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
