It's Not True

I sat in a church and listened to a sermon that made my soul cringe. By stretching my imagination, I vaguely understood the basis on which the speaker built his message...but it wasn't biblical. There were pieces of Scripture scattered through the message, but the message wasn't built on Scripture. There's a huge difference. We can teach and live by our own standards and find isolated verses to support us. Or we can teach and live on a firm foundation of God's standards.

I looked around the room. In addition to my own family visiting for the day, there were hundreds of people, some who might be cringing along with me but some who were soaking all words spoken as absolute truth. After all, this is a man of God. He leads the church. His teaching is pure, right?

The only pure teaching is God's Word. That's not to say we shouldn't listen to other teachers. God gifts people to teach us, helping clarify and emphasize God's Word, creating connections among verses and into our daily lives. But we must acknowledge teachers are human. When I facilitate small groups, I prepare with dependence on God. I attempt to set myself aside and let God guide my preparations and then speak through me in words and actions. Yet I still get in the way. I bring my experiences, relationships, and baggage with me. God often uses all of that to help me live out His Word and reflect him, but I often allow all of it to get in the way.

God gifts people to teach us, but he also gives us discernment. Discernment is not only intended to use when we're living everyday life, choosing between right and wrong. We need to take discernment into the church walls and choose what's biblical and unbiblical about what's being taught, verbally and nonverbally, within the church. When we read a book, even with the word "Christian" in the description, we need to discern. Don't accept something because it "sounds" Christian. Accept it because it's consistent with God's Word.

Consider your weekly routine of teachings, entertainment, reading, or anything that you absorb. How active are you in the learning process? Where do you need to actively discern?

What is the ratio of time you spend directly in God's Word in comparison to other teachings?

O Lord, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. - Psalm 119:169 (NLT)

Choices

I had an important decision to make Sunday morning. What to wear to church? I promise you I'm not a fussy woman when it comes to getting ready for church or anywhere else. Sure, I like to look nice, but I'm practical. What fits the occasion? What will be comfortable? What's appropriate for the weather? It doesn't take me long to get ready. I value efficiency.

Sunday was different. As I chose what to wear, I complicated the process. In a couple weeks, I'll be travelling for a full week, which means I need five outfits. For five consecutive days I need to have weather-appropriate, travel-friendly, professionally-attractive outfits. All chosen and packed ahead of time. And on Sunday morning, with forty minutes to get completely ready for church, two full weeks before I needed to pack for my trip, I became consumed with planning my 5-day wardrobe.

I stressed over the smallest details. I couldn't find my favorite brown pants. I wondered where a couple sweaters could be. Did I store them or give them to the community clothing store? To top it all off, I was having one of those mornings when I felt a little chubby. Not a good day to model outfits in front of the mirror!

As I stood between my bed, now covered in clothes, and my mirror, not reflecting the image I wanted to see, I suddenly realized...I had taken a simple decision and piled so many more decisions on top of it, I had little hope of getting anything at all accomplished.

Can you recall a time you've nearly paralyzed yourself with a question? Every option or answer turns you this way and that until you're twisted around, disoriented like a blindfolded child playing Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey?

I looked in the mirror and pondered, "What on earth is all this fuss about? Seriously!" Reality struck me.

How often does God present me with a choice, a simple choice, but I begin to wonder...What if I choose this? What if I'm wrong? What if I didn't hear clearly? What if, what if, what if...until I have little hope of getting anything at all accomplished, paralyzed by self-concocted options.

I'm not suggesting all choices God gives us are simple, but I'm admitting I often complicate the choices he gives me. I'm fairly confident you do the same thing. Would you agree?

I urge you to keep today's choices in God's perspective. Keep the blindfold off, and don't let anyone, including yourself, twist you in dizzying circles.

Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. - Hosea 14:9 (NLT)