Trapped by the Right Answer

Most of us want to know what the right answer is. We go through our educational experience being evaluated as to how well we grasp the right answer. The problem arises when there is disagreement as to what is the right answer. In the world we live in there is disagreement on many things. Evolution or creation has been a topic of discussion for most of my life. More recently discussion centers on a variety of moral standards or lack thereof, depending on your perspective. Where do we go for answers to such questions? For those of us who are followers of God and Yeshua our Messiah we can turn to His Word to see what He has to say and find the right answer, according to the Lord.  

Thankfully the answers are there, for the most part, if we are willing to accept them. However, there are things that are not so clear. As I mentioned in my previous blog, “Thoughts from the Beach”, I wrestle with a variety of things that seem less than clear. While here at the beach, I have read John Piper’s book, The Pleasures of God (It is published by Multnomah, if you are interested). The book is a good review and reminder of who God is and how worthy He is of praise and glory. Piper recognizes that all things are not as clear as we might like them to be. He clarifies this point as he begins chapter five. He speaks of the reality that there has been controversy and discussion on most aspects of theology and belief for a very long time. I agree; if you find your way to the oldest writing of the Midrash and Talmud you will find lively discussion on a variety of teaching concerning the Scriptures. So this is nothing new. Piper suggests that this can be a good thing as “we need to seek our food in the markets of controversy” (Piper, The Pleasures of God 121). Wrestling with concepts and understanding the truth is a powerful way to see the depths and riches of God’s revelation to us.

 The trap that we can fall into is not being satisfied until we find the “right” answer. In our culture we need to know what the right answer is. We are uncomfortable with the ambiguity and apparent contradictions we find in God’s Word. We want the wrestling match to end and the solace of knowing what is “right” to be ours to hold, whether it concerns Spiritual gifts, the coming of our Lord, the place of Torah in our lives or the old question of God’s sovereignty versus man’s free will.  For Piper the wrestling match centers on predestination and particular election verses man’s ability to seek God and find Him. Does God choose, and if He does can he still have compassion and desire all to be saved at the same time?

This question is one that appears to be dear to Piper’s heart. He devotes chapter five (as well as a lengthy appendix) to this very thing. Piper tells us, “My aim is to let Scripture stand – to teach what it will and not to tell it what to say” (Piper 146). He goes on to speak to the question of God’s particular election and yet compassion on all as follows, “Scripture leads us precisely to this paradoxical position. I am willing to let the paradox stand even if I can’t explain it” (Piper 146). It appears that Piper sees that there are things in Scripture that we are able to wrestle with and see the paradox and be comfortable with it. Let it be a controversy that drives us into God’s Word and deeply into the depth of One who longs for us to immerse ourselves in the search to know Him and love Him. However, Piper continues, “It appears to me that those who teach against unconditional election are often controlled by nonbiblical logic” (Piper 146). Piper has found the “right” answer so the wrestling match is over. The paradox does not really exist, it just needs to be read through the election lens. The remainder of his book rests in the shadow of this assumption. God is sovereign. God elects. His grace is irresistible. The non-elect cannot come to God.

It leaves me with many questions as Piper addresses the necessity for prayer, and the short comings of the church to pray. For if God has predestined events to the degree Piper suggests, then God will do what he will do, my prayers are an act of worship to a  God who does not, and perhaps cannot respond. He only acts according to a predetermined plan. It leaves me with questions as to obedience, which he explains as an act of love on my part to bring glory to the God who chose me, but that is predetermined as well. The conclusion I see is that God is not responsive. Piper does try to deal with those issues but it always goes back to his discovery of the right answer concerning election.

I see scripture clearly teaching of God’s unconditional choosing of Israel and of me. I also see Him promising that “As many as received Him to them He gave the right to become the children of God” (Jn 1:12) and promising the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house” (Acts 16:31). God told Jonah to tell the Ninevites, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). No call to repent, and no mention of Yahweh, but the whole city repented and God relented, He changed His mind, He responded to the cries of the people of Nineveh and did not destroy them in forty days. People  made a choice and God responded. I do believe God to be a responsive God. I believe He interacts with me. I believe my prayers can make a difference. I believe God always does what is right so He can rightly respond to me and even change His mind as I respond to Him. There is an intimacy that is more than predestined. I am content to rest in the paradox and even wrestle with it and not demand a “right” answer.

