"Proverbs 22:6..............................."

Over on Jesus Creed, one of Scot’s readers asked how to respond to her eleven year old daughter concerning God’s wrath as it is illustrated in the Old Testament. Some of the answers offered by the large group of followers of that site are representative, I suppose, of what one usually hears whenever such question is raised. The little girl struggled with mass homicide being divinely required because of one man’s sin; but the idea of genocide being a commandment and a proper way to dispose of enemies wasn’t discussed. There was, however, a suggestion for this mother to just abandon the front of the Book. What she was to do with the demise of Ananais and Sapphira is beyond me; but my personal favorites were: (a) resignation to the truth that, since “the Judge of all the earth” cannot be wrong, we, as believers, ought not be troubled over Biblical account; and (b) patience brings maturity; or, in other words, her child will outgrow her distrust and eventually come to faith……

Scripture, itself, of course, is but another item on a long list of doctrinal issues that, within Christianity, can be taken to the extreme in either direction. There are those who label it infallible, setting chapter and verse in concrete once they have reduced it to their own understanding. There are others who have no problem with ignoring certain portions since, once you admit to inspiration, having been funneled through a man’s mind, being subject to imperfection, the tendency is, again, to re-write the Gospel in your own terms. Place me in whatever category you wish, but I long ago determined, as my explanation to the puzzle posed, that the Jews may well have, as a nation, pointed to Jehova as being the authority for such violent extermination of people when, in reality, it came forth out of nothing more than their own reasoning. It is, after all, the nature of the beast; and I’ve seen too many supposedly “speaking in the Holy Ghost” whose words fell short along the way…..

I sat in a Sunday school class this morning where the lesson dealt with our having, as believers, “purity” in our walk. The teacher equated that with maintaining those things set forth in THE Word. Just before we left, I noted that the term means to be single, or “unpolluted by other substances” and that it was a good bet none of us in the room would pronounce ourselves as existing in such a state. For me, then, what the Creator expects of us is a mind determined to know His voice in our life. Not a theology beyond adjustment, held together by an opinion that long ago decided we had it all figured out. Rather a faith continually renewed by a stepping through the veil and meeting Him “face to face”. That’s what I taught my three daughters; and that’s what I desire for my grandkids. The rest will evolve as they go. It remains a journey individually accomplished as we look to Him…..