The mission of Soothkeep is the pursuit of truth in doctrine, discernment, and devotion. We want to see the church, or significant portions at any rate, on higher ground when the last trumpet sounds.
- We seek to passionately pursue, accurately apprehend, and unflinchingly reflect the truth of God revealed in the pages of Scripture.
- We seek to consistently apply this truth to the circumstances and issues that beset the church in the last days.
- We seek to be faithful in practical truths like love and grace as well as in vital doctrinal truths.
- We believe that zeal and devotion have no more value than the truthfulness of the testimony they are associated with.
- Commitment to error is not faith but superstition. God may honor men despite their error, but he cannot honor the error without dishonoring himself.
The method of this pursuit of truth is a rigorous application of the historical-grammatical hermeneutic (literal interpretation).
- By the historical-grammatical hermeneutic, I mean the understanding derived from the grammar and vocabulary, the historical context, the textual context, parallel passages, other passages that cast light on the subject, and the general tenor of Scripture.
- By rigorous I mean not beholden to the platform of any particular denomination or association, creed or confession, theology or anti-theology, discernment or apologetic ministry, or any particular brand of fundamentalism or dispensationalism — though I most definitely identify as a dispensationalist and a fundamentalist. We should, ultimately, be beholden to the word of God alone.
- This is not to be understood as a rejection of theology or doctrine, for I strongly believe that the truths revealed in the Bible can be and were intended to be systematized, and I strongly believe that God gave us gifted teachers so we can enjoy the spiritual benefit of “iron sharpens iron” and “safety in the multitude of counselors.”
The matter of this pursuit of truth covers the full spectrum of the battle for the mind and heart of the believer.
I encourage men to think outside the fog of:
- the status quo, the popular, the politically correct
- theological systems erected on philosophical errors
- sectarian prejudice and its resistance to truth
- the common mistakes in reason and thought
- elevating experiences and “the Spirit” over objective revelation (the Bible)
I aim to set God’s people free from:
- errors in eschatology
- errors on God’s government and redemption
- errors that undermine the Bible and evangelicalism
- errors that promote hyperspirituality
- errors that drive traditionalism and progressivism
We undermine this pursuit of truth unless we make a clear distinction between the truth in the sense of that body of teaching that God has revealed to us in the Bible and “the truth” in the sense of our best efforts to apprehend and express that revelation.
- If we confuse these two, whether ignorantly or motivated by testimonial pride, we greatly hinder our ability to be freed from error.
- We should implement this distinction not merely in contrast to the big errors that contend with the camp of truth but also in contrast to the small errors that mar the camp of truth.