When we come to teach children to read and write, where do we start? With the alphabet! This is the foundation for all that follows.
When we come to science, where do we start? The scientific method! Everything that follows is based on this.
When we come to philosophy, where do we start? With logic! It undergirds everything that comes after.
We need the foundational elements in order to understand and use these tools properly. If two people write to communicate, but they have different alphabets, then they will be unable to understand each other, at least not without a lot of work. If two people come together to search out specific truth in the physical world, but one will not use the scientific method, then that person's conclusions are untrustworthy. If two people come together to discuss philosophy but one does not understand logic, then it will be impossible to get anywhere meaningful.
Foundational principles are very important! Especially in our worldview! We need definitive, immovable principles, on which to interpret the world and how we should live in it.
We used to assume that most of our neighbours, colleagues and mates shared some common worldview ground. However, what has become apparent is that what we thought was common ground was actually common conclusions.
We had landed in the same place, but we got there different ways. I think this is because we don't share the same foundations.
The things we took for granted as immovable standards for living in community have dissolved before our eyes. Instead of quibbling over finer points, but basically being in agreement, we're in completely different places, seemingly irreconcilable.
My attempts at bridging these gaps with people I meet have usually not gone anywhere. And you know why? I think it is because I have tried to win people to the conclusion without establishing a foundation.
The principles that undergird our worldview are essential for getting to the right answer. If we don't have the principles, our answers are based on emotion or tradition or external pressure.
One time Jesus was challenged on a finer point of theology by the Pharisees in Luke 19. They wanted to see where Jesus landed with regard to specific grounds for divorce. What did Jesus do? He went back to the principle - God's creation design. They were missing the forest for the tree. They wouldn't be able to come to a good conclusion without going back to the foundational principles.
King Saul tried to do good things for God, but he didn't understand the principles of godliness. This lead to his downfall (1 Sam 15).
Ascetics and Judaisers in the early church were a symptom of a similar problem. They didn't understand the principles of their faith properly, this meant they got way off track.
In our context, it is easy to see how different the world is from the historical context of the Bible, but we know God's truth is timeless. So we inherently know that God's word should inform the way we live, but sometimes we struggle to connect the truth to the circumstances.
If we have the biblical principles down-pat, then half the work is done. It gives us a solid starting point to build on when tackling the issues of our day. We can go back to the foundations to check if our conclusions are right.
If we share the same foundations as a brother or sister in Christ, we can hash out the specific applications, sometimes landing on slightly different perspectives based on conscience.
What is awful is when you see bothers or sisters in Christ who have a "pick and choose" attitude toward biblical foundations. They will happily take the ones that are convenient and not too heavy and then judge everything else through that lens. These are Christians who always skip leg day - some parts of their faith are really robust, but the whole picture is really let down by their obvious weaknesses.
As a preacher, I hope to apply the text to people in a meaningful way, that connects their lives and circumstances to the truth of Jesus Christ. But I'll never be able to stand behind a pulpit and touch each person's specific experience and challenges in a comprehensive way. We must inevitably deal in some generalities. It is more important to be able to clearly communicate the foundational principles, so that, no matter what situation any person finds themselves in, they would have the foundation required to arrive at a godly answer. How sad would it be if the average Christian didn't know how to live faithfully in a situation because they hadn't heard a specific sermon on that specific topic?
Even when God handed down the law for the people of the Old Covenant, he did not give them specifics of what to do in every single imaginable circumstance. Instead God gave them what we would call "case law". He set down the principles first in the 10 commandments as the immovable foundation, and then the remainder of the law as the worked examples (generalising, I know). From there, they had everything they needed to have a flourishing godly community, no matter what individual circumstances they faced.
For us, I say get back to the deep truths of old that never move, and be so thoroughly shaped by them that you are not subject to any external influence other than the truth of God revealed to you by the Spirit. Ask for wisdom, learn the worked examples and be prepared for whatever comes next.
"Everyone who comes to me [Jesus,] and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock" (Lk 6:47–48).
"My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart." (Pr 7:1–3).
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you." (Ps 89:14).
