Direction 3: Seeking Truth: Beware of People Pleasing
From Part 3 of Baxter’s Christian Directory. Chapter 7: Directions for the Discovery of the Truth among Contenders, and the Escape of Heresy and Deceit. Direction 3
Introduction
“‘Seek after truth without too great or too small regard to the judgment of others: neither contemn them, nor be captivated to them.’ Use the help of the wise; but give not up your reason absolutely to any. Engage not yourselves in a party, so as to espouse their errors, or implicitly to believe whatever they say; for this breedeth in you a secret desire to please your party, and interesteth you in their dividing interest, and maketh you betray the truth to be accounted orthodox by those you value.” Richard Baxter
In our pursuit of truth, we must navigate the delicate balance between valuing others’ insights and maintaining our own discernment. Richard Baxter offers us much wisdom and timeless guidance on this matter. He urges us to seek truth earnestly while avoiding the pitfalls of blind allegiance to any group. I find Baxter’s wisdom this week more relevant than ever as each day we seem to increasingly risk “going along to get along” in political, theological, and social matters, to name only a few. As we delve into this lesson, let’s explore how to apply these principles in our spiritual journey, seeking to be vigilant in maintaining God’s Word as our standard.
Key Principles
1. Value Wise Counsel but Maintain Personal Discernment: Seeking wisdom from others is a biblical principle that helps us grow and gain understanding. Wise counsel can provide perspectives and insights we might not see on our own. However, it is equally important to retain personal discernment. While advice can often be beneficial, we must always evaluate it against the truth of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This ensures that we do not blindly follow others but make informed, godly decisions.
2. Avoid Blind Allegiance to Groups or Parties: The early church faced divisions as believers aligned themselves with various leaders. Paul addressed this issue by pointing out that such divisions distract from the centrality of Christ. Similarly, we must guard against forming exclusive allegiances to groups or leaders that could lead us away from unity in Christ. Our ultimate allegiance is to God; thus, we must always seek his approval rather than that of any individual or group of people. This helps maintain our focus on the gospel and prevents us from falling into divisive traps.
3. Pursue Truth with Integrity and Humility: The pursuit of truth is a lifelong journey that requires both integrity and humility. Integrity ensures that we are honest in our search and in how we handle the truths we discover. Humility keeps us open to learning and correction, recognizing that we do not have all the answers. Jesus tells us that knowing and keeping his teaching, which is the truth, will set us free, implying that truth leads to spiritual freedom and growth. By speaking the truth in love, we contribute to the edification of Christ’s Church. This principle calls us to be diligent and gracious seekers of truth, continually aligning ourselves with God’s Word (John 17:17).
Discussion and Personal Reflection Questions
1. Have you ever struggled with accepting advice or instruction from others? How did you handle it?
2. What are some ways you can ensure you are testing everything and holding fast to what is good?
3. Have you ever felt pressured to align with a particular group or party? How did that affect your beliefs and actions?
4. How do you balance seeking approval from others with seeking approval from God?
5. What does “speaking the truth in love” look like in your daily relationships and interactions?
6. How do you apply the truth of Scripture in your daily walk with Christ?
7. How has knowing the truth set you free in specific areas of your life?
8. In what ways can humility and integrity guide your pursuit of truth? Give some practical examples.
9. How can you encourage others to pursue truth with Baxter’s balanced approach?
10. What steps can you take to grow in wisdom and discernment?
Action Steps
1. Pray for Wisdom: Regularly ask God for wisdom and discernment in your pursuit of truth (James 1:5).
2. Seek a Multitude of Counselors: Intentionally seek advice from a variety of wise and godly sources (Proverbs 11:14).
3. Evaluate Teachings: Rather than lazily accepting what you hear others pass along, continually test and evaluate formal and informal teachings against the truth of Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
4. Commit to Truth: Make a personal commitment to pursue truth with integrity and humility, regardless of external pressures (Ephesians 4:15). Then, and this is the hard part, live according to it.
Additional Scriptures for Meditation and Prayer
Proverbs 19:20 - Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 - But test everything; hold fast what is good.
1 Corinthians 1:12-13 - What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
John 8:32 - And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Ephesians 4:15 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts, seeking your wisdom and guidance. Teach us to value the counsel of the truly wise while still retaining our personal discernment grounded in your Word. Help us to avoid blind allegiance to any group of people, and instead, seek your truth above all else. Grant us the integrity and humility to pursue truth earnestly, and the courage to stand firm in it. You teach us in Isaiah that if we do not stand firm in you, we will not stand at all. May your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Please direct our steps by your good and gracious Spirit and help us to always speak the truth in love. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Dale, this is such a rich and engaging lesson. I appreciate your efforts as always.