Descriptive and Prescriptive

 

 

Do not confuse these two

Regarding the Holy Word,

Because Judas hanged himself,

We don’t have to concur.

 

Descriptive is the narrative;

Prescriptive is the cure,

It’s the two great commandments

We must apply more.

 

A misapplied descriptive

Can be rather dangerous

Particularly if we try to apply it

In our frenzied rush.

 

Like "breaking the Bible"

For our daily devotion

And then without due thought

Deciding on an action.

 

 

 

Judas hanged himself:

Go thou and do likewise:

That you do, do so quickly:

Thus, your demise.

 

Three scriptural texts:

All three unrelated,

Regarding the mere descriptive

Do not be fixated.

 

 

Do not a doctrine build

On biblical one-offs,

These are mostly descriptive:

Not treatment for a cough.

 

It is somewhat trite

Like a denominational fight

Between Mudites and Non-Mudites

Lacking spiritual insight.

 

Two denominations

Based on how Jesus healed:

Both were blind to the message

That was being revealed.

 

 

With mud, one sect argued

Without, the other opposed,

Neither was open to the other;

They were both closed.

 

 

Here is another example

That is: speaking in tongues,

What again had been descriptive

Was interpreted wrong.

 

It became prescriptive

For receiving the Holy Spirit

And this for a Spirit-filled saint

Is now become an edict.

 

Love ye one another

Is certainly prescriptive

But how David loved Jonathan

Is rather descriptive.

 

Herein is the difference,

Understand this much,

For whether with mud or without,

It is Jesus’ healing touch.

 

Stewart Russell © March 12, 2025