KNowing The Bible And Knowing The Truth, Part 1

There was a point in my Christian life that I believed that ALL Roman Catholics were going to Hell (regardless), that you could lose your salvation, and that ALL written prayers, liturgy and formalities in worship was "dead religion", and a host of other misguided beliefs. I'm glad to say that I was wrong - and that God is merciful!

In those days, I proudly called myself a "bible-believing" Christian. I was known as one who "knows his bible". Any question or topic was answered with chapter and verse, strictly.  And I really, sincerely thought that I knew the bible...but what I really knew was the explanations and interpretations that I liked and/or felt comfortable with, and the verses that I thought supported them. 

Since those days, I've changed my approach to Scripture. First, let me say that I believe the Bible to be the inspired, ineerant, infallible, written word of God, and that it contains all things necessary to salvation. Therefore, I approach the bible much more humbly now. Although Scripture is infallible, my understanding may be fallible. I also read the Scriptures prayerfully and prayerfully seeking His truth. I try not to read seeking justification or proof of my existing beliefs (although sometimes for discussions this may be necessary). I approach the Scriptures with predetermined intent to be honest with what I may find. If I come across something which brings something I currently believe into question, then I prayerfully seek out the Truth (which is His truth), even if it means that I admit I was wrong in my former belief and embrace the new one. And I must approach the Scriptures with submission and obedience already affirmed - if I am unwilling to obey the truth, God in His mercy will withhold the truth, if necessary.

Humility and dependence upon the Holy Spirit are crucial. They are crucial to knowing the Truth of God; they are not crucial to "knowing the bible".  The Pharisees knew the Old Testament scriptures very, very well - but they didn't know the Truth.  Truth is a Person, Jesus Christ. But, even in relationship with Jesus, we must never assume that we know Him through and through, inside and out. We must maintain humility and dependence if we are to ever grow in the knowledge of Him. To many times as a Christian, I have been filled with false confidence and arrogance, claiming to know His heart or mind on a matter, only to discover that I didn't know Him or the matter at hand as well as I thought I did - if at all.  Thankfully, God is merciful and humbled me, so that He could give me grace (He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble). 

In the next part, I want to give examples of the erroneous beliefs that I dogmatically held at one time. Perhaps, someone reading this may hold to some them at present. That's fine. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or heart. "Let each one be convinced in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5). But I will share how and why my mind was changed....

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)- Beliefnet.com

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)- Beliefnet.com

Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=8/12/2010

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=8/12/2010

Book Review: "Love & War" by John and Stasi Eldredge

This is, by far, the best book I've ever read on Christian marriage. John and Stasi Eldredge both have an incredible gift for writing with such vulnerability and transparency that it's like listening to life-long trusted friends sharing their hearts with you at your dinner table. The book is refreshing and practical, but more importantly, the wisdom on its pages doesn't flow from the latest statistics, recent surveys, or psychological journals. Instead, it flows from the personal journals and stories from the raw experience of learning how to love on the front lines. It's wisdom flows from the heart of God Himself, the Creator of marriage, spoken to both of them over their 25 years together. 

I usually don't like to use a highlighter in books. But with this one, I could not help myself. Even now, as I peruse the pages again, I see portions of bright yellow on nearly every page and I can not help but read it again. And as I do, I'm refreshed again...and again.

My wife and I have been married for nearly twelve years. We have a good marriage. But as I read this book, I realized that we can have a great marriage. And that's the other great thing about this book: it nurtures and inspires hope. I have come away from this book with a renewed belief that a good marriage isn't God's best; a great marriage is. But with that renewed belief, I have also been given insights from the heart of God - not principles to apply - that breathe life and courage (an important virtue in marriage) into my own heart.

And I will read this book again...soon.

It's easy to settle for being "comfortably numb" in any relationship, but it can not be permitted in Christian marriage. John and Stasi, as always, faithfully remind us that we are part of a bigger story and that our marriage, the success of our marriage, is instrumental in winning the war within the story. A vibrant, healthy Christian marriage advances the Kingdom of Heaven in the earth as much as (if not more than) casting out demons and moving in spiritual gifts. As God spoke to me one time, "What good is being able to cast out a demon if you act like one at home?" We are part of a great and epic story. And without a healthy marriage, we will break ranks and become spiritual POWs or casualties of the war.

I highly recommend this book to any Christian couples, thriving or surviving. You don't need someone to tell you what you need to do, what principles to apply, or where you screwed up. You need someone to come alongside you and to encourage you with wisdom from God, hope from His heart, and the promise of healing and resurrection. You need this book, because John and Stasi do just that. It's what they do best, I think.

