“Cut and Dried”
Chuck Northrop
The
expression “cut and dried” probably comes from agriculture referring to hay or
wheat or some other crop as it is processed from the fields. It has come to mean
something that is complete or finished.
Recently while reading an article about this very thing, the writer said, “the
more narrow our viewpoints the more ‘cut and dried’ our conclusions and
positions.” As we consider this statement, there are some alarming things about
it. The narrowness or broadness of a Christian should not depend upon his or her
viewpoints but upon the word of God. It is “cut and dried” because the
Christian’s life is the narrow way — not because of my viewpoint, but because of
what the Lord taught in the great Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “Enter ye in
at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”
(Matthew 7:13-14). God’s way is the narrow way, because we are not to add to it
nor take from it (Revelation 22:18-19), and we are not to go beyond it (2 John
9).
Another alarming thing that this writer said was, “For a matter to be ‘cut and
dried’ tends to relieve us of any obligation to study, listen or struggle with
the problems involved.” It is my conviction that this writer does not understand
truth. Truth must have the characteristic of being “cut and dried” for it to be
truth. Truth cannot be “wishy-washy” with many different and opposing
conclusions. Since truth is “cut and dried,” it generates an urgent need to
study in order to understand the narrowness of truth. Wouldn’t you imagine Nadab
and Abihu now wishes they had spent a little more time in trying to understand
the will of God so they could please Him (Leviticus 10:1-2)? Don’t you imagine
Uzza now wishes that he had spent the time searching the truth to understand how
to move the ark (1 Chronicles 13:7-10)? Certainly after Uzza died, David did.
When they went back to bring the ark, David said, “God made a breach upon us,
for that we sought Him not after the due order.” The Levites then brought the
ark “as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord” (1 Chronicles
15:13-15).
Christians seek to understand truth because of their love for God (John 14:15).
They conform their lives to the “cut and dried” truth, because they realize that
it is God’s will and there are great blessings awaiting those who will obey His
will. The writer of the article said, “truth is alive...” He is right. Truth is
alive, but not because it changes from culture to culture or generation to
generation or person to person, but because it changes lives. Paul stated in
2Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.” Truth is alive because it teaches (doctrine), and we test (reproof)
ourselves accordingly; then we make the needed corrections in order to be
perfect or mature.
It is foolish for one to think that we cannot know truth absolutely since Jesus
said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John
8:32). God is not some foolish or vicious God who gives instructions that cannot
be understood. We know that we will be judged according to His word (John
12:48), and only a vicious God would judge mankind according to that which
cannot be understood by mankind. Since God is a loving God, and we will be
judged according to His word, we can know His word, His truth, His will, but it
takes study and meditation.
Yes, the word of God is “cut and dried” and, therefore, our beliefs and
convictions should also be “cut and dried” because they should be based upon the
Word of God. By the way, in the article mentioned, there was not a single
scripture cited nor even alluded to. Of course that just means the article was
not so “cut and dried”!
