerates us. Which is it to be? A “purpose driven life” or a sanctified life in Christ?

R.J.H. 18 July 2005

Purpose Driven Life example in the New Testament

Don’t let anyone tell you that Purpose Driven Life is not found in the New Testament. We have a case study, and even have his name.

Purpose Driven Man His prayer – “Thank you, God” Luke 18:11 What a great prayer, and it shows us that God wants us to be thankful. In fact, God blesses the thankful person. Make it part of your purpose to be thankful. He was the special person God wanted him to be and not like anyone else. Luke 18:11 He was able to do wonderful the things for God. Luke 18:12 He went away justified. Luke 18:14	The Bible says Luke 18:11-14 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
His origins – “No common town – ” Acts 21:39 God’s purpose is that you and your town can be special too.	Acts 21:39 But Paul said, I am a man [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
His name – Saul of Tarsus – Acts 8:1 “And Saul was ” with “ … the Church at Jerusalem.” God has a purpose for you and knows you by name.	Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
His righteousness was – Perfect . Philippians 3:6 “about righteousness – blamesless” Established, that is, firm and secure . Romans 10:3 “establish their own righteousness” Knowing your righteousness is perfect and secure helps you to find your purpose.	Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

We have done a parody of the PDL style of study, using RW’s method of part quoting part verses from paraphrases. We have also been careful to include the full verse alongside. Seriously, Saul of Tarsus was a Purpose Driven man, until he met the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road. His life was changed, and he was no longer living by his own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. For example, Philippians 3:3-11, 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 7-10 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

With some exaggeration, we can also say that he took a 3 year break to sort out his theology, Galatians 1:13-18 which included time in Arabia. 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. He may have stayed in Elijah’s cave on the true Mount Horeb.

When he became a bond-slave of Jesus Christ, Saul of Tarsus became the Apostle Paul, who preached the Gospel of the sinful nature of the natural man, repentance from sin, and the righteousness of Christ instead of his own righteousness of works. He also preached a changed life characterised by holy living, with the old life crucified with Christ. The Cross as our Lord Jesus Christ’s high-priestly sacrifice for sin, and practical holiness, are themes lacking from the modern “love yourself and earn favour with God” form of the gospel.