Skip to main content

“But the truth is, we aren't born as a blank slate.”

A thought by Larry Osborne, (2009-04-10) from his book, Spirituality for the Rest of Us: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Knowing God (p. 36). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book)

This is important in understanding and accepting each other.  Larry says, “We're all radically different from birth. The same information and experiences that shaped us into who we are can produce a very different world-view, theological perspective, and pattern of spirituality when seen through the lens of another. That's not to say there's no such thing as absolute spiritual truth—or that it resides only in the eyes of the beholder. The Bible spells out plenty of things in black and white—certainly all the important stuff.”

He goes on, “But that's not what usually divides us. Mostly it's the things the Bible doesn't nail down that we fight over. It's the practical outworking of biblical implications and principles that sends us down drastically different paths. Let's be real. We may know in our head that each Christian has a unique assignment from God. But when the assignments produce radically different lifestyles and approaches to spirituality, we have a difficult time validating both.”

Larry then goes into a look at the different styles of life and ministry of Jesus and John the Baptist.  I mean one was very accepting and the other was very confrontational.  And some of John’s disciples came to Jesus a little confused because he didn’t do ministry like John did.  And it seemed that John was also confused. 

And Larry said, “Jesus' disciples were equally confused about John. How could one so unlike their master possibly be pleasing to the heavenly Father? Yet Jesus made it clear: The Father was greatly pleased with both.”

He goes on, “COULD THE SAME THING be happening today? Could God be pleased with those whose walk with him is as different from ours as John's was from that of Jesus? Could the patterns, disciplines, and paths of spirituality we hold so dear be far less important than the fruit they produce? Is it possible that someone whose journey includes choices, practices, and a lifestyle far different from our own actually knows God as well as or better than we do? If the words of Jesus mean anything, the answer is a resounding yes. In his critique of John, the Pharisees, and his own ministry, Jesus was saying something most Christian leaders seem to miss: It's the fruit that matters. That should forever put to bed our attempts to create a one-size-fits-all spirituality. It should silence much of our criticisms of one another. And if properly understood, it should lead to a genuine celebration of our diversity in calling and in our expressions of faith. John or Jesus? The answer is both.”


Do you think God is pleased with how we view the diversity in each other?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

“God does big things with small deeds.”

A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02) from his book, Cure for the Common Life (p. 115). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I don’t know how you feel about what you are doing and how it can make a difference.   You may feel that it is so small and not even worth the effort. Max says, “Begin. Just begin! What seems small to you might be huge to someone else. Just ask Bohn Fawkes. During World War II, he piloted a B-17. On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. Even though his gas tanks were hit, the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane. “On the morning following the raid, Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell. He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune. The crew chief explained that not just one but eleven shells had been found in the gas tanks, none of which had exploded. “Technicians opened the missiles and found them void of explosive cha...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more