Philosophy View of Principles
Principles are a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning.
Biblical View of Principles
The Bible is the final authority for all things and the means by which God provides principles for living in a way that protects us from harmful thinking and behaviours. Scripture clearly teaches how Christians are to live (Deuteronomy 22:8) we must use our ability to think and therefore understand how a principle applies in a particular situation. (Proverbs 2:10-12) For example, the Bible teaches that life is a gift from God.
Applying for a job or becoming a Christian member of a Church, there are policies and protocols we have to adhere to which are called principles.
When we think about the story of Daniel in the bible, despite the difficult circumstances he experienced, he remained true to God. He showed himself to be a man of principles as he refused to eat the meat offered to idols and insisted eat vegetables instead. He did not want to be tainted by associating with anything that might compromise his faith and offend God.
According to the Epistle Paul echoes in Hebrews 5:12 that for when, for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. In our walk with God we have to maintain the Christian principles and not to lean on our own understandings.
We can also refer to the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, which is found in Genesis 39:5-20. Joseph was sold to the Egyptians by his brothers; he ended up living with and working for a rich man called Potiphar. According to scriptures Joseph was well-built and a handsome man. During his time working in Potiphar’s house his wife tried to seduce Joseph but he rejected her advances. Joseph was committed to his God, we could say that he had Kingdom principles, his heart was on the things of God, he was not having any of it. He refused her advances and fled from the room. This is an example we as Christians need to follow, we should use those same principles to walk away from the things that is not pleasing to God. According to Philippians 3:14 We should press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
And after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.
No one is greater in this house than I am my master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.
She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,
she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us. He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.
When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.
Then she told him this story “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me.
But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.
Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined Genesis 39: 5-20 KJV
John Wesley was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist, who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day. He was educated at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford. He highlighted six Christian Principles.
Six Christian Principles:
The value, dignity and equality of every human being as created and intended by God. In the Gospel of John 10;10b
God’s longing for a world in which justice and peace are established and creation cared for. Book of Proverbs 31:8-9
Jesus’ commandments to love your neighbours. Epistle of James 2:14-17
The many exhortations in the Bible to defend the rights of the poor and needy and give unconditionally of the vulnerable, and the examples of Jesus who reached out to those on the edges of society.
John Wesley also quoted that we should not go to those who need us, but to those who need us the most. The calling of the Church to serve the World. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:4
6. The responsibility of Christians to work humbly with others for the common good. Words quoted from John Wesley, “I ask not about your doctrines; if your heart is right with my heart, then give me your hand.”These six Christian principles among others can inspire and guide us through our daily walk with God they can also help to support the vision, mission, values and priorities, as we continue our Christian journey.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!!
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