Wherever human beings congregate, for whatever purpose, ideas and notions get bandied about that bear little resemblance to truth and reality.
"He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest" (Mark 9:33-34).
It always intrigues me that the disciples could have argued about their place and position while in the presence and under the influence of the One who sacrificed His Heavenly exaltation for earthly humility. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:5-7). How did the disciples allow such an ignoble consideration to sully their ponderings "by the way?"
I wish I didn't know the answer to this question. However, I've too often been a participant in considerations of absurdity with fellow believers, unwittingly in most cases, but nevertheless later (when I came to my senses) discovered and realized as nonsensical and unworthy wastes of time. Born again believers in the Lord Jesus are far from immune to the possibility of silly and harmful notions igniting among us, and then spreading like destructive wildfire through the camp. Indeed, we may be even more susceptible to such danger because, as a good friend recently suggested to me, "Christians can be really gullible!" Or as A.W. Tozer once wrote, "Some of God's children think that because they are believers, they're supposed to believe any and everything."
We do well to pray for each other that a discerning heart and mind will grace us both individually and corporately. It may in fact be just as important that we disbelieve error as it is that we believe the truth. The New Testament continually calls us to both spiritual responsibilities, and if the light of Christ is to shine forth from us in unhindered illumination, nonsense will have to be rejected just as truth is embraced. May our Lord lead us by the way to think, speak, and walk faithfully in His way.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
(I John 4:1)
"He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest" (Mark 9:33-34).
It always intrigues me that the disciples could have argued about their place and position while in the presence and under the influence of the One who sacrificed His Heavenly exaltation for earthly humility. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:5-7). How did the disciples allow such an ignoble consideration to sully their ponderings "by the way?"
I wish I didn't know the answer to this question. However, I've too often been a participant in considerations of absurdity with fellow believers, unwittingly in most cases, but nevertheless later (when I came to my senses) discovered and realized as nonsensical and unworthy wastes of time. Born again believers in the Lord Jesus are far from immune to the possibility of silly and harmful notions igniting among us, and then spreading like destructive wildfire through the camp. Indeed, we may be even more susceptible to such danger because, as a good friend recently suggested to me, "Christians can be really gullible!" Or as A.W. Tozer once wrote, "Some of God's children think that because they are believers, they're supposed to believe any and everything."
We do well to pray for each other that a discerning heart and mind will grace us both individually and corporately. It may in fact be just as important that we disbelieve error as it is that we believe the truth. The New Testament continually calls us to both spiritual responsibilities, and if the light of Christ is to shine forth from us in unhindered illumination, nonsense will have to be rejected just as truth is embraced. May our Lord lead us by the way to think, speak, and walk faithfully in His way.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
(I John 4:1)
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