Friday, May 15, 2015

"Nametags................"

In the course of our Wednesday evening Bible study, for whatever reason, our teacher asked ME to define “absolute truth” for him. My immediate response was to suggest someone else might be a better choice for such task. No; the die had been cast. “Black and white!” I blurted, trying to comply without taking the class into my own theology and, at the same time, knowing such answer would be utilized to emphasize that which I don’t believe. It was; and yet, void of any Spiritual anointing to debate such issue, this old man saw no point in forcing my opinion upon the others. People have to take their own journey in this, learn their own lesson in a stumble down the path. For me, though, there is only one correct definition for “absolute truth”. Christ claimed that label long ago and, for much too long, the Church has tried to replace Him with the Book! That’s not to say one can’t find Him within chapter and verse; but it does demand that, in confessing their faith in the word, Christian must also admit to the possibility of error since, if for no other reason, our humanity is involved in processing that which is written therein; and that, alone, ought to make it always a work “under construction”. Our understanding ought to be continually re-examined in both a prayer closet and the next step. It is He whom I follow, a resurrected reality who always allows me freedom in this, final accountability more a matter of how I lived my faith, not so much how well I managed to reduce it to an Algebraic formula: baptism by immersion plus attending and tithing equals entrance through the Pearly Gates. Scripture reminds me of my own individual sins, points me to Christ, and tells me to make myself a vessel through which He might reach others. It’s that simple…….

3 comments:

  1. It bugs me when questions are sent out with an obvious agenda; you can see it coming a mile away. I can understand you're wanting to avoid trying to explain your position on the matter.

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    1. Actually, just stumbled upon this; maybe could be your answer next time...?

      http://frederickbuechner.com/content/truth-simply

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    2. The teacher and I are, and remain, good friends. We just tend to disagree on a definition for "the Word"; and that involves a few other items like "absolute truth". Thanks for the link. I didn't realize Buechner had an online site. It will go up soon on my side-bar.

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