Matt Dabbs left a powerful comment on yesterday’s blog referencing God being dumped. He wrote:
“The standard for our beliefs is not to be against what the other guy believes. When the disciples saw a guy casting out demons Jesus didn't say go and find out what he believes and make sure you believe the opposite. No, instead Jesus continued to insist that they learn about discipleship by continuing to follow him. When are we going to seek Jesus, open to whatever we find when we find him, rather than seeking to find out what they believe and do our best to contradict it?”
I think the church is very encouraging today because of a growing perception like Matt’s. Critics would claim we’ve wavered from the Word. Yet, I see us moving toward the Word become Flesh. A matter which I find interesting is such enthusiasm isn’t relegated to the younger or the youngest generations. Its pulse it strong in the graying and balding ages as well as the young pups. The reason for that is God is faithful to his Word. We are literally younger every day. One doesn’t grow old in the kingdom. We grow young….II Cor. 4:16-18.
Our standard of belief won’t fit into that of the 1930s or ‘60s or ‘90s. Some try to impose it on us by threatening. Others by bullying. But, our faith is in Jesus and the freedom to build upon the Rock is important to us. Have we arrived? Oh, we are just getting started. We are only in kingdom kindergarten. We are sure we have not arrived. We think He has. He is still the way, the truth, and the life. The church of the past, as much as it has blessed us, isn’t the standard. Jesus is.
Thanks, Matt, for a simple and stirring comment yesterday.
2 comments:
Good stuff.
My experience is even when we think we know what the other guys thinking, we don't. Paul asks, Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. I have tried for some time to get out of the judging business.
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