There are a lot of different thoughts out there. Many different opinions on a myriad of topics ranging from abortion to global warming, religion to health care. I know that within the church, this is no different. Pre-, Post-, or A-millenial? Calvinism or Arminianism? Women pastors or not? Of course, I'm just touching the tip of the iceberg.
Everyone in the church seems to fall on one side or another with many of these issues (well, other than the pan-millenialists :) , of course), but many of those same people will say something along the lines of, "Well, we won't know the answer to (name that issue) until we get to heaven. This has been argued for a couple thousand years by many brilliant people, so I'm sure it won't be settled any time soon." While I agree with the last statement, that these issues won't be settled amongst ourselves any time soon, the statement is usually said to imply that there just isn't enough information to figure it all out. Or it's said because we're finite beings trying to understand an infinite God. And while these things may have a greater or lesser amount of truth to them, I think these are the furthest reasons from the main reason why these issues won't be settled amongst ourselves before we meet Him, and that reason can be summed up in one word...'sin.'
As humans, yes, we are finite, and yes, sometimes we don't have all the information we need to form rock-solid conclusions, but I think those things carry far less weight than the simple fact that we certainly are a sinful lot. Pride definitely will creep in when we bristle at the thought of being wrong, or others telling us we're wrong. We have a hard time having someone tell us that they think we're crazy for coming to some conclusion, even if they say it lovingly and in a way that's not condecending. On the other hand, sometimes we just feel the need to be right and look that way in front of others. We end up approaching many of these issues with our minds set on what we like, or what seems right to us, but not willing to hear someone that's thought about it more than us who would tell us to reconcider our position. And the lengths we will go to protect it! What about all the other things we'd simply rather be doing...I can't tell you how many people act as if they just don't want to exhaust their brain power to know God more. "We're not going to know the answer until we get to heaven, anyway" just becomes and excuse to not take the time to think.
Is it possible to begin looking at these things from a different perpective, one that desires to know God above all else, including our desire for looking good in front of others? Are we willing to be wrong or look wrong in front of people if it means that we'll know God better in the end? Are we willing to put forth the effort required to really think through the issues? I believe that there are answers to the vast majority of our questions/disputes in the church, and that God has given us all the information we need to know and understand the vast majority of them, including the issues that have been discussed for centuries. My only questions is, can we lay ourselves aside long enough to find out the answers?
James begins his book to the Jewish believers talking about trials, and counting them joy. Why should we count trials as joy? The reason is because we will increase in patience or perseverance. If I may be so bold, I would say that it will make us more like Christ.
The next part of what he says goes something like this (off the top of my head, and I'm guessing what's on the top of my head is the New King Jimmy version):
For a long time I thought this part was talking about asking for wisdom to get through the trial. If the trial was cancer, asking for wisdom for finding the right doctors, getting the right treatments, etc., to help me through the trial. If I blew a tire, I would ask for wisdom about getting safely to my destination. However, I don't believe this to be what James is saying here.
The point of the trial is not for us to just get through it. The goal is to get through it having learned the lesson God wants us to learn, looking more like Christ in the end. So what wisdom would one need as they go through the trial? Not what they need to do to make it out, but wisdom to decern what it is God is telling them, through the trial, needs to be changed so that they look more like Christ in the end. If God brings cancer, to go back to one of my previous examples, into your life, and His Spirit is leading you to understand that He wants you to learn to trust Him more, but you say, "That can't be, God. I already trust You...a lot!" then it is this one who is doubting, or "double-minded." You ask the Lord what you need to learn through this, but then when it's revealed to you, you insist that can't be it.
A couple months ago, my wife and I lost our twin babies, miscarrying at about 11 weeks. That's a trial. I'm still wanting to know what exactly the Lord wants me to learn through this...certainly waiting on Him is a part of it. I'm so thankful that He's completely in control, that He has reasons and purposes to all He does, and that He would count me worthy to test my faith through such things. I don't want to waste this trial. I'm listening...
The next part of what he says goes something like this (off the top of my head, and I'm guessing what's on the top of my head is the New King Jimmy version):
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the
wind. Let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
For a long time I thought this part was talking about asking for wisdom to get through the trial. If the trial was cancer, asking for wisdom for finding the right doctors, getting the right treatments, etc., to help me through the trial. If I blew a tire, I would ask for wisdom about getting safely to my destination. However, I don't believe this to be what James is saying here.
The point of the trial is not for us to just get through it. The goal is to get through it having learned the lesson God wants us to learn, looking more like Christ in the end. So what wisdom would one need as they go through the trial? Not what they need to do to make it out, but wisdom to decern what it is God is telling them, through the trial, needs to be changed so that they look more like Christ in the end. If God brings cancer, to go back to one of my previous examples, into your life, and His Spirit is leading you to understand that He wants you to learn to trust Him more, but you say, "That can't be, God. I already trust You...a lot!" then it is this one who is doubting, or "double-minded." You ask the Lord what you need to learn through this, but then when it's revealed to you, you insist that can't be it.
A couple months ago, my wife and I lost our twin babies, miscarrying at about 11 weeks. That's a trial. I'm still wanting to know what exactly the Lord wants me to learn through this...certainly waiting on Him is a part of it. I'm so thankful that He's completely in control, that He has reasons and purposes to all He does, and that He would count me worthy to test my faith through such things. I don't want to waste this trial. I'm listening...
