I am writing tonight from a hotel room on the edge of the Florida universe as far west as you can go. I have an appointment with a client tomorrow...then a long drive home.
My thoughts today centered around truth. Arthur Holmes has been quoted as saying that "all truth is God's truth" and I agree with that statement. My job is to look for that truth and affirm it. After affirming it as truth, I need to claim it.
I have been convinced of late that while truth is certainly revealed in God's Word, it can be found in other places. I tire of non-thinking people who grab the Bible or their philosophies and without thought, disregard any pondering or idea not found by them in the Word or within the walls of their philosophy.
The Word is Truth. I believe it and I hold to it, but God's truth also includes science and philosophy and every other academic discipline. Let me put it this way. The scientist, Johannes Kepler described the discipline of science as, "...thinking God's thoughts after Him." Now that is the pursuit of truth!
Tonight I did a Google search on Paul's non-biblical quotes. Know what I found? I found that when Paul was debating and lecturing and defending Christ to an unbelieving crowd he often used literary sources known by the crowd he was trying to witness to. Those quotes written by "secular" men were nonetheless true and are now part of our Bible. Imagine that! Paul used the tools he developed as a rabbi and scholar wrapped in the gifts God gave him and looked for God's truth everywhere. He affirmed it and then he claimed it for himself. Not an easy task, but Paul was serious about His calling and his life is an admonishment to me to study to show myself approved.
I do not want to be the guy who is a good little robot. I have a community of friends I trust. I want the words that I read by good men to be the jumping off point for more thought.
I cannot let good men do all my thinking for me, because sometimes I see the possibility of further truth than the truth expressed in their credos.
I cannot let the words written by good men completely keep me fenced and restricted from exploring God's truth as I encounter it in my walk.
If I did, I would still be practicing the mystery of trans-substantiation.
Nighty Night.
What will you do when you come to the end of life's journey?
1 comments:
Thanks for the thoughts. I have really been impressed lately to use the truth I see in culture to make an impact on culture. It's pretty amazing what you discover when you consider the background of Biblical characters like Paul. No doubt he'd be right there with us enjoying the latest boxoffice hit, analyzing its truth in order to connect to our culture. Truly revolutionary (at least for a recovering independent fundamentalist like myself).
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