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Why Should We Investigate Principles?
Bible study on principles.

The Bible is the greatest Self-Help book ever written. The primary difference between the Bible and other Self-Help books is that the Bible instructs one in the way to come to God and receive God-Help. Then, God is the One who empowers us to improve ourselves rather than depending upon self.

Many popular self-help books today teach habits, life-styles, religious rituals, and the opinions of men. When I was in college I took a yoga class. We practiced relaxation. During the last class of the year the instructor lit a candle, placed it in the center of the room, and we all sat around it and practiced meditative relaxation. At the time, it all appeared rather innocent until I realized several years later that Yoga is a Hindu theistic philosophy. I was unhappy with myself that I did not investigate Yoga for myself. And, I resented the fact that the instructor had not informed our class about Yoga, as a religion, before teaching us yoga relaxation techniques.

It is important to investigate the principles underlying any self-help technique we consider practicing. For example: If it is wrong for a Christian to bow and worship Buddha, then it is wrong for a Christians to practice Zen self-help techniques. And, if it is wrong for a Christian to leave Christ and become a Yogi (an adherent of Yoga philosophy; Webster), then it is wrong for a Christian to practice yoga as a self-help technique.

"Principle" is: 1) a fundamental law, doctrine; 2) a rule or code of conduct (Webster). Principles and examples of application are present in the word of God. When properly applying the principles in the Bible, we develop a value system (an ethic, a belief of what is right and wrong) resulting in character.

"Character" is: 1) the complex of mental and ethical traits, applicable to a person or group; 2) moral excellence (Webster). The Bible refers to a person whose character has been molded by godly principles as virtuous.

Now this is the importance of investigating principles. We must learn the principles of God as taught in the Bible, apply them to our lives, and hence life virtuously before the Lord. There are many self-help books teaching different moral standards resulting in differing characters. But, we must appeal to God's moral standards and live accordingly.

Virtue comes from principles. The importance of virtue in a Christian's life is:

  • God has called us in glory and virtue (2 Pet. 1:3 NKJV)

  • we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, to proclaim the virtues of God (1 Pet. 2:9 RNT)

  • we are to live virtuously (2 Pet. 1:5 NKJV)

  • we are to meditate upon virtues (Phil. 4:8 NKJV)

There are a lot of people and books teaching a wide variety of virtues. Some are in accordance with the word of God, but many blatantly violate Biblical principles and are, therefore, immoral. Christians have a responsibility to search out the principles behind any philosophy of life before embracing it. Therefore, we begin this series of articles where every self-help, self-improvement guide should begin - with principles.