Leveraging Biblical Truths

The “Laws of Leverage” are associated with Archimedes,

He is reported to have said that “given a long enough lever and the right place to stand, he could move the earth.”

“Levers” are force multipliers.

They multiply the ability to apply force to an object, such as a large boulder.

The law of leverage trades off distance for force.

Another typical example is a multi-speed bicycle.
You pedal more (greater movement or distance) but lessen the force needed to propel you.
Or you pedal less (less movement or distance) and increase the force needed to propel you.
Gears are just another form of a lever.

When you combine “Bible truth” and “leverage,” you get some pretty interesting results!

Bible truths and principles can be used to leverage misconduct, wrongdoing, irresponsibility, inappropriate conduct, lovelessness, selfishness, and abusive behavior. [1]

Legitimate and genuine biblical truths and principles can be and are used to . . . .

  • . . . . explain a response 
    “We were just being honest and believed it was time to speak the truth in love.” and/or
  • . . . avoid addressing the issues at hand
    “Jesus refused to respond and “opened not His mouth.” [3]

While these truths and principles are biblical, they are now used as a strategy! 

It is a strategy, not spirituality! 

It is a way to hide and avoid an issue rather than stepping up and addressing it.
Leveraging biblical truths and principles is a method for dismissing legitimate or illegitimate questions.
It is a strategy to avoid answering questions, not a step toward accepting responsibility.
Leveraging precludes and dodges leveling.
Rather than leveling and resolving some potential questions (if not wrongdoing), an accepted Bible truth or principle is deployed to quiet God’s people. 

Some Further Thoughts:

  • The pulpit can be used to leverage Bible truths and principles.
  • When pastors have no clear and established sermonic plan, Bible passages are easily selected to leverage a current issue.
  • The pulpit is to edify, not control.
  • Typically, biblical leveraging involves responding with a “one sentence” Bible truth or principle.  That one truth should settle the issue.
  • This “one sentence strategy” prevents further questions from being asked or the issue from being addressed.  To ask another question is seen as disrespectful or challenging their authority / position.

“Biblical Leveraging” is a force multiplier that allows leadership to move people out of their way. [4]



 

  1. “Christianity Today” published an article on the actions of John Mac Arthur.
    When CT publishes an article on a well-known pastor like John Mac Arthur, you know it’s bad!

    An all too typical example of using Bible truths and principles as leverage is being played out today by the leadership of GCC / John Mac Arthur. The issue is not a wrongdoing that occurred years ago, but a refusal to recognize the wrongness as the facts of the situation became known. The leadership of GCC has been forced to issue a statement. That statement leverages legitimate biblical truths and principles in order to dismiss the criticisms and defend the strategy of refusing to answer questions and speak to legitimate issues genuinely.

    https://julieroys.com/opinion-open-letter-to-john-macarthur/
    https://christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/grace-community-church-elder-biblical-counseling-abuse.html
    https://churchleaders.com/news/444567-documented-evidence-grace-community-church-christianity-today-lies.html

 3.  Here are but a few examples:

Used to evade the work of planning: “The power is not in a program.”
Unless a program is just an organized way of reaching and/or meeting the needs of people.

Used to avoid doing what you ought to do: “I’m just trusting the Lord.” / “We need to just trust God.”
Doing is not the opposite of trusting God.

Used to justify unrighteous anger: “Just drove the money changers out of the Temple!”
Yes, there are things we should be angry about, but probably not when our anger involves us.

Used to stop criticism (fair or unfair criticism): “Matthew 18 states that . . . .”
What an abused passage of Scripture this has become!

Used to evade accountability: “Sowing Discord & gossipping is sinful.”
It is, but are there legitimate (or illegitimate) questions that can be and/or should be asked?
Is asking questions for the sake of clarity, or even calling someone out for wrongdoing, biblical gossip, or sowing discord?

4. Just for the record . . . .
This is the leveraging strategy and methodology that is being used to prevent legitimate and illegitimate questions concerning today’s “Asbury Revival.”  Passages in the book of Acts are being dispensed to prevent and avoid asking some serious and legitimate questions.  One question is . . . . “How is it that this “revival” again finds its locus in Wilmore, Kentucky, and at a Wesleyan-Holiness Methodist seminary?  Could it be related to the ideology of that Christian tradition?

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