From the sermon series called, "The Root & Fruit of Religion: How Having A Religious Mindset Hurts Us All." This is an "advance excerpt" of the next week's message:
The Scripture is filled with ambiguous statements that can be understood in very different ways, even in opposing ways by people who are equally committed to the integrity of Scripture and who are equally as committed to a high level of intellectual honesty when studying it. To blatantly judge somebody as being “wrong” or of not believing the “plain teaching of the Bible” just because their view is different from ours is to live from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When were we appointed Judge of what is perfectly sound doctrine? We were never called to sit in judgment over others as to the rightness and wrongness of their interpretation of Scripture. It's okay to say we believe differently, but our own attitudes sometimes overshadow what we contend is our orthodoxy. We may differ in our understanding without condemning others who have come to a different viewpoint. There are certainly absolutes that can be known, but when we know somebody else seeks truth just as we do and that their view is the result of sincere study, we need to give wide berth to differing opinions, knowing that we all must hold onto our understandings in humility. At best, none of us can see more than just through a glass darkly.”
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Right on!
ReplyDeleteGrace is the product of love and we are to love each other, believers and unbelievers alike. I get so frustrated with the constant judgment of sin's influence. You have helped me open my heart to accepting in love because grace covers all sin. To me, sin is no longer an issue, just an inconvenience. Sin has no power over us unless we enable it, we are free to love without guilt. We must stop defying the work of the cross by enabling old covenant law, stop the judgment and start loving each other for who we are. We are His creation and many of us are in Him. Love the Lord first and that love relationship will pour into your love relationship with others.
In Christ Jesus who is Grace.
What about when the conclusion they draw from their "study" is the opposite of the plainest teaching of Christ, though, and in fact the opposite of what you yourself write here -- what if the conclusion of their study is that it is not just OK, but mandatory, for Christians to go around judging people on this and everything else? Or does that fall in the realm of these "absolutes" then. What you are saying is good when it's applied to letting people enter deeper awareness of grace ... but i don't think it works well when it means giving legalism and toxic notions that lead to spiritual abuse a free "pass".
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, Moriah. But, that's the challenge with making a point, as I've attempted to do here. There will almost always be a "yeah, but what about" scenario that would put the remarks in a context where they wouldn't fit. Many things that are absolutely true in general terms must be modified if faced with a question that starts with, "But what about a situation where...?"
ReplyDeleteFor instance, as you know I often speak/write about our need to stand against legalism and "contend for the faith." So to apply what I've written above there wouldn't make much sense. I hope I'll make it clear in this week's "Sunday Preaching" (of which the blog post is an excerpt) that my reference here is directed toward the idea that we all need to be "doctrinal deputies" who go around with a hair-trigger attitude, ready to renounce and pounce upon anybody who has come to a different viewpoint on a matter after sincere study of the Scripture motivated by a legitimate hunger for the truth.
Steve, Your insights are a breath of fresh air to my grace hungering soul. I realize that this is the work of God's grace in your own life and that you are sharing your experience with others. I have discovered that many if not most of the rigid orthodoxy that we hold onto as tradition are not more than four hundred years old. But you would think by the way they are taught that Paul and Peter handed them down to us on golden plates.
ReplyDeleteGood advice. Admittedly, I need to watch my tongue at times, as I can be too forceful with my beliefs ...
ReplyDeleteLove this series!
Mark
Speaking the truth about grace is something most of us desire to do; however, we'll never argue someone into accepting these truths. It seems that the gospel of grace (the complete gospel) is something that only God can teach us, and usually (always?), we have to reach a place of brokenness before we are open to hearing it. As Andrew Farley says, we have to WANT "Jesus + nothing" before we begin to understand that all we need is Jesus.
ReplyDeleteSo, again, although we continue to proclaim the truths of the gracewalk and highlight the evils of religion/legalism, it is God who teaches people, and He seems to have his own timetable for when each child will learn it.