RSS
The advent of the internet has been good for so many things, has it not? One of the things I most appreciate is the amount of information so readily available. In each place we’ve lived since we first began exploring the World Wide Web, I’ve made use of the information supplied by weather forecasters because it helps me settle in more quickly.
Here, however, it’s a bit different. Perhaps living half way up a mountain is difficult to gauge; I don’t know. What I do know is that in these past nine months I’ve learned to frequent half a dozen Web sites, because each is correct, but not every time, and they are rarely in agreement. Sometimes their prognostications are as different as what we expect this weekend, anywhere from up to 12 inches of snow overnight to partially cloudy skies with a hint of rain.
One thing the various experts agreed upon is that we’ll experience windy conditions with gusts between 45 and 65 miles per hour and, looking out my window, I see they are correct. (The gusts dislodged all the loose pine needles and there are so many it appears the sky is raining needles.) They also have agreed, irrespective of interpretation, to post winter storm watches on each of their sites.
So, why am I telling you this, focusing yet again on conditions in my new home? Because it got me to thinking of how things are in the family of God. There are so many views, so many opinions, about so much of life, and it seems each one can rightfully say they have “proof” that theirs is the only way of looking at things. Huh. Really…. Really?
How come so many in the family don’t agree about issues, or practices, or policies, or, or, or…? As surely as those of us in the northern hemisphere know winter is coming, this is a reality in the lives of all believers. But what do we do with this realization? I don’t know…and it bothers me a great deal. Not that I don’t know, but that they (read: we) don’t agree. But this I do know: we can agree on what matters most. We can agree that God is love, that He loves each and every one of us very much, and that because of His love all things will work out for good. Yes?
Obviously we need to be cautious and not accept everything we hear without verifying that it lines up with the Word of God. That said, it sounds to me like Paul, that wonderful apostle to the Gentiles, recognized there’d be differences. Otherwise, why would he insist that the core truths be emphasized and everything else be considered opinion not fact? He told the Romans, “it is with your heart you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame,’ …for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ ” (Romans 10:10-13, NIV). He also said, this time writing to Titus, “Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code” (Titus 3:9, The Message). Granted, our arguments today may not be about genealogies but they might be considered as pointless, especially when weighed against the simple question of whether or not someone has trusted in the Lord. So, let’s cut others some slack when they don’t get it quite right. And let’s applaud them when what they say, preach, believe, and live lines up with the precious Word of God, leaving the rest in His very capable hands.
All of Heaven’s best to you and yours,
Margret Boyd
Scribe of Heaven
(Matthew 13:51,52)