Importance of Foundational Principles
When we come to teach children to read and write, where do we start? With the alphabet! This is the foundation for all that follows.
When we come to science, where do we start? The scientific method! Everything that follows is based on this.
When we come to philosophy, where do we start? With logic! It undergirds everything that comes after.
We need the foundational elements in order to understand and use these tools properly. If two people write to communicate, but they have different alphabets, then they will be unable to understand each other, at least not without a lot of work. If two people come together to search out specific truth in the physical world, but one will not use the scientific method, then that person's conclusions are untrustworthy. If two people come together to discuss philosophy but one does not understand logic, then it will be impossible to get anywhere meaningful.
Foundational principles are very important! Especially in our worldview! We need definitive, immovable principles, on which to interpret the world and how we should live in it.
We used to assume that most of our neighbours, colleagues and mates shared some common worldview ground. However, what has become apparent is that what we thought was common ground was actually common conclusions.
We had landed in the same place, but we got there different ways. I think this is because we don't share the same foundations.
The things we took for granted as immovable standards for living in community have dissolved before our eyes. Instead of quibbling over finer points, but basically being in agreement, we're in completely different places, seemingly irreconcilable.
My attempts at bridging these gaps with people I meet have usually not gone anywhere. And you know why? I think it is because I have tried to win people to the conclusion without establishing a foundation.
The principles that undergird our worldview are essential for getting to the right answer. If we don't have the principles, our answers are based on emotion or tradition or external pressure.
One time Jesus was challenged on a finer point of theology by the Pharisees in Luke 19. They wanted to see where Jesus landed with regard to specific grounds for divorce. What did Jesus do? He went back to the principle - God's creation design. They were missing the forest for the tree. They wouldn't be able to come to a good conclusion without going back to the foundational principles.
King Saul tried to do good things for God, but he didn't understand the principles of godliness. This lead to his downfall (1 Sam 15).
Ascetics and Judaisers in the early church were a symptom of a similar problem. They didn't understand the principles of their faith properly, this meant they got way off track.
In our context, it is easy to see how different the world is from the historical context of the Bible, but we know God's truth is timeless. So we inherently know that God's word should inform the way we live, but sometimes we struggle to connect the truth to the circumstances.
If we have the biblical principles down-pat, then half the work is done. It gives us a solid starting point to build on when tackling the issues of our day. We can go back to the foundations to check if our conclusions are right.
If we share the same foundations as a brother or sister in Christ, we can hash out the specific applications, sometimes landing on slightly different perspectives based on conscience.
What is awful is when you see bothers or sisters in Christ who have a "pick and choose" attitude toward biblical foundations. They will happily take the ones that are convenient and not too heavy and then judge everything else through that lens. These are Christians who always skip leg day - some parts of their faith are really robust, but the whole picture is really let down by their obvious weaknesses.
As a preacher, I hope to apply the text to people in a meaningful way, that connects their lives and circumstances to the truth of Jesus Christ. But I'll never be able to stand behind a pulpit and touch each person's specific experience and challenges in a comprehensive way. We must inevitably deal in some generalities. It is more important to be able to clearly communicate the foundational principles, so that, no matter what situation any person finds themselves in, they would have the foundation required to arrive at a godly answer. How sad would it be if the average Christian didn't know how to live faithfully in a situation because they hadn't heard a specific sermon on that specific topic?
Even when God handed down the law for the people of the Old Covenant, he did not give them specifics of what to do in every single imaginable circumstance. Instead God gave them what we would call "case law". He set down the principles first in the 10 commandments as the immovable foundation, and then the remainder of the law as the worked examples (generalising, I know). From there, they had everything they needed to have a flourishing godly community, no matter what individual circumstances they faced.
For us, I say get back to the deep truths of old that never move, and be so thoroughly shaped by them that you are not subject to any external influence other than the truth of God revealed to you by the Spirit. Ask for wisdom, learn the worked examples and be prepared for whatever comes next.
"Everyone who comes to me [Jesus,] and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock" (Lk 6:47–48).
"My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart." (Pr 7:1–3).
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you." (Ps 89:14).
"Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways." (Ps 119:33–37).
Samuel Lindsay