1. Be aware of how you use Scripture. It is God’s revelation, and therefore, a source of truth to be used to know more about him, how we relate to him, and how we should live. Know that your heart is deceitful above all things and cannot be trusted. You will try to argue away from hard truths. Ex: While at LU, Falwell had a conference with many homosexuals confessing to be Christians to promote honest communication. The leader of the group was quite honest and said apart from a few scriptures they were actually doing okay. He then pointed out that many Christians appear to do the same thing with the gluttony passages of Scripture. He has a point, not a means of defending his lifestyle. We all have a bias we bring to the text–we all must strive to have the text judge us with our bias being made clear. One of the hardest things to do is allowing Scripture to interpret your experience and not vice versa. Learning to do this is an ongoing process and in order for it to happen you have to trust that the Spirit will bring clarity and conviction as you read Scripture. You also have fellow believers, especially a sermon, to bring the Word in a penetrating manner that confronts you. You must also be able to correct, transform, criticize your culture using Scripture and not allow this to be a two-way road of influence. Scripture is the corrective, not culture. Cultures change so Scripture will need to be reapplied, but the truth of God’s revelation remains the same.
2. Be aware of the many influences you have in your life. You have the Bible (I hope) and then tradition, church, culture, etc. You must be aware that this is a “round-robin” of influences competing with or complementing one another. You are a product of many influences and the goal is to ultimately be a product of the gospel alone. This means throwing off as much of the other stuff as possible and strive for ultimate Christ-likeness. How does your fellowship with others effect you, how are you effecting others? Christ stands at the center of the church unifying the community and Scripture must be the source for our knowledge of Him and the means by which we unify. This is how Christ and Scripture remain the correctives for all other influences.
3. Cling to the one, clear, certain source of goodness and truth–God. His entire story (revelation) points to the fact that he has called out a people and desires to be known by them. He has spoken authoritatively to them so they can know him personally and truly, even if not fully. He is able and willing, and has spoken his Word in human form (Christ) and in human words (Scripture). If God wants to be known, he is more able than you and I to make himself known. As one healthy PM theologian says, “God too must be a communicating member of the community.”

4. Finally, as I once said in a devo on Sunday night–”Shut-up and Listen.” This is simply summarizing all we have said thus far. Your heart lies, you are tempted all around by the ways of the world, but God is speaking his clear truth to save you from yourself and worldliness. What you must do is seek his truth in his reliable Word hoping that he will point out all the trash you brought with you.

Disclaimer: I have understated, but mostly overstated. There is, of course, much more that can be said.

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