When Our Conduct Contradicts

Our Confession

Article by Phillip Holmes

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness. The Declaration of Independence
These are arguably the most famous words in human history. Written in 1776
and signed by the forefathers of our nation, the Declaration of Independence is
considered by historians as a turning point not only in American history, but in
human history as well. Never before had a government been established around
such principles and beliefs.
The idea that citizens possessed unalienable rights life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness was foreign. These were rights, according to our
founding fathers, that man didnt give and man had no right to take away
because our Creator had endowed us with them.
Unfortunately, America failed to live up to these truths. For nearly two hundred
years after this document was signed, race-based chattel slavery was legal in
America and women were treated as less than equal. This part of history always
puzzled me when I was younger. How could a country embrace a document that
declared the equality of men and women, yet sign laws that completely
contradicted what had been written?
Life and Scripture eventually taught me that sometimes our conduct contradicts
our confession.

Inconsistent Living
When I became a Calvinist years ago, I ignorantly believed that a better
understanding of God and Scripture would annihilate certain sins in the church.
I thought the scandals, addictions, and grave sins that I witnessed over and over
again in leadership back in my prosperity and non-Calvinist circles would cease
now that I was Reformed. These men would be different.
Eventually, scandal struck. And I was devastated. I cried for hours the first time
it happened. And then, one by one, several more men I respected locally and
nationally began to fall into scandalous sin, even though they had solid theology.
Some of the failures garnered national attention. I believe every Christian
fundamentally understands these mens problems. We all know what its like
when our conduct contradicts our confession.
If I had been more introspective, it would not have taken local and national
scandals to show me that sometimes Jesus-loving Christians dont always live
out what they profess to believe. My own life is a testimony to this reality.
Scripture repeatedly provides examples of Gods people whose conduct was
inconsistent with what they believed.
The most memorable example is the fall of David. The Bible describes him as a
man after Gods own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), even though he committed
adultery, and then murdered the womans husband.
Perhaps a less scandalous example is the conduct of Peter in Galatians 2:12
21. Peter knew Jesus Christ when he was on earth and was a part of Christs
inner circle. He was an apostle and an author of Scripture. But Paul had to
oppose him to his face. Why? Because he stood condemned. Even though he
knew that justification comes through faith in Christ, apart from the law, his

behavior completely contradicted what he knew to be true. Paul plainly says that
his conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:14). No
one denies that Peter, an author of two epistles, had a rich understanding of the
gospel. Yet, even Peter walked out of step with what he knew was true.

Knowledge Alone Is Not Enough

Whether our sins are public or private, scandalous or respectable, Christians
are broken men and women who possess desires that conflict with what we
know to be true. This is why men and women who know that Jesus is better
than porn and fornication still choose sexual immorality over Jesus. This is why
men and women who knowmarriage should be held in honor among all
dishonor it by committing adultery (Hebrews 13:4). This is why pastors
who know pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall
refuse to walk in humility (Proverbs 16:18). This is why Christians sing Jesus
is Lord but then proclaim with their lives, I am Lord.
Too often we attempt to increase our maturity by increasing our knowledge.
While this impresses men, it often says little about whats actually taking place
in our hearts. When we only pursue doctrinal strictness to demonstrate
maturity, were entertaining something that could be more demonic than
angelic (James 2:19). A great theological mind becomes demonic when the life
habitually contradicts what the mind confesses. Knowledge alone, while
extremely important, is insufficient evidence of whether or not were walking in
maturity. It is not enough to simply know things about God we need to know
God.

Knowing God
As I think about our forefathers and the years of injustice that followed the
signing of that great document, Im no longer puzzled by Americas blatant
hypocrisy. Just as our forefathers recognized that weve been endowed with
inalienable rights, we must also recognize that our forefather Adam has infected
us with sin. Therefore knowledge alone is not enough to change the hard heart
of human beings. We need to know God in order for us to truly be changed.
As we wrestle with sin and our evil desires, we must go to Scripture, not as a
means of knowing theology alone, but as a means to knowing God and to being
known or searched by him and his word. If we want to know a famous person
and be known by them, reading their autobiography alone is insufficient. It
doesnt invite intimacy because its one-sided. The Bible is not an
autobiography. Its an invitation into intimacy with the Creator, who reveals
himself to us through it and invites us to interact with him over it through
prayer.

Is Your Sound Theology Healthy?

Answering the question Why do PhDs in theology commit adultery?
John Piper says,
They dont know God. They dont know God for who he is infinitely
valuable, infinitely beautiful, infinitely satisfying why your soul was
made. There are more pleasures at his right hand, more eternal joys
in his presence, than you could have in ten thousand sexual trysts.
If you know that, sin will have lost its dominion in your life.
When we understand that our liberation comes through a person, not a system of ideas
and principles (Addictions A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the
Power of the Gospel) the way we approach our failures, guilt, and addictions is
radically different. We stop trying to change ourselves through legalism and willpower,
and instead turn to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The only way we can truly know Jesus Christ is through the Holy Scriptures, by the
illumination of the Spirit. The Spirit helps us see clearly the goodness of God and the
joys and pleasures that are available to us. All of our attempts to love, enjoy, and
treasure God as supremely good will fail miserably unless the Spirit gives us eyes to see.
As we articulate what the Holy Spirit is teaching us through Scripture, we express our

theology. This is why our sound theology must also be healthy Spirit-filled, humble,
and consistent.
The doctrine and theology that we study must shape the way that we live. If were
studying to impress each other with our lofty ideas and our big words on social media,
theology will never change us. If pastors only read their Bibles to hold down their jobs
but arent pleading before God to be changed by what they read, they will remain in
their sin.As we read the Scriptures and study theology all of us we must plead with
God to break our hearts and give us eyes to see so that his truth will radically change
our lives. Our goal when studying the Scriptures must always be deeper intimacy with
the Father. As we think big thoughts and dive into the grandiose truths about who
Christ is and what he has accomplished, we can never forget that these truths exist for
our freedom and for Gods glory.