Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it's supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers. Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice: "Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning [Proverbs 9:1-4, 6, The Message]
Who is foolish and who is wise? Our nation is deeply divided on many issues such as the war in Afghanistan, immigration reform, and global warming. Each side claims they know what's good for America. Their side is right. The other side is wrong. They are wise. The other side is foolish. The same is true in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are also deeply divided on many issues such as how we interpret the Bible as well as how we feel about a number of hot button topics such as abortion and gay rights. Everyone claims to know what's good for the Church and our nation. Everyone claims to have God on their side. They are right. Everyone else is wrong. They are wise. Everyone else is foolish.
So, I dare ask the question again: Who is foolish and who is wise? It seems to me that the only true source of wisdom is the cross of Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14 tells us "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." It is at the cross that we find the true source of wisdom. All of our boasting and bragging is merely "chasing after the wind" [Ecclesiastes 1]. If Jesus is our center, then we are more likely to state our opinions with great humility, for who among us can be so bold as to presume they know the mind of Christ on all matters of faith, including me!
In the title of my blog I state that I am "sharing my observations...." Notice I didn't say I'm speaking on behalf of God as some preachers do. This is intentional. I am learning and growing just like everyone else. I am not the same person I was 10 years ago not will I be the same person 10 years from now. Instead of wasting time beating beach other up with rhetoric, I hope we will reach the day when the cross of Christ is all that matters. It is the perspective that is sorely needed in our nation and in the church.
2 comments:
The "speak-for-God" syndrome is a particular irritant to me personally, having grown up in a Fundamentalist environment where people couldn't resist running around willy-nilly saying, "Well, God says..." (And in our church, these people weren't limited to unschooled or self-serving enthusiasts who mishandled Scripture. We also had self-proclaimed "prophets" to deal with, each having his/her own pipeline to divine truth.)
S&F, your post reminded me of something my grandfather--a humble yet magnificently accomplished Bible scholar--told me, quoting Proverbs 4.7: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Then he added, "And once you get that, you'll understand just how little wisdom you have and how much you don't know."
That was nearly four decades ago, yet to this day when I hear anyone claim he/she has God's wisdom and final ruling on any matter, I hear his advice. I understand what I lack, they lack.
Thanks for your insightful comment. I appreciate you grandfather's wisdom. You might be interested to know that In addition to my Lutheran background I also spent some time in the Assembly of God church so I know exactly the kind of stuff you're describing. It can get a little crazy sometimes. It's why I left!
S&F
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