Good morning,
I
often laugh out loud when I read stories of what is going on now and
compare it with what I was taught back in the “good old days.” The
changes in the areas of science and technology are so huge that to
remember what we thought about the atom or the telephone is like being
in a whole new world. The whole world of understanding the human mind
has changed countless times and our understanding of values and culture
are going through unbelievable changes. But I guess for me, the most
difficult changes I see are in the area of what we understand about the
place of the Bible and the values we have developed about who is best
equipped to lead the modern church. How could I ever laugh out loud
about the importance the modern church has given to education and
knowledge as the guideline for choosing and following their leaders.
There are wonderful exceptions to this approach, but the church as a
whole has fallen into the trap that Paul warned the Corinthian church to
avoid. We value knowledge because it makes us feel important, not
because it keeps us on track with who God is and what he thinks and
does.
We easily forget that the Bible is a love letter to God’s
growing family, and that only those family members who are led by his
Holy Spirit will be able to use this information to lovingly strengthen
his church. When we build our little kingdoms based on what we think
the Bible teaches, we are actually giving out information based on
assumptions, not eternal truth. Wise old Solomon addressed this issue
when he wrote, “Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so
their conclusions will be wicked madness;” (Ecclesiastes 10:13 NLT) Any
time we use God’s Holy Word to build up our reputations or give out his
loving truth with the idea of controlling others, we become wicked
fools, not loving leaders. When we do this, we will face the wrath of
God. Again, Paul reminds us that “the person who loves God is the one
whom God recognizes.” Alas, our modern generation has embraced the idea
that learning what men have written and what our teachers have taught
us is more important than spending time with God and making our goal in
life ‘to know him’ and share his love with as many as possible. Dear
Lord, please teach us to be your carefully taught lovers instead of just
well taught leaders by this world’s standards.
1 Corinthians 8:1--- But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
2
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very
much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.
Roy Wisner
