I was scrolling through a popular Christian blog site recently, when it struck me how many different types of experts there are. One expert was telling me why I should keep my kids in the service with me. Another expert was telling me why men should embrace true masculinity. Still another was saying we need to bring back prayer meetings.
They were all prescriptions on how I should live my life as a Christian. The problem is, most of these prescriptions aren’t in the Bible. Sure, they do their best to support their ideas with Scriptures. But they’re really just good ideas the expert dreamed up.
They can lead to shame.
If I were to start trying to follow every bit of expert advice I got from one of these blogs, I would start realizing how desperately short I fall of perfection – at least of these experts’ ideals of perfection. There’s no way I could possibly measure up to all of the standards they set.
And they aren’t even Scriptural! In fact, they don’t even work for the majority of people. Some parents need to keep their kids with them in service. Some really don’t. Some men need to embrace “Biblical masculinity”…some won’t. And so on.
The problem is, they miss out on the fact that individuals are different. They need different prescriptions.
Most experts are only experts of their own prescription.
Those experts’ prescription is most often for them…not necessarily for other people.
If a prescription fits you, that’s great. But more often, you’ll need something that works for you specifically. And those perfect prescriptions come from God – both His word and His voice. He will show you in His word and through his guidance what you should do. (By the way, His main prescription is simply to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. He doesn’t talk all that much about the other stuff.)
There’s nothing wrong with reading from experts. Heck, you might even put me in that camp. But make sure it doesn’t lead you to feelings of inadequacy. Make sure it doesn’t set a false standard you’re trying to live up to. Instead, follow God’s unique guiding for you. He has the plan of life that’s right for you, and He’ll show you.
