I do worry about people who think they are perfect, or even nearly perfect in faith and knowledge of Bible interpretation. I've been reading an interesting book written by two well respected theologians and Biblical scholars who have a core respect of and love for God, honor Christ as the unique gift to the world, yet might be described as living on the far edges of the liberal-conservative theological spectrum.
One seems to have a very hard time accepting anything he does not feel he can understand and the other seems to cling to some human ideas as necessary to fully access God. Frankly I think both struggle, as most talented and able academics do, to simply accept that as smart and hard-working as they are, they will never, at least this side of heaven, hope to express much of anything that approaches "wholly correct" when matched up fully against God's understanding.
Personally, I believe that God will show us that so many folks who felt they "had the truth" actually had a piece of the truth and the whole truth encompasses many things that seem diametrically opposed to each other from our limited human, earthly perspective. But when God explains at the end of time how things actually work, we will spend a lot of time going, "Ah-ha, now I understand. Oh, now I get it."
This perspective has been helpful to me: (1) I no longer feel the need to "fix" other people's way of seeing and doing things just because they are different than my own. (2) I no longer feel I must have a "stand" or opinion on things I don't know all that much about and have no sense that it is an area where I am called to be knowledgeable. (3) I'm fairly certain we are rather thoroughly limited on what we understand completely correctly, but a lot more souls are covered by Jesus blood and righteousness than too many folks are comfortable with.
So, since I do believe that the "valuable to God" rating of each of God's created children is represented by a straight "100%" and never a Bell curve, it has been much easier to limit my "judgement" to acts rather than people. It is not what humankind has generally considered "sane." But from what I read about Jesus in the Bible, I'm looking forward to having that conversation with the Master one day.
And I am grateful beyond words that I don't have to wait for "that day" to have a trusting, essential, joyous relationship with God today.
For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully,
just as God has fully known me. Corinthians 13:12
One seems to have a very hard time accepting anything he does not feel he can understand and the other seems to cling to some human ideas as necessary to fully access God. Frankly I think both struggle, as most talented and able academics do, to simply accept that as smart and hard-working as they are, they will never, at least this side of heaven, hope to express much of anything that approaches "wholly correct" when matched up fully against God's understanding.
Personally, I believe that God will show us that so many folks who felt they "had the truth" actually had a piece of the truth and the whole truth encompasses many things that seem diametrically opposed to each other from our limited human, earthly perspective. But when God explains at the end of time how things actually work, we will spend a lot of time going, "Ah-ha, now I understand. Oh, now I get it."
This perspective has been helpful to me: (1) I no longer feel the need to "fix" other people's way of seeing and doing things just because they are different than my own. (2) I no longer feel I must have a "stand" or opinion on things I don't know all that much about and have no sense that it is an area where I am called to be knowledgeable. (3) I'm fairly certain we are rather thoroughly limited on what we understand completely correctly, but a lot more souls are covered by Jesus blood and righteousness than too many folks are comfortable with.
So, since I do believe that the "valuable to God" rating of each of God's created children is represented by a straight "100%" and never a Bell curve, it has been much easier to limit my "judgement" to acts rather than people. It is not what humankind has generally considered "sane." But from what I read about Jesus in the Bible, I'm looking forward to having that conversation with the Master one day.
And I am grateful beyond words that I don't have to wait for "that day" to have a trusting, essential, joyous relationship with God today.
For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully,
just as God has fully known me. Corinthians 13:12
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