Haven't I Been There Before?

 

Haven’t I Been There Before?

     Slipping the syrupy juice down my throat and driving my spoon into another scoop of white bliss, my mind thought it was in Heaven.  A and W root beer floats were the bomb in my days.  Parked outside the restaurant, the magical speaker would capture my dad’s voice as he placed our order through his driver’s window. What seemed like hours later, a waitress came with tray in hand.  It was fast/ slow food of the ‘70’s.  Onion rings caught my attention as their warm aroma filled our car’s interior.

      Haven’t I been there before?  No.  This is a synthesized memory.  Parts and pieces laid close to each other seem to fit.  In fact, I have no definite recollection of complete details.  I do like the smell of onion rings.  Carroll, Iowa is the location of an A and W.  Chances that my family never placed a full order is good.  Dad didn’t make that kind of money.

     So, what about us and the Bible?  Do we synthesize scripture?  Bits and pieces kinda fit.  In fact, Moses led Israel into the Promised Land, correct?  Little errors gloss over specifics.  God, the Master storyteller, put His testimony down on paper.  Thankfully.  “The palest ink is better than the best memory.”  The Chinese proverb states it.

     “Show me where it is written.”  We were challenged at a young age.  Being new to the faith, the deacon and his wife would quiz us.  What they were kindly saying, “Get your facts straight before arriving at God’s judgement on an issue.”  This upfront approach drove home the seriousness of synthesizing and its consequences.

     Seeking the whole counsel of scripture means to view a passage in view of God previous and God future.  In other words, does my interpretation fit with God’s revealed character?  “For God so loved the world …”  Oh, that means all make it to Heaven.  That is His will.  “God is love.”  This pick and choose logic gets us proving a circle is a square.  God becomes a permissible grandfather with open arms.

     Haven’t I been there before?  Yes. With knowledge came misconceptions when not balanced with other revelations.  I banked off the other edge of the spectrum. God, in the Old Testament, was severe in His punishment.  Somehow, I misunderstood His grace and exhibited cruel criticism missing Jesus’ spirit of mercy coupled with care.  Only with eventual training did my spirit soften in humility.  Concern for my common man rebounded when I experienced pain.  I did not want others to go there.

     Please have your ducks in a row to support your doctrine.  When building a lattice through which to view the world, see it God’s way.  Our Church has suffered grievous evils.  Tangents off one or two scriptures sent some into battle waging war against an unseen opponent.  Likewise, take care not to weave His word into a security blanket to placate fear.

     Chances are you’ve been there before.  New revelation can threaten our dogma.  What we thought can be challenged.  Are we willing to change?  Flexibility with God is paramount.  He is infinite.  I am but a man with limited understanding.  As I mature, He exposes more of His character.  As a Father reasons with His child, the depth changes.  “Just obey” turns into “I’ll tell you why.”

     God never changes.  His character is the same in the Old and New Testaments.  He provides accounts which do not conflict.  Do not feel you have to help Him smooth the bumps by picking and choosing then applying reasoning.  God will prove Himself.  All of God, in His multifaceted being, challenges us to seek a truthful representation.  Jesus is God incarnate, being His express image to us.  If He violates in some way, He’s never been where our faulty reasoning has led.  

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