Page 158 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

COUNT - COVENANT

person. This is the mistake that was made in the 1970s the counsel from the wise person. Most people who are
by the Pentecostal Shepherding Movement. They taught considered wise will not hastily pass out counsel.”
that each believer should submit to a “shepherd” who 6. Seek counsel in fellowship with God and in the
was someone appointed by the church. No decision was light of His Word. It is idolatry to put one’s trust in man
to be made without consulting this “shepherd.” The rather than God (Je. 17:5-8) or to submit to a man
result was widespread abuse. Pastors and teachers and blindly as if he were God. God gives human authorities
disciplers are important helpers, but the believer is to and teachers to help us, and they are very important.
have only one Master, which is Christ. I must warn that But ultimately our confidence must be in God and we
“a multitude of counselors” can result in confusion if must get wisdom directly from Him. The Bill Gothard
those counselors are not godly, biblically wise, and “chain of authority” approach is to obey the authority
doctrinally likeminded! blindly, but the Bible doesn’t support that. Jesus said
3. Seek counsel from near people (Pr. 27:10). Many that if we love even mother or father more than Him we
times people seek counsel from those who are far off are not worthy to be His disciples (Mt. 10:37).
rather than those who are near, and though this is not Obviously, then, there is a time when we must go
always wrong, it is often done for the wrong reason. A against what our authority figures demand. And when is
lot of strangers have written to me through the years to that? It is when they are leading us contrary to God’s
ask my opinion about situations in their family or will as supported by His Word. The apostles taught that
church, and I have always thought this to be strange, we must obey God rather than man (Ac. 5:29). One of
since I know nothing about them and have no way of the first converts in one of our churches in Nepal was a
knowing the full picture. People sometimes want to seek teenage girl. Her Hindu parents and her older sisters
counsel from those afar off for the very reason that they forbade her to attend church, but she put Christ first
don’t know them and their situation, but it is for this and obeyed God’s Word and attended services every
very reason that we should usually seek counsel from chance she got. As a result, nearly her entire family
those who are near. For a young person, the first line of came to Christ. We must honor earthly authorities as far
counsel should be his or her own parents, particularly if as possible, but Christ must be our first and only Master.
they are believers (Ep. 6:1-3). The next line of counsel As we noted earlier, the bottom line is that we must be
would be one’s church leaders. God gives leaders to the Bereans and test everything by God’s Word (Ac. 17:11).
churches to watch over His people and to help them, Let us hasten to emphasize that we must not test
like a shepherd with sheep. Godly church leaders “watch counsel by our personal opinions, by the thinking of
for your souls” (He. 13:17). They think about the society, by our peers, by the pop culture, by human
church members and pray for them and desire the best psychology, or by any other thing other than God’s
for each of them, and God gives them particular Word. [See Admonish, Chasten, Convince, Correction,
wisdom. In our church we urge the young people who Exhort, Rebuke, Reproof.]
are thinking about marriage to talk with their parents COUNT. (1) To number; estimate (Ex. 12:4; Le.
and then to discuss the matter with their church leaders. 19:23; Nu. 23:10). (2) Account; deem; consider (Is.
If a boy is interested in a certain girl, we urge him not to 5:28; Ac. 20:24; Ja. 1:2; 5:11; 2 Pe. 2:13; 3:9).
pursue the matter until he has talked it over with the COURSE. (1) In due order; one by one (1 Co.
leaders. They know things that the young people don’t 14:27). (2) Company; distribution of service among the
know, and they can give good advice about whether it is priests (1 Ch. 27:1; Lk. 1:8). (3) Proper order (Ps.
wise to pursue a certain relationship. Invariably, those 82:5). (4) Way; path; progress (Je. 23:10; Ac. 16:11).
who have ignored this procedure have made a mess of (5) Career; race; assigned duty (Ac. 13:25; 20:24).
things! COUSIN. A kinsman or kinswoman. The word
4. Seek counsel from caring people. It is wise to seek denotes any one who is not in the first degree of
counsel from those who not only know you but who relationship (The Bible Word-Book) (Lk. 1:36, 58).
care about you and are interested in your spiritual
welfare. A young person, for example, will get better COUNTENANCE. (1) Face; expression; disposition
counsel from a spiritual leader who is praying for him (Ps. 10:4; Da. 5:6). (2) Appearance (1 Sa. 16:7; 17:42;
rather than from someone else who is not interested in 2 Sa. 14:27; 25:3; Da. 1:15; Mt. 28:3; Re. 1:16).
his spiritual well-being and who is uninvolved in his life COUNTERVAIL. To act against with equal force, or
in this way. power; to equal; to balance; to compensate (Es. 7:4)
5. Seek counsel earnestly (Pr. 20:5). One pastor (Webster).
observed: “Not every counselor will be quick to give COVENANT. A covenant is an agreement and a
counsel. The person seeking the counsel has the promise. God has made several covenants with man.
responsibility of sincerely and purposefully drawing out

158 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity