One conversation we had however caused a temporary rift between me and John. John, like many Christians (myself included) has a passion for an acute topic within Scripture. John's Scriptural passion was the study of the end times, namely eschatology. And like too many Christians who have a heavy interest in this topic he sought for information from Scripture that simply wasn't in the Bible thus causing him to pull conclusions from Scripture that simply were not there. He tried to interpret what every symbol in Revelations meant and by comparing the modern political state he tried to figure out who the Antichrist was, etc.
Now John isn't alone in this type of behaviour towards Scripture as every Christian, to varying degrees (myself included), has some concentration that they feel passionate about; for John it was eschatology; for many others is social concerns (helping the hungry and homeless); for others its political issues (same-sex marriage, abortion, etc.); for many its the branch of Christianity called apologetics (a concentration on defending the Christian faith) and so on. And of course a passion for Biblical study is always a good thing and a necessary thing as a passion for something forces the one with the passion to be more thorough with their analysis with the issue or topic; this is something where perhaps someone else who doesn't share the same passion would do. And again it doesn't mean that if someone has a passion for a theological topic like eschatology that they are not genuinely concerned about the needs of others or fighting to see Godliness be implemented into society via the political realm.
However it is very important to be sure that one's passion doesn't turn into an addiction. Addiction is defined as:
When important Biblical topics get forgotten due to a passion the passion may be an addiction and thus can be harmful. I am a recovering drug-addict. As a result of my addiction to booze and street drugs important things in my life like food and sleep were ignored. It is very important to ensure that ones passion for say social services (Christian living) doesn't drown out Scripture's teaching of Godliness in all of its forms; or that one's passion for locking horns over deep topics like evidence for God's existence doesn't overtake simple evangelism. In sum answering the Philippian jailer's question:
However the answer is also, no, as Jesus' commission for us is to be used by him to bring the sinner to salvation, (cf. Matthew 28:19, Luke 5:32). It is important for all to show active love to our neighbours and this can be done in a variety of ways: giving food, being a friend, providing a warm bed and clothes, etc. But food in one's belly and a clean shirt on their backs will not save them from eternal damnation. It is gross negligence for the Christian to fill one or even a few important roles but fail to fill the role by which Christ has commissioned them, namely to "...go and make disciples of all nations..." - Matthew 28:19. It is important to be able to answer questions such as "What evidence is there that God exists?" or "If God created the universe, who created him?" and so on. But it is pointless to provide someone with such information if they do not learn what it all means, namely that there is a God out there who loves them and who wants them to be reconciled back to him, (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20.)
However the other way around is equally valid. It would be equally wrong for someone to be obsessed with the Gospel message if they neglect answers to questions such as the ones mentioned above. It is verging on hypocrisy for someone preach about God's love and not show it in the mere basic ways God showed his love, namely looking after their basic needs, food, clothes, etc.
I had recently went to a friend's youth-group whose clientele (as it were) is a band of hard-done-by, unbelieving youth. The preacher stood up and did an 8-point sermon on first basics such as courage, faith and Christ's love and forgiveness for their sin. In sum she spoke to the needs of her audience. Although the youth would have benefited from receiving apologetic information such as mentioned above (and they did benefit from the food that they received at youth-group on that Friday night), what they really needed was to her the truth of the God who loves them and is looking for them to seek him.
It was proclaimed above that there is a hierarchy within Scriptural doctrines. It is true that all Biblical doctrines are important, but it is the first basics namely the Gospel message that can never be forgotten and should always be reiterated. It is important that one's doctrinal focus is God and his message that he came to give.
Now John isn't alone in this type of behaviour towards Scripture as every Christian, to varying degrees (myself included), has some concentration that they feel passionate about; for John it was eschatology; for many others is social concerns (helping the hungry and homeless); for others its political issues (same-sex marriage, abortion, etc.); for many its the branch of Christianity called apologetics (a concentration on defending the Christian faith) and so on. And of course a passion for Biblical study is always a good thing and a necessary thing as a passion for something forces the one with the passion to be more thorough with their analysis with the issue or topic; this is something where perhaps someone else who doesn't share the same passion would do. And again it doesn't mean that if someone has a passion for a theological topic like eschatology that they are not genuinely concerned about the needs of others or fighting to see Godliness be implemented into society via the political realm.
