The blessing of complexity

 

as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:16 ESV

            It is nice to know that even Peter had difficulty with parts of scripture, we are not alone in our struggles to understand certain passages of holy writ. We have no reason to be ashamed in this, nor have we any reason to complain of complicated portions of scripture. Just as the simple passages are given for our good so too are the complex.

            A difficult passage holds several blessings for us. They occupy our minds, making us dwell on scripture. They humble us, and cause us to seek help from God and from godly men. They should wet our appetite, ignite our interest, and urge us on to diligent study and prayer. Difficult passages are there for our good in our growth, and for that we should be thankful. Be encouraged for Peter says there are difficult things only, not impossible things. There is challenge to be sure, but it can be overcome. The knowledge gained by hard work is precious.

            Now observe that it is not only the difficult bits of scripture which are twisted, but all the scriptures may be abused, and have been abused. It is not complexity which leads to heresy, but a wayward heart. If our hearts are after God then there is a blessing for us in complexity.

Prayer

            Father as we engage our hearts and minds with the mysteries of the faith may we do so rightly and well, being encouraged and not discouraged, being ever faithful. We thank You for the challenges of learning, and for the great help You have given in it. We pray in Jesus’ name. amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Last Conversation with Grandad

  The Last Conversation with Granddad; A Eulogy for Marshall Helms             There is so much that needs to be done, and so precious little time. There are some here who need comfort, and some who need assurance, and some who need encouragement, and some who need to be admonished. Yes, there is much to do, and precious little time. So, let us pray. Father, the task before me is overwhelming, and I have no strength for it. Abide with me please that in my weakness Your strength might be perfectly evidence, and Your word might go forth today to accomplish all Your good and perfect will. I ask it for the sake of Your glory, In the name of Jesus. Amen.             It has been rightly said that it is not wrong to mourn. Indeed, in Matthew 5 our Lord says those who mourn are blessed for they will be comforted. We mourn death because it is unnatural. It discomforts us bec...
Read more

Against work addiction

  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2 ESV             When work becomes anxious toil, something has gone wrong. Something has gone wrong in our society when it comes to work. Several decades ago, Wayne Oats coined a new word, “Workaholic” to describe addiction to work.   The description Oats came up resonates with the psalmist describes. Anxious toiling, long hours, and little if any enjoyment of the work itself or the fruits of the toil. Addiction is another word for slavery, and it is easy to be enslaved by the anxiety over our work for it drives to work more, and that increases our anxiety while also burning through psychological energies.             Not only is workaholism addiction/slavery, it is idolatry for if we stop to think about it the workaholic ...
Read more

Up and ahead

              Sometimes we are blindsided by a sudden shift in life. We thought we were on stable ground, and then someone starts shouting at us in a routine meeting, or tells us we don’t have a job anymore on a Monday morning, or a loved one leaves on Friday evening with no plans to return. We are left with broken piece of something that once made a kind of sense to us. We knew, and now we do not know.             Where is God? We can’t see Him anymore. We cannot understand where He went to, or what he was thinking. We trusted Him, didn’t we? Now look where we are… It is the better part of wisdom to be quiet when these calamities come to visit and to wait. It is the one wise thing Job’s friend did, when first they saw the plight of the miserable man, they only wept with him.             When later they decided to...
Read more