Monday, April 11, 2016
491 - Explaining Things
Spirituality Column #491
April 12, 2016
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Ignorance of the law is no excuse; neither is ignorance of the Bible.
Whether growing in one’s faith or defending one’s mind and morals, the Bible is where truth is best told and trusted. Jesus is where truth ultimately resides.
Faced 24/7/365 with the scripturally misquoting, spiritually disingenuous, that’s-just-your-opinion, sin-enabling world around us, what do we do about that?
We hold fast to the truth, that’s what. Identify the accurate from the inaccurate. Know what scripture says and what it doesn’t. Know the difference between the Law and legalism, and faith and love. Go to trusted sources for education not only of Bible truths but about origins, contexts and differences of those who follow different gods or pervert God’s truth. Embolden our hearts, strengthen our minds, and pray in the Spirit.
Above all, let God’s Word wash over us with peace, love, mercy, forgiveness and patience. In other words, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-20).
Jesus and the Apostle Paul are the New Testament’s leading examples of knowing one’s enemies, i.e., the devil’s schemes that play endlessly in humanity’s heart for which Jesus suffered and died to forgive, and Paul labored to expose and explain. Both were hated by contemporary cultural authorities.
That’s kind of where humanity and Christianity still are. The Pharisees of our day surround us with virulent, anti- and extra-biblical “truth” that plays to temporal choice, rights and convenience courting every imaginable denial of God, Jesus, the Spirit and everlasting truth.
Case in point: A “hilarious” billboard in Mississippi from a ‘humanitarian” organization protests a recent religious freedom law. It features a shaking-my-head Jesus image that reads: “Guys, I said I hate figs, and to love your neighbor.”
Insulting, insinuated gay epithets aside, this is biblical ignorance on parade. Luke 13 and Mark 11 tell of Jesus cursing a barren, unproductive fig tree when Jesus was hungry…for figs. Lesson B: Jesus likes figs. Lesson A: Jesus curses unproductivity. Lesson A-plus: Enabling sin is not loving one’s neighbor. Extra Credit: “Humanitarian?” Jesus is our true humanity. Oy.
Removing scriptural truth from contemporary intellectual endeavor and societal normalcy deserves far more than a traffic ticket – “Sorry officer, I didn’t seen the sign …” Let’s not be part of that problem of scriptural illiteracy and cultural evil. We can diligently, bravely and boldly, with discipline and love, stay in the Word for truth, in church for fellowship and on mission for Christ.
Jesus didn’t always explain things, and we don’t have to either.
But He did know and live the truth. So can we.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) has missed lots of signs and gotten lots of tickets.
April 12, 2016
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Explaining Things
By Bob WaltersIgnorance of the law is no excuse; neither is ignorance of the Bible.
Whether growing in one’s faith or defending one’s mind and morals, the Bible is where truth is best told and trusted. Jesus is where truth ultimately resides.
Faced 24/7/365 with the scripturally misquoting, spiritually disingenuous, that’s-just-your-opinion, sin-enabling world around us, what do we do about that?
We hold fast to the truth, that’s what. Identify the accurate from the inaccurate. Know what scripture says and what it doesn’t. Know the difference between the Law and legalism, and faith and love. Go to trusted sources for education not only of Bible truths but about origins, contexts and differences of those who follow different gods or pervert God’s truth. Embolden our hearts, strengthen our minds, and pray in the Spirit.
Above all, let God’s Word wash over us with peace, love, mercy, forgiveness and patience. In other words, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-20).
Jesus and the Apostle Paul are the New Testament’s leading examples of knowing one’s enemies, i.e., the devil’s schemes that play endlessly in humanity’s heart for which Jesus suffered and died to forgive, and Paul labored to expose and explain. Both were hated by contemporary cultural authorities.
That’s kind of where humanity and Christianity still are. The Pharisees of our day surround us with virulent, anti- and extra-biblical “truth” that plays to temporal choice, rights and convenience courting every imaginable denial of God, Jesus, the Spirit and everlasting truth.
Case in point: A “hilarious” billboard in Mississippi from a ‘humanitarian” organization protests a recent religious freedom law. It features a shaking-my-head Jesus image that reads: “Guys, I said I hate figs, and to love your neighbor.”
Insulting, insinuated gay epithets aside, this is biblical ignorance on parade. Luke 13 and Mark 11 tell of Jesus cursing a barren, unproductive fig tree when Jesus was hungry…for figs. Lesson B: Jesus likes figs. Lesson A: Jesus curses unproductivity. Lesson A-plus: Enabling sin is not loving one’s neighbor. Extra Credit: “Humanitarian?” Jesus is our true humanity. Oy.
Removing scriptural truth from contemporary intellectual endeavor and societal normalcy deserves far more than a traffic ticket – “Sorry officer, I didn’t seen the sign …” Let’s not be part of that problem of scriptural illiteracy and cultural evil. We can diligently, bravely and boldly, with discipline and love, stay in the Word for truth, in church for fellowship and on mission for Christ.
Jesus didn’t always explain things, and we don’t have to either.
But He did know and live the truth. So can we.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) has missed lots of signs and gotten lots of tickets.
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