Ignorance or Wickedness?
Hello again everyone. Today I got hit in the face with one of the biggest revelations I’ve ever had, third to salvation and the call to ministry. I’ve been saved for just about 2 years now and I’ve spent most of my time studying and reading many different books and sermons in my free time. In all this time, I’ve noticed just how far most modern day Baptist churches are from the original church; I am a Baptist by the way. I’ve noticed things like their different “gospel”, their dead or sleeping youth groups, and their dependence on programs rather than the Spirit.
My brother and I have spent much of our time these past few months trying to help correct this problem by speaking with many faithful members to certain Baptist churches, friendly debates, and many theological discussions during class and whatnot. The problem cannot be found in Miguel, my brother. But the problem is with me.
I posted a well-meaning message on a reformed Christian board online about my concerns for my church and the message I believe that God has given me to preach to her. This was the reply:
“You also need to be very careful to approach people with great humility. What’s “wrong” with the group may be only that they don’t live up to expectations that are unrealistically high.
Unrealistic for kids that may not have been walking in faith for very long yet; or kids under new and profound peer pressure at school; abused kids secretly dealing with resentment and guilt… I could go on. In fact you probably have no idea why “things are wrong.”
It might help you to try actually making a prayer list of what you think is wrong, then find some Scriptures that speak to those specific things. Use those Scriptures in prayer, first for yourself (Galatians 6:1), and then for your brethren. You dare not judge them!
Then with your own heart humbled, speak to an Elder at your church, or the youth pastor if your church has one – but ask for yourself, not for others. Bring the list you made, and the Scriptures which apply, and ask for help in overcoming these things in your own life. Then how you might help others overcome the same difficulties.
I speak from bitter experience, Max! I so wanted to “fix” what was wrong in other people, that I ended up just hurting them… and the Lord had to bring me through a season of profound failure characterized by hideous, habitual sin that left me doubting my own salvation rather than worrying about weaknesses in anyone else. As the Scripture says, watch out for yourself, lest you also be tempted! And pray for others with humility, for the Judge is standing right at the door.
Praying with (and for) you,
Robin”
It was when I read this in the early morning that I realized a grave mistake that I had made: Not that I had judged them with wrong judgment, or even that I judged them harshly and with hatred; but that I had been so concerned with perfect, pure, and stainless doctrine that the whole reason of Christianity left my thoughts.
I hate ignorance. It is, quiet honestly, my biggest pet peeve. I do understand, however, that we are all ignorant to a degree, for we are all just finite creatures. But I take this so far as to get outrageously angry with someone for not understanding some “simple” truth that I’ve back up with piles upon piles of evidence.
The question that God gave me this morning was this: Why are you talking to My people: to cure ignorance or reconcile them?
And thinking on it all day, my answer was the first. Doctrine had become my god and my idol. And I had forgotten my God and my Lord.
Don’t misunderstand me, doctrine is very very important. But a man can be ignorant of HOW his salvation happened and yet still be VERY saved. The story of the blind man in John 9 comes to mind. They asked him all day how this happened and all he could tell them was what Jesus told him to do; he didn’t even know if He was from God! But the man was still very able to see and God did still heal him. =)
I still believe that the message I was sure on preaching to them is still the message I have to give, but I know for sure that this is not yet the time. Robin was right, I still have too many things to pull out of my eye first.
While you go about your day, I hope it isn’t too much to ask you if you could remember me in your prayers? God is still working on me =)
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »