Recently, I heard a message about the woman who had been bound by Satan 18 years and was healed on the Sabbath day. This event in the life of Jesus is only told by Luke. It was supposed that perhaps this event is recorded by Luke under inspiration was that Luke, as a doctor, found it an interesting case.

I liked that thought.  A lot.

You see, for many years, I have heard “great leaders” talk about how they personally do things – how they organize a church, how they have children’s ministries, how they study the Bible, and so on in many areas. That’s OK, but most of these so-called “great leaders” go on to imply that their way is “the right way” – and that other ways are wrong or won’t be blessed by God. I have even heard one preacher hold forth how that the time of his evening service was the proper time, and that churches that have services at other times are somehow compromising or inferior. They justify this attitude because of their “success” – is not this great Babylon church, which I have built!

This is wrong for a few reasons: first, it is pragmatism. If we claim that the Bible is the only rule for faith and practice, why should we allow “because it works” to be a reason to validate anything? If the Bible is silent in some area, maybe it’s because more than one way is acceptable to God.

In the second place, it steals glory from God; the man making such a statement has forgotten that God builds the church. Jesus said, I will build my church. Let us not take credit for the work He has done.

Finally (and this is the main point from the event described in Luke), just because something works for one person does not mean that everyone needs to do it that way. God is willing to work with each person’s unique talents and likes and dislikes – as long as such things do not contradict His word.

How great of Him!  How wonderful is He!