THE RULE

THE RULE

Recorded in the minutes of nearly every Primitive Baptist Church and every Primitive Baptist Association will be an article of faith stating the following truth, “We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testatments are the inspired word of God and the only rule of faith and practice.” The members of the church must acknowledge the rule of scriputure and should always desire to know the teaching of scripture and to live in harmony with the practical aspects of the scripture.

Let us now notice some scriptures that mention the word, “rule”:

Hebrews 13:7“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

Hebrews 13:17“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Hebrews 13:24“Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints...” In addition to these three verses from the same chapter in Hebrews, there are a few other quotations that we should consider:

Php 3:16“Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”

Galatians 6:15“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”

2 Corinthians 10:13“But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.”

1 Timothy 5:17“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.”

I do ask the readers to keep these verses mentioned above in mind as they read the comments that follow. First, consider the word, rule, in relationship with a straight line, for a measuring rule such as yardstick or footruler. The scriptures are the final authority for what the church is to believe and practice. The preacher is to hold the rule over the church only as he upholds the teachings of scripture. He never has the liberty to make up his own rules or put forward his own ideas. The preacher must be sure that his teachings measure exactly with what the Bible says. The members of the church are to obey them (the preachers) that have the rule (the scriptures) over them. The power is not in the preacher but in the inspiration of the scriptures. The preacher, himself, is under the same rule as the members. This is a point that needs to be carefully noted. Too many of the Lord’s people are ready to heap honour upon the preacher without any regard to measuring him as to whether he has labored in the “word and doctrine.” A minister is to be honoured only in relationship to his faithfulness in holding forth the scriptures which feature the principles of doctrinal truth and practical living. The minister is also subject to being measured, not only by the congregation, but also by the Lord. The minister is measured as one who must give account of his watching over the souls of those who are under his oversight. {Re-readHebrews 13:17, to see this connection.}

However, there are some big unanswered questions. There are hundreds of different religious groups that claim the Bible to be their “only rule of faith and practice.” These different religious groups have a great variety of doctrinal views and practices. Is it possible that the Bible really upholds all these differing and conflicting views of doctrine and practice? The way to answer these questions is to do some measuring with the “straight-edge” and to really find out how the “yardstick” and the “footruler” are used. Read the scriptures carefully and let the scriptures be their own interpreters. It is my humble prayer that every reader will study the scriptures memtioned in this article and regard them as everyone should. I will adopt the language of the inspired Apostle Paul as my closing thought (and pray that it may be fulfilled in every reader)---2 Timothy 2:7, “Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”