Do Your Kids Whine?

Rough Waters

"Jesus never said that He was the bridge over troubled waters, but He did say He would pull us through them, if we can stand the tow." -Greg Koukl

Saying, "I don't know"

I don't like to say, "I don't know" about something, especially when I've been studying that something for a few days.  I had to tell the Sunday School class that this morning while we were studying 1 Peter 3:21. 

I told them that the temptation when you come across a part of Scripture like this is to go with your tradition or what you've always heard on the subject and dismiss the difficulties that a passage may bring. 

I refused to do that this morning for 2 reasons:  #1. "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."-James 3:1  #2. When someone I'm listening to is dealing with a tough subject and they dance around it, while trying to sound very convincing, I have a hard time trusting that person's teaching on other, less difficult, topics. 

As a teacher God will judge me with greater strictness and this is a fearful thing to me. I don't want to stand before God and have Him question me on how I taught people and my only answer be, "Lord, I know I didn't search it out, but everyone believed X on that topic so it was impossible to explore Y, so I just took the easy route.  Forgive me."  I also know that as a student I have more trust in someone that's willing to say "I don't know" than I do in someone who will just give an answer hoping they are right.

In my mind the man that will say "I don't know" is taking it serious while the one who is giving all the answers, regardless of their confidence in them, is untrustworthy.  He's untrustworthy because he can never deal with one issue.......

WHAT IF HIS AND EVERYONE ELSE'S TRADITION IS WRONG?

He can't deal with this issue, not because his tradition is necessarily wrong, but because he's unwilling to even explore that possibility.

In the end, understanding 1 Peter 3:21 and the issue it raises concerning baptism and salvation isn't a subject one is going to be able to master in the time I was able to devote to it this week.  However, when that is the case we should not be pretending to have the answers and should instead stick with a more trustworth response, "I don't know."

Do You Read the Bible Literally?

I was asked today at school, by a former teacher, if I take the Bible literally when I read it.  First of all it was a blessing to be asked such a question while at a public school.  Second of all it was a blessing to have been prepared to answer this question by learning from people much smarter than myself. 

I've had this question posed to me in the past when I wasn't prepared to give it a proper answer so I just responded with what I assumed to be the most orthodox answer which was, "Yes, it's God's Word, so I take it literally." Usually this response to that question is followed by a series of questions that are designed to back you into a corner until you throw up your hands and say, "I don't know, I just know it's God's Word." I don't think this lady had that in mind, but in the past when I've been asked this question I have found that response to be less than persuasive. I think that's a fair criticism. I know I don't find that kind of response convincing when I'm trying to get someone to see the problems in their thinking on particular topics.

Some of you may be scratching your heads at this point thinking, "Reading it literally IS the orthodox position, so what are you talking about?" The problem with answering this question with a simple "yes" is that it's not a complete answer. If you only read the Bible literally then what do you do when you read the parables of Jesus? What about when Paul compares the Christian life to a race? Parables are generally figurative in nature.  The ones Jesus gave in the NT are figurative and so is Paul's description of following Christ, but they communicate a literal truth.  The problem is when you answer the question, "Do you read the Bible literally?" with a simple "yes" you don't have the leeway to take into account things in the Scriptures like parables or figurative speech.

So how should one answer this question? I've found that answering it the way Greg Koukl does generally stops people in their tracks.  It's really a common sense response if you just take a minute to think about it.  It's like one of those times when you hear someone explain something and you hit yourself on the forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

When someone asks you this question you should respond, "I read the Bible the same way I read anything else, such as a newspaper.  I read it in such a way as to understand what the author is trying to communicate.  I wouldn't read the sports page literally if it said, "Last night the Reds devoured the Braves." because doing so would mean that I had to believe that the Reds were a bunch a cannibles. This is clearly not what the author is trying to communicate and the context of the story guides me in this understanding.  Likewise I wouldn't read this list of stock prices in the Buisness section figuratively. When the context of what the author is writing requires that I read it literally, then I read it literally.  If the context requires that I understand it figuratively, then I read it that way. I apply these same rules when I read the Scriptures."

I hope this helps and when they bring up some part of Scripture that they don't "like" and say, "Well do you take this part literally?" You should put the question back to them and say, "How does this make sense if you read it figuratively?  And if I read it figuratively then what is the literal truth am I suppose to take from it?"

Your work will be done and you can sit back and watch them splash about in the sea of self-contradiction trying to explain away their "dislikes".  Don't forget to throw them the lifeline of the gospel though before they drown!

Also, remember to give this answer with gentleness and love.  Give it with understanding and care...dare I say even help them out as they splash around!

Is Your Brain Fixed?

The following is a conversation between my 5 year old son and 4 year old daughter tonight during our ride home.

