Details Matter

Articles From Our Bulletins

Philip C. Strong
09/08/20 - Bulletin Articles

We live in a world where details matter. Specificity is a “must” in most facets of our lives. Accuracy in detail is seemingly always required. Some of this is the product of living in a litigious environment, and some of it is the result of living with close tolerances of time and money. All of which has made details vitally important in virtually every part of our lives- the details matter to us today; and those who don’t manage the those details well, seemingly get left behind, or out. Most folks realize this, and have thus become “detail-oriented” people.

But here’s a strange contrast: while we have become more “detail-oriented” in most areas of our lives, we have also become less “detail-oriented” in our religious devotion. Perhaps we’re just “detailed-out” by the time we get to God. Surely God should take priority over all the other details of our lives, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Unfortunately, God is often left with the non-specific “leftovers” of our otherwise “detail-dominated” lives.

The thing that really bothers me about all of this lack of attention to details in our religious devotion is that God is Himself “detail-oriented.” He was very specific in telling Noah exactly how to build the ark, and what provisions and animals to put in it (Genesis 6:13-21). Noah followed God’s detailed instructions to the letter, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” (Genesis 6:22) Because of Noah’s faithful “attention to detail” in his obedience, he, his family, and the animals were saved from the flood, Hebrews 11:7.

Likewise, Moses was given very detailed instructions on how to build the tabernacle (the temporary “tent of meeting” God used to commune with the Israelites during the time of their wilderness wanderings). Hebrews 8:5 records the specificity of God’s command, “just as Moses was warned by God, when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, ‘See,’ He says, ‘That you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.’” The “details” mattered to God.

Things didn’t change in the New Testament either. Note the apostle Paul’s inspired warning to the Philippian church, “Brethren, join in following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us (meaning, “the apostles”), Philippians 3:17. Details still mattered to God. The abundant grace afforded through Christ did not change the fact that God gave specific instructions that He expected to be fully obeyed in order to enjoy continued fellowship with Him. The New Testament is the Law of God for all people today; cf. Hebrews 1:1-2, so the details and specificity of His commands from it apply equally to us now.

So how is it that many today believe and espouse, “It really doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re honest and sincere”? That just doesn’t seem to match God’s “detail-oriented” nature and commands, does it? While God’s commands for us are not difficult to comprehend or obey, they are specific, and the details still matter. Take the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, for example (cf. Acts 9:1-22; 22:3-15). He saw the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, believed Jesus with all his heart, had a personal conversation with Him, and fasted and prayed for three days afterwards, but still had to meet God’s specific requirement of baptism in order to be saved. How do I know that? Read Acts 22:16, where, after Paul had seen and experienced and done all of the above, he was told, “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” The details of Saul’s conversion were important to the Lord, and should be to us because we’re saved in the exact same way.

Like Saul, we’re not saved through “seeing” the Lord; or through just “believing” in Him; or through having personal conversation/contact with Him; or through fasting and prayer- but through obeying the specific details of His commands. Those other things were important parts of the process, but Saul still needed baptism to be saved. He didn’t quibble, excuse himself, or point to his previous experiences and prior obedience for justification. He just got up and did what God said- because the details mattered to God. They still do, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

We can’t believe and practice anything we want to call “religion” and expect God to accept it as such. We have to do what He said, how He said- because the details matter to Him. They did for Noah; they did for Moses; they did for Saul; and they do for us!