The Purity of Irrelevance

Growth and learning are never final.  If we believe we have reached the point of complete knowledge, we become like Barney Fife attempting to recite the Preamble of the Constitution.  The Barn had to be coached through (read) the whole thing whereon Andy asked, “Have you got it now?”  Barney confidently replied, “When you learn something, you learn it.”

Over the years, I’ve encountered many who were confident in the magus of their knowledge.  They were convinced that their belief-system was founded on incontrovertible truth and would brook no denial.  I might even have been one of them.  It didn’t take me long, however, to doubt.  Such doubtings came not as crises of faith but consequences of growing.

While not speaking of salvatory issues or cardinal doctrines of faith, I have noticed an attraction among sincere people to minor issues of ethical living.  Such small clouds may block the sun if taken from the wrong perspective.  It grieves me to see good people saddle themselves (and others) with unnecessary baggage.  Worse still, people who could contribute will often sit the game out rather than play as part of the team.

Some of my idols in bygone days held intense attraction for me because of their simplistic approaches in life applications of biblical principles.  Often, time and culture held no relevance.  Now, I’m no compromiser, but even I understand that the Bible is more about principles than rules.  And there are rules a-plenty.  But, in youth, we seek to tag-a-long.  

In time, I began to understand that God is larger than we and His truth too great in scope for anyone to comprehend with absolute specificity.  That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, but it does mean we will never understand everything.  This idea not only applies to individual preferences and convictions but also considered decisions by bodies of believers.  God is big.

Deep and wide is the theological stream of God and godliness with its practical implications.  Though I can’t contain it all, I can make it work in my life.  God’s truth works in real time.  It is always relevant.  Problems enter when you or I misunderstand what God is getting at and force our interpretations on His Word.  Though God’s Word remains true, we become irrelevant in the public discourse.  That we cannot afford to be.

For our sakes, our families and the world in which we live, Christ-followers must model Jesus and His teachings.  Never believe you understand it all, but put your understanding into action as guided by the Holy Spirit.

The primary teachings of Scripture are clear.  Stay on the King’s highway.  Don’t take a backroad and become mired in self-will.  Eternity depends on us.

Sterl