When we speak of a biblically balanced life, we are referring to a life reflecting the rule and submission to the whole counsel of the God's word. Not a life patterned after a few choice Scriptures that are often twisted to fit our current lifestyle. When we pick and choose which Scriptures we like or believe, we instantly neutralize the authority of the Bible and its power to lead and direct our lives. Acts 20:27, "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God."
The Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Timothy that the Bible is the standard by which we are to pattern our lives, and it is adequate to equip us with all we need. 2 Timothy 3:13-17, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
In verse 16 we read "All Scripture" not just the parts we like. When we manipulate the Scriptures to support our own ideas, we place ourselves in a dangerous position and open ourselves to all kinds of weirdness. We must guard against mixing the word of God with fables, philosophies, and the ways of this world.
2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
Colossians 2:8-10, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
2 Peter 3:16, "as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
Let us respect the Scriptures and allow them to direct our lives instead of twisting them to fit our own ideas.
Pastor Leo Kruger of Valley Christian Fellowship is a member of Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
