June 09, 2015
Avoiding Obstacles
A hospital complex in a
neighboring community has a winding driveway and in less than one city block
there are five speed bumps and four stop signs. I understand the need for
drivers to go slow and watch for pedestrians, but none of these obstacles are
near the marked crosswalk. My frustration was tempered once I realized that the
driveway leading to the southern entrance of the facility has no speed bumps or
stop signs. Unfortunately many of us forget that there are ways for us to get around
spiritual obstacles as well. Paul said, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for
those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to
the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For
such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth
talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people” (Ro 16:17 NIV).
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----What Paul said to the first century Christians was well and good. He actually said the same thing to us living today. But we don’t take it the same way they did. To them “the teaching you have learned” was learned firsthand from the apostles. It was rather clear who was right and who was wrong when differences arose because the apostles were still around, still teaching the same things, still correcting deviations from their messages. And for nearly one hundred years after they passed this fortunate circumstance continued. Men like Timothy and Titus and many others named in the Bible knew the apostles firsthand, knew their teachings firsthand, knew what they meant, and held respect amongst the people because of this continuity of firsthand experience passing along what the Lord taught the apostles. But all grass withers. All men die. And with them, the firsthand experience.
-----By the third century AD the church was led by men who were taught by men who were taught by those who were taught by the apostles. The differences between Paul and Barnabas and Peter and the likes were not isolated incidences abounding even in the apostle‘s days. People naturally have different ways of thinking and doing. So, even amongst those faithful to the concept of the Word in the days of the apostles, differences were creeping into the church. There came to be different “schools” of thought around the Mediterranean, a Western school around Rome, an Ephesian school around Ephesus, another around Antioch, Alexandria, Carthage, not to mention the Armenian school or the Coptic one. It seems everyone has ideas. And the only way anyone can ultimately relate to anything is through what he already knows, even though that generally needs copious adjustment to reality.
-----The point is, even without considering the serious errors of those who “went out from us” (I John 2:19) - the Gnostics, the Ebionites, etc., “the teaching you have learned” became a rather divergent thing within not too many centuries even amongst those who made much effort to remain orthodox. Even “orthodoxy” morphed into different shapes as it moved through different spheres of leadership influence. And everyone in each sphere was certain their own leaders were following the teaching of the apostles to a spiffy T while those of other spheres were causing divisions and putting obstacles in the Gospel's way. It was just that animalistic, grouping nature expressing itself into the church. And so, in many important ways, but fortunately not in all ways, the people of our dear, sacrificial Lord avoid one another, treating one another as obstacles and dividers.
-----Had we all from the beginning learned well that the most relevant obstacle and cause of division rests within the self, maybe things would now be different. Had we all not applied Paul’s “we see dimly as in a mirror” principle to the other guy’s eyesight, had we all well realized that we ourselves see that dimly, maybe unity in the Lord would have rested less on doctrinal tidbits and more on welcome. Humility goes before honor (Prov 15:33; 18:12; 22:4,) because humility sets self in its place so self can actually honor what is in honor’s place. “Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10b) “Love one another with brotherly affection;” (Romans 12:10a) “…bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.” (Romans 15:1b-2)
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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