John 8:31-32 (HCSB): “31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
When I teach about cultural shifts, I explain it as a pendulum. Pendulums swing from one side to another continuously in response to the gravitational forces at play. The only time when a pendulum stops is when it another force interacts with it. Culture shifts in response to what comes before it. There are very few times where the pendulum is centered so culture lives on extremes.
The integrity of everything that was once trusted has been called into question and the world is living in a deeper state of confusion than every before. We can’t trust the media because people believe there is bias on every level. We can’t trust education because people believe education has not importance. People do not believe in the truth of Scripture and this is within and outside of the church. Culturally, nothing is absolute and everything is relative.
As a Millenial, I have been taught to question everything. Questioning is merely asking the question and passively waiting for a response. Questioning has been confused with inquiring. When you inquire about something, you seek out the answer to the question. While seeking to answer the question, you find out more about the issue and about yourself. Inquiry forces you to analyze- to break things apart, look at the individual parts, and reassemble it in a way you understand to get a similar result. Because you sought after the information and then analyzed the evidence, you are able to create an educated and evidenced opinion.
However, inquiry goes against the notion of “instant gratification”- I want what I want now. We are like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We see what we want, have a tantrum until we get it, and will ignore all voices of reason which tell us the truth or perceived danger. Instant gratification plays into the fears of people and gives credence to them. Once those fears are given value, they become beliefs which are hard to change.
As a nation, we do not look into bias because we follow what we believe will fix our problems quickly. We ignore the blatant truth because it may make us uncomfortable or goes against what we believe. We strive to become better based on what we want rather than what is required of us beyond ourselves. Sadly, I am not only addressing the unbeliever. Believers are so quick to hide their light because they do not want to be uncomfortable or ‘othered’ by people. We are willing to forsake Biblical foundations to please others within and outside our community and cast judgment on those who stand firm on Scripture- even on issues that are non-negotiable- and celebrate their downfall.
In researching for this post, I came upon a story in the Bible that I have never heard preached before. In 2 Kings 22, King Josiah was rebuilding the temple. While the people were building the temple, they found The Book of Law.When it was read to him, he tore at his clothes as a sign of repentance to God. In the 13th verse, King Josiah directs his priest, court secretary, and other to “Go and inquire of the Lord for me, the people, and all Judah about the instruction in this book that has been found. For great is the Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us” (HCSB). God’s response for the country was not favorable because they had repeatedly served other Gods. Josiah’s repentance spared him from even seeing God’s wrath come upon Judah.
King Josiah, rather than sitting back and letting things continue, inquired of the Lord concerning the truth of the Book of Law. His repentance is what spared him. When you inquire of God, it brings truth, understanding, and freedom. When is the last time we inquired of the news let alone Scripture? When is the last time that we brought something controversial or something we saw before the Lord for clarity? When you inquire of God, you will be changed no matter if you are right or wrong. God’s truth brings forth a deeper understanding and assurance in what Scripture says. You become free because your eyes are opened more to see what things truly are rather than be satiated by what you have always believed within your own thinking.
Proverbs 3:5-6 challenges us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths” (HCSB). Sadly, more and more Christians are trusting in their own ways or cultural shifts rather that trusting God, inquiring of Him, and seeking answers in the Bible. The world sees these actions and loses faith and trust in the Church because we do things in God’s name that are outside of his nature. They do not believe the truth because Christians fail to exemplify it doctrinally and in their everyday lives. The first step of faith is trust. We cannot ask the world to trust us if we do not trust God.
The foundation of the infallibility and validity of scripture and its purpose comes from 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (HCSB)
The word “inspired’ comes from the latin inspirare meaning “breathed into” and was originally used when speaking of a divine being imparting truth or wisdom. The Bible is “God-breathed” and designed to instruct in all facets of life. However, many current philosophical movements try to go against the very notion of God-breathed scripture or divine truth.However, God and his word have withstood the test of time in both the Christian and Judaic traditions. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 (HCSB), “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” The world has changed time and time again but the word of God has stood the test of time and outlasted other religious thought.
Lastly, I must discuss persecution. Matthew 22:10 states, “You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered” (HCSB). The Apostle Paul speaks of this perfectly in 2 Timothy 3:12-15 (HCSB): “In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Those who speak the truth based on Scripture and live a life that follows God will face persecution, pushback, and attack from the world because you are living against the established status quo. If you fall apart or quit in the midst of persecution, it depicts you as someone who may not believe what they say they do. If you stand firm on what God says, you will grow and be stronger because of it. As I said in a previous post: if Jesus was persecuted, you are not exempt.
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Creative Accidents, Living on Purpose 