We believers get caught in the same trap when we give our opinions on
people and situations without having the complete picture…even if that
situation happened 2000 years ago.
If we stand at the foot of the cross we see two criminals who not only were
found guilty under the law, but one of them actually confesses his guilt while
hanging on the cross. “We are punished
justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41
NIV)
Maybe, just maybe, this thief hanging next to Jesus was not a career
criminal, but rather a one-time-got caught criminal.
Public opinion would say that the criminals were both headed for hell
and yet Jesus, knowing all the facts and the evidence, told one of the men, “I tell you the truth, today you will be
with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NIV)
1 comment:
Gail;
-----Studies show that we often remember even our own experiences wrong. Our drives and ambitions and desires are incredible bias factors, as are our fears and disgusts and hatreds. The guarding of our hearts and minds concerns much more than just being careful of what we hear, and who we believe. Every time the mind brings up a piece of knowledge or a perception, that which it is contemplating reflects back an affective inclination or attitude about the very memory it accessed. Unless one is skilled with his thoughts and feelings, layer after layer after layer of such varnish builds upon what we consider our own personal knowledge, changing it slightly over time, and changing how we use it even more.
-----If that is not enough, our access to information is extremely limited. When I say “information”, I mean the unembellished, unvarnished facts about the circumstances of a situation. Even an event’s witnesses can provide only bits and pieces of information. Everything else they have to say is more from perceptions about what they experienced than from what they actually experienced. That leaves the players in the situation to be the valuable sources. But their challenge is to guard the great stake they have in who knows what about the play, and when they know it. Usually they present information in whatever manner most favorable to their own stake. Therefore, most of what we know about things are at best well educated guesses.
-----To better make those guesses, it pays to get well educated. The Bible agrees. Or maybe I would best say that I agree with the Bible. “An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Prov 18:15) “For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.” (Eccl 7:12) “[Its words] are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.” (Prov 8:9) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov 1:7) “With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.” (Prov 11:9) “When a land transgresses it has many rulers; but with men of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue.” (Prov 28:2)
-----There is a continual theme in the Bible about loving the truth. This theme brings an humility to the heart which carefully reconciles or even lays down the heart's own perceptions found disagreeing with scant bits of newly discovered factual information. (It's sad how many people mentally brush aside the information and blunder onward.) Then as the mind busily reforms its perceptions, it ever corrects itself in order to be presented in its best possible form before God on that great judgment day. This is by fear of the Lord.
-----I used to wonder why the Bible was so brief in relating very great and significant events and ideas. I used to think it was because there were so many that we would be worn out if all of them were further expounded. Then I realized that the light shines brightest at the core of truth’s import. When read from this consideration rather than its merely being a collection of many old, half told stories, then countless questions clear up and its undeniable reality emerges from the fog of man’s endless chattering. The Bible is the core of truth’s import. But man is the demonstration of misperception, to put it nicely.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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