This is the seventh article in my series titled, Identifying and Responding to Theological Bombs that Threaten the Integrity of our Movement.

In this article we look at two more potential land mines.

(10) Illuminism

Directly related to the previous emphasis on Gnosticism, is the tendency for what I call illuminism. According to this perspective, genuine knowledge of God comes not by rigorous study of the Scriptures but through an experience of direct illumination from the Holy Spirit. I certainly don’t deny the latter, but we should never embrace it to the exclusion of the former. Consider Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 2:7 – “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”

Here Paul provides his spiritual son with a crucial word of counsel. His reference to “what I say” most likely encompasses the entirety of what is found in this epistle, as well as what Paul wrote elsewhere and spoke to Timothy in face-to-face conversation, and not just what has preceded in this one epistle. Paul has already referred to “the pattern of sound words” that he has communicated to Timothy (2 Tim. 1:13) and in 2:1–2 exhorts his protégé to transmit to faithful men “what you have heard from me.”

There are three things to be noted in this one verse. First, is the command to “think over what I say” (v. 7a). Second, there is a promise that “the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” And third, we must not overlook the relationship between the command and the promise as indicated by the word “for” (gar).

Some Christians feel a tension between the command to “think” and the promise that God will provide insight into the meaning of Paul’s words. Sadly, many use the promise as an excuse to ignore the command: “If God is going to give me understanding in everything [illuminism], I don’t need to think. I only need to wait passively until the Spirit enlightens my heart.” This way of responding to Paul’s command breeds anti-intellectualism and neglect of the crucial importance of one’s exploration and explanation of propositional revelation in Scripture.

More important still, this approach fails to note the significant causal relationship (“for”) between the two elements in Paul’s statement. Paul’s point is that we are to think, study, and dig deeply into the Word “because” (or, “for”) God will give understanding. In other words, illumination is the fruit of investigation. The former doesn’t preclude the need for the latter. The latter is the pathway to the former. Should we pray for divine illumination? Yes! Should we expect God to give us understanding? Absolutely. But only as and after we have “thought” about what the text says.

The Spirit’s ministry of illumination does not replace the human work of meditation on God’s Word. Illumination comes through meditation. We can’t afford to presume that the promise of divine light and understanding is given to everyone. It is promised to those who commit to thinking! Praying and thinking are not two mutually exclusive options, although I fear that some charismatics think they are. The person who only thinks and does not pray is as dangerous and unbalanced as the person who only prays and never thinks. Yes, God has promised to illumine our minds and spirits, to disclose and reveal the secrets of his heart and ways, but he promises to do this through and in response to our diligent devotion to studying and understanding the biblical text.

We should also take note of the delicate balance here between the sovereignty of God and human responsibility. Clearly Paul expected Timothy to exercise his cognitive powers, to apply himself to the things that Paul had spoken by inspiration of the Spirit, with complete confidence that in and through his obedience to that task God the Holy Spirit will speak and enlighten and convict and reveal his heart to us.

Paul spoke elsewhere of this work of spiritual enlightenment in his prayer on behalf of the Ephesians (and not just the apostolic company). He prays “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened” (Eph. 1:17–18a). Let us embrace the certainty of the promise, but only as we obey the command on which its fulfillment is based.

As noted, there are many in the body of Christ who recoil at the thought of devoting themselves to the careful and meticulous study of God’s written Word. They have been led to believe that such an intellectual exercise will breed either arrogance or some form of religious legalism. After all, didn’t Paul say that “knowledge puffs up” (1 Cor. 8:1)? No one wants to be accused of being a Pharisee!

Others, at the far end of the spectrum, take pride in their cognitive grasp of biblical truth and fail to rely on the illumination and quickening work of the Spirit by which he enables us to understand, love, and respond to the written truth of Scripture. Paul’s exhortation and promise in 2 Timothy 2:7 is a much-needed reminder to us all to embrace both Word and Spirit, both truth and power, both the authority of the written Word and the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit.

(11) Prioritizing Style over Substance

Do you prize style over substance? It seems a growing number of professing Christians in America do. Witness the proliferation of slick preachers with their smooth, often silky, delivery, their winsome ways in the pulpit, their facility in the turning of a phrase or their ability to craft just the right illustration or image. Words fall from their lips like honey from the comb. Their appearance is impressive and their voices are mellow and soothing. Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with this until it is discovered that they are largely devoid of any meaningful content! Words that are easy to hear are often theologically empty. They are stylish, but shallow. Their delivery is charismatic, but their doctrine is abhorrent. For such people, manner triumphs over matter.

Often the aim of the preacher/teacher is to look good, instead of laboring in the grace of God to make Christ look even better. We may be able to fool others with our slick and deceptive “ministry” tactics, but the Lord sees through it all. He cannot be hoodwinked. Related to this is the lie that pastoring a church of fewer than 50 or more than 5,000 is a reflection on the godliness and giftedness of the pastor. A pastor who faithfully leads a small church with a focus on the majesty of Jesus is more pleasing to God than a pastor of a church of 5,000 whose aim is to gain praise of his giftedness.