The Humble Reality of Truth
Does God care about our theological “truth” as much as we do? How does a supernaturally inspired book create so much difference in beliefs? Does our whole person experience predispose us toward belief of a certain kind?Does our theology interact with our fallen condition, our pride and selfishness?What is the connection between beliefs and faith? If there are thousands of different versions of Christianity, which one is right, or true?Can we even know truth, or is really just a personal preference?
For all recorded history, and probably before, humans have wrestled with what is knowable and what isn't. Or what is absolute versus what is relative? The world looks at the church and sees all of the church’s differences as hypocritical, confusing, or a result of simple ignorance. During a small group meeting I was holding in my home at one point, the group had a conversation about how discipleship happens in the soul and spirit of the believer. A relatively new member of the group who worked in local media commented on how little he understood what we were talking about. He caught on quickly but then he followed up by saying his work in the media world caused him to view all Christians as ignorant and uneducated. He recognized that faith in Jesus was both rational and intellectual versus the blind ignorance he had assumed.
For me, following Jesus is the sanest and most rational decision I can make considering all of the variables. However, I understand why non-Christians view Christians as out-to-lunch. Our thousands of viewpoints don’t help our witness to the world. As Christians, we must be able to help others know what they believe and why. We can't convince them or convict them, that is the role of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). However, we can care enough to understand their confusion and questions and have reasonable answers to give them. When we condemn unbelievers for their unbelief it is like standing on a street corner and yelling to the crowds in a language they don't understand and then condemning them for not understanding. No one would imagine doing such a ridiculous thing yet that is what many Christians do when they fail to understand the questions of the world but simply condemn them.
The scripture speaks in multiple places about the failure of words alone to change the heart. The Apostle Paul wrote the following words,
"And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (I Corinthians 2:1-5 NASB)Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. (II Timothy 2:14)
The world mocks Christianity in great part because for two thousand years we have failed to head Paul's exhortation and wrangled about words. Those who have heard our wrangling have been ruined by it. Their capacity to believe was diminished and Satan won. Instead, we are to have a different focus. The Apostle Peter tells us in his first letter,
"Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame" (I Peter 3:13-16 NASB)
Jesus said, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another”(John 13:33-34 NASB).
Jesus’ words do not exclude the importance of correctly teaching and discerning God’s word to us through the Bible, but our focus is what matters. Let’s teach God’s word and teach it well, but let us love one another and demonstrate Jesus’ love to the world around us.
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