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....

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.

Finger of God (Film) part 8 of 10

How Fieldy Got the Life - CBN.com

The B52's - Rock Lobster

On Being Radical...Really.

"Nothing perpetuates ignorance worse than unenlightened enthusiasm," said Major Ian Thomas, one of my major influences in the Christian life. When Christians (or anyone, really) run around talking about things they have no real understanding of, this creates misunderstandings of the truth and perpetuates ignorance, the lack of real knowledge. 

C.S. Lewis, another major influence, warned about the dangers of words that are misused, meaning words applied in a way that isn't in agreement with their true definition. Thus, the misuse of the word alters the definition in the public mind. An example of this would be the word, "gay", which once meant light-hearted, carefree, cheerful, happy. But, due to misuse and misapplication, the primary definition has changed in public understanding to mean "homosexual". Whereas the word at one time meant only one idea, now it has been truncated from its original definition and is rarely ever (and maybe, can never be) used in that way. "Gay", in its original sense, has been lost, by and large. 

Lewis foresaw the dangers of misusing words and warned that once we begin to use words outside of their true definition, the result would be confusion and a communication breakdown, creating multiple definitions which could be used to fit one's own tastes or group agenda. In other words, there would be no absolute definitions; words would mean what one wanted them to mean. As a result, truth and understanding would become relative and muddied with no clear meaning at all.

I believe this has happened with the word "radical". Most Christians, upon hearing the word, think of ideas like extreme, "on fire", extraordinary, unfettered, maybe even "revolutionary". But the original meaning of the word means something completely different from all of these. Radical means "rooted". It's where we get the word "radish" from. So, to be radical means to be "rooted". Not quite as glorious and exciting as "extreme" or "on fire", is it? But the true meaning of the word teaches us some important truths about living a vital and real Christian life, truths that we need to seriously consider.

Radical means "rooted; i.e., to be like a root". A root is buried in its source of life. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him..." (Col. 2:7). If a root is ever pulled up from the life-source, it dries up - and so does everything that depends upon it.

Another characteristic of a root is that it's stationary. A root doesn't "unplug" itself and go somewhere when it wants. A root is "put" - it's where it's at because someone (really, Someone) wanted it there. Roots that get uprooted too often usually do not thrive. Roots are satisfied with where they stay put. 

That being said, the sign of a good, healthy root is that it will produce life and ultimately fruit wherever it's planted. A healthy root will "bloom where it's planted". One of its secrets is this: when things get tough, they don't uproot themselves and go somewhere else. They quietly go deeper into their source of life. When it's dry up top, they reach even deeper; they become even more "rooted" in their surroundings.

A radical Christian is a "rooted" Christian. This doesn't mean they won't be sent out from time to time. But that's the key: roots never move themselves; the gardener moves them - or they won't move at all. 

Now that we know what the word "radical" really means and implies...

Be radical!

A New Direction: Change is Coming...

Change is coming.


I am resurrecting this blog again, but will go in a new direction that's, at the moment, undetermined.  So, stay tuned and I hope you'll find it helpful, good, and worth your time.

It's all about Jesus and following Him....

Gary