Thursday, May 10, 2012

Learn And Grow In Christ

So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. -- Galatians 5:1

Have you ever read the Bible all the way through? I know I’m putting you on the spot. Some of you will answer “yes” without hesitation. But many will squirm and say they’ve read “most of it” through Bible studies and Sunday school. It isn’t the same thing.

We’d all like to believe that Christians always get it right. We should know better because if there’s one thing we can pretty much guarantee it’s that Christians will disagree over just about anything.

It’s not that we plan to get it wrong. It’s just that we always think we’ve got it right and that other Christians have it wrong. Look at the issue of women and their role in the church. That’s certainly a powder keg.

Several years ago I sat in the congregation and listened as a pastor preached on a specific passage of Scripture. As he went on and on, I found myself shaking my head. I began to read the footnotes in my Bible. Yeah. The pastor had it wrong. I’m not sure anyone else in the congregation realized it because, well, he was the pastor and he was supposed to know what the Bible says.

The other day in Sunday school I listened as a visitor told us a few things about the Bible. And he really could quote the Bible. He didn’t understand too much about applying Scripture in our lives -- he seems to believe that if we’re hurt and face failures we aren’t living right -- but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

I could understand why those he’s attempted to minister to in an outreach program turn away from him. He means well. He does. But he’s missing something really important. Hope. Grace. Forgiveness. Because trying to understand the Bible without those things just isn’t possible.

The Pharisees were great believers in the Law. They knew the Scriptures. They were the leaders of the church. And then Jesus came along and shattered all their illusions of grandeur. Because it wasn’t about those things at all.

We have the privilege of reading the Bibles for ourselves. And it is a privilege because there are many, many people in the world who don’t have that choice. Jesus died to restore our relationship with God. The curtain is gone and we can go before His mighty throne and bow before Him. We can ask questions and get answers -- from God Almighty.

So don’t trust what everyone else tells you to believe. And don’t think that just because someone disagrees with you, that they’ve got it wrong. Read and learn. Pray and listen. God speaks. Let Him fill you up with Truth.