However it is very important to be sure that one's passion doesn't turn into an addiction. Addiction is defined as:
[A] strong and harmful need to regularly have something ... or do something...[i]
When important Biblical topics get forgotten due to a passion the passion may be an addiction and thus can be harmful. I am a recovering drug-addict. As a result of my addiction to booze and street drugs important things in my life like food and sleep were ignored. It is very important to ensure that ones passion for say social services (Christian living) doesn't drown out Scripture's teaching of Godliness in all of its forms; or that one's passion for locking horns over deep topics like evidence for God's existence doesn't overtake simple evangelism. In sum answering the Philippian jailer's question:
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:29-30[ii]One might justifiably argue then that this shouldn't be as no Biblical topic is more important than another because the entirety of Scripture is good for teaching, instructing and rebuking (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16) and the edification of the believer, (cf. Ephesians 4:12 [KJV]). On one hand this is true as the sanctification of the Christian is due to the implementation of the entire word of God into their life (cf. Matthew 4:4). However it is wrong to not recognize that there is a hierarchy of doctrines within Scripture. It is true that we are called to love our neighbours and also to teach that philosophy (Christian living). We are to be prepared to answer questions that this unbelieving world has and explain what we believe and why we believe it, (cf. 1 Peter 1:13, 3:15b) (apologetics). It is true that we are to represent and encourage Godliness in the political arena such as by the act of speaking out against issues like same-sex marriage and abortion on demand and so on; but is it these things that we called to do? Yes, as our primary mandate is to represent God in our lives. This means we represent God's morals and policies. Christians are commissioned to represent the image of God. And we represent God's morals, policies and image in how we treat others on the street. By our political values: if a Christian lobbies to support same-sex marriage they are saying that God likewise supports same-sex marriage; and if God does *not* support it then the Christian has failed to represent God; and by our ability to represent God and his morals in light of objections made against him.
However the answer is also, no, as Jesus' commission for us is to be used by him to bring the sinner to salvation, (cf. Matthew 28:19, Luke 5:32). It is important for all to show active love to our neighbours and this can be done in a variety of ways: giving food, being a friend, providing a warm bed and clothes, etc. But food in one's belly and a clean shirt on their backs will not save them from eternal damnation. It is gross negligence for the Christian to fill one or even a few important roles but fail to fill the role by which Christ has commissioned them, namely to "...go and make disciples of all nations..." - Matthew 28:19. It is important to be able to answer questions such as "What evidence is there that God exists?" or "If God created the universe, who created him?" and so on. But it is pointless to provide someone with such information if they do not learn what it all means, namely that there is a God out there who loves them and who wants them to be reconciled back to him, (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20.)
However the other way around is equally valid. It would be equally wrong for someone to be obsessed with the Gospel message if they neglect answers to questions such as the ones mentioned above. It is verging on hypocrisy for someone preach about God's love and not show it in the mere basic ways God showed his love, namely looking after their basic needs, food, clothes, etc.
I had recently went to a friend's youth-group whose clientele (as it were) is a band of hard-done-by, unbelieving youth. The preacher stood up and did an 8-point sermon on first basics such as courage, faith and Christ's love and forgiveness for their sin. In sum she spoke to the needs of her audience. Although the youth would have benefited from receiving apologetic information such as mentioned above (and they did benefit from the food that they received at youth-group on that Friday night), what they really needed was to her the truth of the God who loves them and is looking for them to seek him.
It was proclaimed above that there is a hierarchy within Scriptural doctrines. It is true that all Biblical doctrines are important, but it is the first basics namely the Gospel message that can never be forgotten and should always be reiterated. It is important that one's doctrinal focus is God and his message that he came to give.
_________________________
[i] - http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addiction - accessed, July 8, 2014
[ii] - My emphasis
No comments:
Post a Comment