Sometimes right answers trap us and limit our ability to wrestle. Perhaps God intends for us to search and wrestle, even for a life time. When you demand a right answer over things that have been long wrestled with, you may find it with an expense you didn’t intend to pay. Having found it, it seems reasonable to expect and even demand others to accept your “right” answer. This makes us susceptible to dividing the Body of Christ. We may be tempted to brand those with a different point of view as unbiblical rather than as a beloved brother I can wrestle with. I think God is better pleased with my continued wrestling with Him and other children of His than divisively hanging onto my “right” answer at the expense of the love and unity of His Body. What do you think?

Do You Wrestle?

I am on the Outer Banks of NC where we come once a year to relax and refresh. It is a place for me to simply commune with God without much people stuff surrounding me. I love what I do. I love the people I serve with and minister to, but it is a spiritual, emotional, physical help to get away for a little while. It is a time to focus on God with little interruption. The sand is warm and the ocean is simply awe-inspiring. Something so much bigger than I am, so much more powerful, it puts my finite being into perspective. The simple truth is that this is barely a blip in comparison to the awesome reality of who God is.

This God of such creative magnificence and power loves me. He has revealed Himself to me and desires to fellowship with me. It is more than I can begin to understand. This is why I come here to begin with. Just to soak in the Almighty. That and to wrestle a bit with God. That concept used to bother me. I mean, aren't we followers just to accept and obey? Didn't questions get Job in trouble? However, the questions are real and God knows I have them, so it seems a bit naive to think He doesn't. I am not here to argue, per se, just to let Him know I do not understand stuff, quite a bit of stuff, actually. So I come to relax and to wrestle.

Every trip down here carries the tradition of rising early enough to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic. There are few who join me on the beach, so it is just me and the Lord of creation reveling in His handiwork. The reddish glow sends out shards of crimson light until the brilliant orb that is the sun creeps over the horizon. It seems to accelerate as it climbs to the sky and become too intense to view. Long walks down the nearly deserted beach give me time to reflect and absorb a little natural vitamin “D.” Usually the time is also filled with brownies, pizza, fudge from the little store in Nags Head, some ice cream and M&Ms. But this year I am determined to be more disciplined and remove body jello rather than add to it, So I brought our old beat up bike.

Riding a bike on the Outer Banks has one clear advantage, there are no hills to climb, just miles of flat blacktop. One clear disadvantage is that there are no hills to coast down. As my rides tend to head south, there is a prevailing southern wind to keep you warm and yet cooled at the same time. I learned that a 13 to 15 MPH headwind is worse than it sounds on the weather channel. There is no coasting. If you don’t peddle you tip over into the sand burs on the edge of the highway.  This being true, the 17 mile ride to Avon took more effort than I expected. My longest ride in a couple of years was the day before, a round trip of 6 miles with no headwind. Still, as old as I am getting, it felt good to have made the ride and the muscles are none the worse for wear when I bounded out of bed this morning.

The lesson learned is that if there is no resistance, there is no increase in strength. If there is no time of wrestling, there is no advancement in skill or stamina. Such is true on the spiritual level as well. Paul has told us in Eph 6:12 that “We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.” Wrestling with such things serves to strengthen our faith and resolve for, “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). However, there is evidence that there is other wrestling that goes on. Jacob, for example, wrestled with the Angel of the Lord in Genesis 32 and Hosea highlights this in Hosea 12. Jacob wrestled and would not let go until God blessed him. Jabez, I Chron 4:10, offers a prayer that is almost a time of wrestling with God so that God might bless him and enlarge his borders.

