Hard Thinking January 9, 2012
It’s 8:30 on Friday morning, and I’m writingthis column from a classroom in Louisville, Kentucky. I’ve been here for 3days, enjoying a refresher course for alumni of Southern Seminary. I use theword “enjoying” deliberately, because it’s been a delight -nourishing to my soul, challenging for my mind, and strengthening for my faith.I’d like to write a column or two in future weeks about specific lessons and/orbenefits I’ve gleaned. But what’s most on my mind this morning is just thebrute reality of the hard thinking that diligent Bible study requires. Thequestion “Why?” occurs to me. Why did God make some parts of theBible so complex? I mean, even the Apostle Peter admitted: “There are somethings in [Paul’s letters] that are hard to understand…” (2 Pt 3:16). IfPeter talks that way, maybe it’s OK to admit that some of the Bible is tough tounderstand! But why?
First, it highlights His wisdom and ourdependence when we are forced to pause, ponder, and pray. “It is the glory ofGod to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings” (Pro25:2). Hard parts in the Bible are a constant reminder that we don’t know itall, but He does.
Second, it helps us identify the truths weshould feel the most strongly about, since we can reasonably assume that whatGod made most clear is of greatest importance. Is Jesus really God? No doubt.Bank your life (and death) on it. What music style does God prefer? Well, Idoubt it’s country, but let’s not fight about it, right?
Third, it’s a built-in reminder, even whilestudying the truth, of the importance of love for other Christians. If allScripture were equally clear, all Christians would presumably believe the samethings. But then who would notice our love for each other? Disagreement givesus a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate that what holds us together is notour common ideology or value system; it’s the compelling power of our gloriousSavior!
The moral? Pray for God’s help to know thetruth. Stand up for what matters most; be gentle about the rest. And love,love, love. These are the lessons God has for us, woven right into the fabricof His sometimes hard-to-understand word. Happy hard thinking!