Olivia: Daddy, if you look back here on the way home I might be asleep and you can tell me to wake up.
Thomas: Daddy, my brain is fixed and my mind is right so I know 'Livi is lying.
Daddy:  Thomas, 'Livi isn't lying if she says she "might be asleep".  She would only be lying if she said she "was asleep" when she wasn't.
Thomas: Yes daddy, but my mind is right and my brain is fixed so I know 'Livi is lying.
Olivia: Thomas, MY BRAIN is fixed and MY MIND is right and so I know your brain isn't fixed.
Thomas: MY BRAIN is too fixed. It's not a machine that has parts that break.
Olivia: Well, my brain is fixed and my mind is right.
Thomas:  'Livi, do you know who fixed my brain and makes my mind right?
Olivia: No.
Thomas: Guess.
Olivia: ***no response***
Thomas: 'Livi I'll give you a hint. His name starts with a "G".
Olivia: ***no response***
Thomas: 'Livi, it starts with "G, O, D" and He's sitting on a cloud.
Olivia: JESUS!
Thomas: That's right and He fixed my brain and it doesn't have any parts because heaven doesn't have any machines.
Olivia: Yeah, because Heaven doesn't have any machines that have parts that break down.
Thomas: So daddy, I know when 'Livi is lying when she says she's asleep, but she's really awake.
Olivia: McDonalds!

What ifs...

I wonder sometimes about the "what ifs" in life. What if I did that or didn't do this or said the other thing or on and on and on. I wonder if while I'm standing before Christ if I'll have any "what ifs" running through my mind.  What if I would have been more obedient? What if I would have witnessed more? What if I would have studied the Scriptures more? and on and on and on...

Jonathan Edwards, the great 18th century pastor, resolved, "never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can." Edwards resolution was to take this most valuable of resources and make it worth even more. To, as he later resolves, "live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die." (Quote pulled from Here)

Lion in the Cage

This week we went to the circus with some family friends.  A wonderful time was had by all. 

During the show a man with a foreign accent and a very colorful wardrobe came out with these tigers.  It was really quite depressing to see how he had taken these powerful beasts and tamed them to perform parlor tricks for our amusement.  I probably wouldn't have thought much of it, but it reminded me of a couple of quotes I had read earlier in the week from C.H. Spurgeon. 

"It is not mine to improve upon the character of Jehovah, but to reverence and adore him as he manifests himself, either in judgment or in grace. I, who am less than nothing and vanity, dare not scan his work, nor bring him to my bar, lest I hear a voice saying, "Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?" What am I that I should be the ultimate judge of truth, or of justice, or of wisdom? Whatever God may be, or speak, or do-that is right: it is not mine to arraign my Maker, but to adore him. Extenuations, explanations, and apologies may be produced from the best of motives; but too often they suggest to opposers that it is admitted that God's most holy Word contains something in it which is doubtful, or weak, or antiquated. It looks as though it needed to be defended by human wisdom. Brethren, the Word of the Lord can stand alone, without the propping which many are giving it. These props come down, and then our adversaries think that the Book is down too. The Word of God can take care of itself, and will do so if we preach it, and cease defending it. See you that lion. They have caged him for his preservation; shut him up behind iron bars to secure him from his foes! See how a band of armed men have gathered together to protect the lion. What a clatter they make with their swords and spears! These mighty men are intent upon defending a lion. O fools, and slow of heart! Open that door! Let the lord of the forest come forth free. Who will dare to encounter him? What does he want with your guardian care? Let the pure gospel go forth in all its lion-like majesty, and it will soon clear its own way and ease itself of its adversaries. Yes, without attempting to apologize even for the severer truths of revelation, seven times a day do we praise the Lord for giving us his judgments, so righteous and so sure."  -C.H. Spurgeon

"The best way to spread the gospel is to spread the gospel. I believe the best way of defending the gospel is to spread the gospel. I was addressing a number of students the other day, upon the apologies for the gospel which are so numerous just now. A great many learned men are defending the gospel; no doubt it is a very proper and right thing to do, yet I always notice that, when there are most books of that kind, it is because the gospel itself is not being preached. Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, a full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best "apology" for the gospel is to let the gospel out. Never mind about defending Deuteronomy or the whole of the Pentateuch; preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Let the Lion out, and see who will dare to approach him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all his adversaries. This was how Christ's first disciples worked, they preached Jesus Christ wherever they went; they did not stop to apologise, but boldly bore their witness concerning him." -C.H. Spurgeon

As I watched this man have these tigers perform the tricks not worthy of a dog I couldn't help but think of how many people these days do the same with the Scriptures.  It ought not to surprise us when the media or atheists or others opposed to the Word of God do these things, but it should horrify and disgust us when we see it done from our pulpits and conversations with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  I know the context of Spurgeon's quotes aren't exact with my application of them, but they fit well with what I was thinking.