I wrestle with a variety of things. Like why God allows for death to suddenly take one of His beloved saints. Why a couple I know, whose gentle spirit reflects that of the Lord beyond anyone I can think of. With them God allowed victory over cancer and then allowed Parkinson disease to be its replacement. I do not understand. I wonder why some things in Scripture are obvious, like salvation found in Messiah alone, or the fact that we all will die. However some things are vague, like how to organize an assembly of believers, Elders, Deacons, Pastors, home churches, cathedrals that glorify the Lord? What of future events, Pre, Post, Mid Trib rapture or no rapture at all. Old Testament Saints, New Testament saints and Tribulation saints, where does it all fit? Then there is the biggy in my head, grace and works or grace and obedience to God’s Word. Grace is obvious and has been from Genesis one until now. Most agree that obedience to God’s Word is important. Yet it seems to be true only if I get to pick what part of God’s Word I choose to obey. There are many things to wrestle with, both with God and with others who follow Yeshua Messiah, Jesus the son of God. But it is time to hit the beach so we will continue to wrestle a bit next week.   

The Journey Continues

I come to another birthday this week. They really are not all that important to me as far as a celebration goes. I have more than what I need and the things I really want, from a material side, are way beyond my reach so the gift thing honestly doesn't even find its way to the front of my brain. The day does, however, give me pause as I have to recognize that over six decades have come and gone from the time I entered this world. Forty three of them have been after becoming a disciple of Yeshua, my Messiah and Savior. Most of those years have been in vocational ministry or in preparation for that ministry. It seems each new year brings new things to ponder. However, reflections this morning begin with the amazing blessings and grace of God. If I were God I would not have put up with me this long. I agree with Robert Robinson that  I am, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it prone to leave the God I love". Yet I have been blessed with an amazing family. I hold a wife, that for almost 37 years, has been my partner, my soul mate, my love. She has loved me, cared for me, encouraged me, supported me, listened to me, and put up with me with tenderness and Godly grace. She has a tender heart of compassion and a gentle spirit that reflects our Savior. I have been blessed with five children. Each holds a desire to know God and to know truth. Each is on their own journey and growing in their own way, and that is how it should be. However they all have some things in common. They all have the same gentle and compassionate spirit they learned from their mother. They all care about the wounded and the wayward. They have shown compassion and a desire to serve others that put most followers of God to shame. They are not perfect, after all they are related to me, but they are intelligent, tender souls who use their gifts and talents with others in view.  They are unique, yet clearly have similar hearts and I am proud and richly blessed by each of them. 

For myself, I find that the things I have heard from my seniors is vividly true for me. The longer I live and read and study the more I know I don't know. Long haunting questions have risen to the surface, and the pursuit of the answers has left me with more questions. I find myself in agreement with the Apostle Paul, who at the end of his life tells the Philippians that his desire is, "To know Him [Christ] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." Just to know Him. For I know that He has been gracious enough to reveal Himself while I have been too dull to see Him. I look to the scriptures and find years of training that were always shrouded in some haze of the, "is that really so?" question. Even today the clouded questions are being forced into the light. The continuity of God's revelation brings lots of things to clarity while raising new challenges to things I have believed. What does it mean to me that, as a Gentile, I have been grafted into the commonwealth of Israel? What place does that put me in? How do I respond to the feasts, fasts, and festivals God designed for his people, Israel? What can I learn of and from that tradition? And what of Torah? How do I deal with Yeshua's claim that He, "came not to destroy the Law [Torah] or the Prophets, I came not to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Mt 5 :17 - 18). All has not been fulfilled, the earth and heaven have not passed away, so what does that say of Torah? And in reading Acts I am faced with the challenge to be like the Bereans, who, Luke writes, "Were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). They heard Paul's teaching and wanted to make sure it was true, so they daily searched the scriptures to see if these things were so. The only scriptures they had went from Genesis to Malachi so the measure for accuracy in what Paul taught was Torah and the Prophets. If that is so then there should be no contradiction between Old Testament revelation from God and the New Testament revelation from God. Continuity and never contradiction should be what we find. Yet I have been taught that there is a new faith that is contrary to Judaism, contrary to the Law, a new covenant, and by some even a new way of salvation. How can this be? And what does this mean to me as a Gentile? What of the passages that seem to indicate an end to Torah? Contradictions? Yet when I look at the 613 laws gleaned by the Rabbis it seems I keep the bulk of them and that they are supported by the teaching of all the New Testament writers. It seems I now am not sure of what I thought I knew. So there is new study and new perspectives and new appreciation for my Hebrew heritage. And yes, new questions.

"That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." So the Journey continues. As it should and as it will until the Lord takes me home.