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It’s the principle…

sign that says one
I have heard people use the term “Biblical principles” quite often lately. I do not think that people are really using the term properly. Don’t get me wrong, I used it often as well one time or another. I have had a chance to think about what that term means and wanted to write out my thoughts. 

 The term “Biblical” according to Oxford just means that the text is in the Bible (That is the source Google uses). I do not think this should be the full definition. There are many passages found in the Bible, and they are good for reproof, correction, and instruction for His Church. But the words themselves are just words without interpretation. If something is misinterpreted in scripture, is it still biblical?
A good example is the prosperity Gospel, the idea that God’s desire is for His people to prosper financially and will provide whatever you ask. Can you find scripture to support this? Sometimes, yes. Can you find scripture against it? One-hundred times yes! Scripture must be taken into context. There are many pieces of scripture that shows God bringing blessings through the lack of conveniences, even giving them all away (Acts 20:35, Isaiah 58:7-12, 2 Corinthians 9:6-12, 12:9, Proverbs 19:1, Psalm 34:17-20). The term of “Biblical” must include interpretation.


 The term “Principle” is, what I believe, the area which most of our confusion comes from. The term “Principle” is defined as “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.” In other words, what is the main area, the top dog, the chief, most important foundation of your ideology or belief? Or, when in used in conjunction with the term "Biblical", what is the point of the Bible as a whole?

 If I were to ask what people what they mean when they use the phrase "Biblical Principles", what would be the primary response? We should be using the Bible to define how we live. We need to follow the Bible to get blessings from God. We should follow His law in this land since God brings prosperity when we do, and punishment when we don't. Or even the laws themselves are principles to live by. All of these have one thing in common. Our works.

Each of these instances can be proven in the Bible, if used out of context. First, many of these were given to Israel to show that they were a chosen people, not to all the countries. We cannot self-appoint a chosen status as a country through our works. Second, Israel never could actually accomplish this. They failed, repeatedly. I mean they were fashioning a golden calf while Moses was receiving Commandments. Third, it distorts THE Biblical Principle.

 Does the Bible have Biblical Principles? Or does it have one Biblical Principle? There is one foundation for the Bible, that we are sinners in desperate need of a Savior. From our first sin we have fallen short and attempted to take the throne, the place where only God can be. There are no works that we can do to prove that we are worthy of this honor. We need a transformed heart, given by submission to His rule and reign. Us as individuals, not as a collective. The entire scripture points to Jesus!

 If we attempt to gain favor by works then we automatically missed the point. It is God’s grace that redeems sinners. We only add more works, more pride, and more laws that we cannot follow. If look to the law to make ourselves better, we are only covering our frailties. God loves the humble, the broken, the hurting, and through that He can become the Savior we so desperately need. Then, after we are transformed, we can follow Him freely.

 By creating Biblical Principles we are destroying the Biblical Principle. Let us strip off the self created principles that are taking glory away from God and come before the throne of Grace so we can be a Church once again. We should be individuals who have submitted to the Gospel, transformed by His radical grace, and led to love God and others to obedience through His Spirit.
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