Today's readings: Psalms 50, 147:1-11; Isaiah 2:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20; Luke 20:19-26
When someone criticizes your faith or religious beliefs, what is your first reaction? What about other beliefs, such as politics or favorite band or best shortstop of all time? If you're like most of us, your first instinct is to defend your position. This isn't by default a bad response, but it should never be our only response. Eager as we might be to "enlighten" the person who disagreees with us by exposing them to a torrent of facts and ideas, such a defensive reaction does not send the the message that we are confident. To the contrary, it often comes acoss as desperate, or even self-delusional.
This need to convince others (or is it really ourselves?) that we are right keeps Christian bookstores in business. Their shelves are stocked with volume after volume of apologetics, or defenses of and arguments for the Christian faith supposedly meant to intellectually arm the well-meaning Christian against non-believers, especially smart ones. Careful study of these books on creationism, biblical inerrancy and gospel reliability instead reveals they are mostly meant to help Christians convince ourselves we haven't backed the wrong horse. Being knowledgeable about our faith and its history is a good thing, but too much "head" religion tears our focus away from the real fruits of the spirit. And if our faith balances on an intricate and delicate house of Bible flash cards, its eventual fall is only ever one firmly slammed door away.
When our faith is challenged, the best thing we can do is listen to that challenge with an open mind. Listening doesn't mean admitting we are wrong; it means the foundation of our faith is firm enough to withstand a little rough weather. If the scribes and priests in today's passage from Luke 20 had been willing to hear the criticisms Jesus gave in his parables, they might have appeared less foolish and actually learned something. When God speaks to us through others, it's rarely to say "Keep on doing what you're doing." Rather, it's to show us something new. Trusting God enough to risk being wrong will help us learn what's right.
Evening readings: Psalms 53, 17
Love these Blogs Joe. Love to read them, especially the last few lines but I find that sometimes when I am shown though "others" ,I believe it is sometimes to show me I am on the right track and I need much guidence ,especially right now! Thanks ever so much for these words of wisdom!.....You are one of the best people that I have met in my life...
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