Full Circle

I guess I've come full circle.

Two years ago, I became disenchanted with American christianity and the Church. (By "the Church", I refer to the collective body of Christians around the world; not necessarily to the Roman Catholic Church, but certainly including it.) I began to step "outside of my box" and to investigate what others and "outsiders" were saying about Christianity and the Church. I discovered that many of them really liked Jesus but not the Church. I also discovered that "my christianity" and "their christianity" were not the same as Jesus's Christianity. All of this was shocking and frightening to me, but I also knew that it was necessary and good. I was wrong on so many beliefs that I had cherished for so long that I knew the process of rediscovery would be hard, but in the end, worth it. Now, after two years, I've come full circle, but not back to the same place I started. I find myself embracing beliefs that are not newer or "more progressive". They are actually ancient and rooted and secure. And they are in the Church, not outside of it.

In the book of Proverbs, we are admonished not to "remove the ancient boundary which your fathers have set" (Prov. 22:28, 23:10). Although this verse is speaking of land allotments and properties, there is another point being made: the ancient boundaries are important. They serve and protect us; they clarify what is ours and what is not. Boundaries give us the freedom and security of knowing our place. They protect us from the selfishness within ourselves and within others who would seek to take what isn't legally theirs or ours. But, as many of us know deep in our own hearts and from our own experience, when the boundaries are ignored, whether by us or someone else against us, the consequences are painful, lingering, and potentially devastating. When the boundaries are pushed back or ignored, we set a precedent for our descendants. "What one generation allows in moderation, the next will abuse in excess."

In the obscure book of Jude, he speaks of "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (v. 3). "The faith" refers not to a spiritual act of belief, but instead, to a body of teachings that are authoritative and non-negotiable. These teachings are necessary for distinguishing and discerning truth and for proper, healthy growth in all areas of our humanity: spirit, soul, mind, will, and even body. The faith is revealed and taught to us by the Holy Spirit within and through the Church. The Church, corporately and individually, must conform to the faith - not the other way around. The faith is made up of those beliefs that have been believed by all Christians in all places and at all times from the beginning. If a belief wasn't present from the beginning, then it is not part of "the faith once for all delivered to the saints".

But what does all this talk about full circle, ancient boundaries and the faith have to do with anything? Just this: Much of what I hear being discussed nowadays is about what's wrong with the Church. One popular author and speaker said the Church is in trouble. I've even heard some Christians say that if the Church doesn't change, it will die. They talk about being "relevant", "dialogues", "conversations", and being "progressive" - all in reference to specific teachings within Christianity, how to "do church" and to the variety of interpretations and opinions. And that's what has helped to bring me back around.

The ancient boundaries, the faith, the Church, even Christianity itself, isn't the product of opinions, interpretations, preference, relevance, or social and cultural whims and influences. Instead, they are the gifts of God for the people of God. He gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth through the Church, through the ancient boundaries, through the faith. These are not archaic limitations and restrictions - they are the lines which mark the path of Life. They are the proofs for discerning His truth from what pluralism and relativism say is truth. They are the teachings that fulfill our humanity and bring us into the glory that He bestows and desires to give to all. These gifts are not the dictates of a tyrant, but of a loving Father who loves us and is committed to our best interests, based on what He knows, not what we think, prefer, or demand.

Jesus said, "I will build My church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Are there things in the Church that require our repentance and correction? Yes. But these are the result of moving ancient boundaries and disobedience to truths that have been in place from the beginning. They are not the result of poor craftsmanship on the part of the Builder. Jesus has built into His Church everything that is good, godly, healthy, and fulfilling - for us and for the world. If we reject the Church, we do so at our own risk.

I want to close by saying that I know there are folks reading this who have been burned "by the Church". I understand; I have, too - and I'm one of its shepherds. But, in truth, what we have been burned by isn't the Church, the boundaries, the faith, or Christianity. What burned us, what deeply hurt us, is sin - done to us and maybe even by us. And Jesus is grieved by it all - by what sin does to us and to others. And yet, He loves, He heals, He forgives, and He builds. Nonetheless, our safety and our welfare - as a people and as individuals - is within the Church. We live together or we die alone. But, one thing is certain, Jesus is building His Church and we have His promise that the gates of Hell will not prevail. And we can trust Him, the Master Builder, to fix and repair all that needs correcting. He loves us too much not to.

Joe Bonamassa - Further on up the Road (Featuring Eric Clapton) - Live a...