As I sat in church that fine Saturday night, I began to think about how much of a scandal my life was. My ankles were bare, my falling cardigan barely covered my shoulders, and, earlier that day, I had murmured a cuss word. Though it was only a nickel-worth in the bank of obscenities, in the Christian community, I was the equivalent of a dirty Sailor's mouth.
The Bible is a paradox.
The Bible is a collection of God-breathed words, yet they were written down by redeemed flesh. It isn't explicit on media or Netflix addictions, but it does provide a decent guide to navigating through life.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8
There's a common saying: "The more I learn shows me how much more I have to learn." This past semester, I've come to discover it's true. We don't know. We haven't learned. Who are we to say what the Bible writers meant? Who are we to claim we can infer what they meant?
Context clues get us partially there. However, similar to a small child using context to define words, it doesn't always work out the way we imagine. Or, as Sigmund Freud infamously said, "Sometimes a pipe is just a pipe."
Parents often tell their kids: "Don't put words into my mouth." At what point does "interpretation" or "commentary" cross the line into putting in words that weren't intended? I appreciate commentaries, I really do. I read a few tonight while writing my paper. But it scares me to think our response to God's word could be something it wasn't meant to be.
The dance of self-righteous faith.
It's our innate desire to be found worthy. It makes sense. We were created in God's image, and God is the most worthy. In our efforts to be of worth, we've lost track of what is defined as worthy. We've replaced biblical worth with cultural worth.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." - Galatians 1:10
Throughout the world, Christianity has become synonymous with Western culture, and, at times, it feels like it's crossed into the Christian mindset as well. Churches emphasize the passages about being "not of this world." They say we're called above the toils of this world and we're called to greater things. Yet, there is a disconnect.
Comparison will haunt us. If we're not comparing our actions to the world, we're comparing ourselves to other believers. We collect mission trips like children collecting Pokémon or gold stars. We pride ourselves in our church and small group attendance records. Lives saved become like points to win a game. Our faith gets affirmation from hearing prayer requests at the end of small group.
My Bible professor said it best: "Our knowledge has surpassed our level of obedience." We have become the lukewarm Christians in Revelations. We are the believers who look intently in the mirror and forget what they look like. We are the rich young ruler who can't part with what he loves most.
True faith is simple and messy.
God is a God of grace, mercy and love. He wrote 66 books professing His plan of redeeming His beloved. He gave His only son to die a most horrid death to save us from ourselves. He died so we might live. God is complex, and His ways are unfathomable. Yet, His call for us is simple: Turn to Him and abide in Him.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith." - 1 John 5:3-4
Faith is obeying God. Not adding superstitions or regulations to manage others' faith. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit, but controlling other's selfs is not. Please, don't misunderstand me. Accountability is necessary. Fellowship is vital to healthy faith. My issue is establishing rules for believers that aren't biblically founded or are based in loose, misguided interpretations.
We have, in many ways, become modern day Pharisees, more focused on picking out others' flaws rather than our own. Let's stop being all talk of what's wrong with the world and others and start living out our faith. Let us put an end to complicating a simple command to love God and obey him.
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." - 1 Peter 2:21
