- The Penitential of Cummean (Irish, 7th century)

"Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."

- Deuteronomy 12.32

Everyone knows, of course, that it was the Reformers of the 16th century who rescued the doctrine of "sola Scriptura" - Scripture as our final guide to faith and life - and set the Church back on a proper keel.

Everyone knows that, but everyone is, of course, wrong. Celtic Christians sustained an esteem of Scripture unsurpassed by Luther, Calvin, Knox, or any of the Reformers. They lived and died by Scripture, and they turned to Scripture to guide in the healing of souls and pursuit of holiness.

In our day many Christian leaders loudly profess their confidence in Scripture, then run their churches and ministries on priniciples and by practices borrowed from the secular world. Meanwhile, the plain teaching of the Bible on such matters as evangelism, shepherding, and the true nature of discipleship, languishes. We can't send everybody away, but we could seek the Lord for repentance concerning our cavalier attitude toward the Bible and our readiness to substitute for its guidance whatever seems to "work" to get the numbers up.

But the Lord's people will not be revived except by His Word and Spirit. And churches will not be renewed in anything like a lasting manner unless they submit to the Word in all it teaches. And there will be no awakening in the larger world until we preach and live the Word without compromise or fear. "It is the Spirit Who gives life; the flesh is of no profit. The words I speak to you, they are Spirit, and they are life" (Jn. 6.63).

Do we believe Jesus? Do you?

Today in ReVision: Sweating in the Spirit - These days the pursuit of the perfect body is more important than seeking the Kingdom.

We'll be praying for revival on Thursday night, and I'd like to invite you to join us. Send me an email and I'll ask Carl Waggoner, our prayer coordinator, to send you the prayer guide and call-in information.