|
Keep It Simple No More Foolish Questions
by Rev. Will. Harrison Jr. The Apostles Paul and Peter were having some difficulties in the days of the young Church with those who were almost obsessed with wanting to delve into "deeper" and more profound levels of teachings and theology. Especially from those converts from Greece who had been intellectuals and also from former Scribes and Pharisees who were "experts" in the Torah and writings of the Prophets. Paul in one of his Epistles, while addressing these issues, exhorts Christians in the Churches to "avoid foolish questions that only gender strife". In the interest of time and wanting to keep these devotionals shorter than my usual teachings, let me mention this. In our world today, especially in the more westernized and educated areas such as America, Canada, Australia, etc., there is an overabundance of teachings, insights, books, videos, taped messages, radio and TV broadcasts, and all over the Internet. that seem to spend almost all their allotted time discussing things that involve topics and issues that we do not even have a sufficient amount of Biblical information and insight on. Just like in Pauls day. And all of them seemingly in some kind of competition for the hearts and minds of Christians as to who is the "Most Enlightened". Even equating these qualities as higher degrees of spirituality and piety. Including the topics and issues surrounding the "rapture" and the timing of the Second Coming of Jesus, and statements such as "well what the Bible is really saying is.....". Some of these discussions do have their place and time [depending on what gets examined] but we see, as mankind usually does, taking this stuff way to an extreme. If we were in Heaven already it might seem a lot more appropriate for us to have these kinds of discussions, although there we will have the answers we need and are looking for, but not down here. Again, these discussions can be helpful, at times, conditionally, but it goes on way too much. Especially about things that will help absolutely none of us "get ready to meet the Lord", as the Bible says. It's almost a terrible waste of good teachers and preachers. Jesus himself cautioned about these kinds of things. Look it up. From my estimation the things that really need to be more emphasized are not and we are suffering a leanness of spirit and soul and relationships that we are paying dearly for. I've discovered in my own life that when I concentrate on what I really need to know and do to become more "ready" and "Christlike", even faultless, blameless, spotless, guiltless, mature, above reproach, etc. I have no time available even to discuss the rapture and how or when it's going to happen. I urge and exhort and entreat you my friends to heed this cautionary word from the Spirit and stick to the basics. Let's stop being afraid of looking dumb and uninformed and just say, "I don't know", and also, "It Doesn't Matter". Rev. Will. Harrison Jr. Minister since late seventies, living with disabilities, married with children, should not have been saved. Former white & blue collar businessman. President and Founder LifeBuilders Ministry www.lifebuilders.mysite.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |