Good Disscussion

It was good to talk about these last two posts with everybody. Beamerpal - I'll be getting you an answer...someday. Just wanted to say thanks for all the comments. Keep them coming if you're still interested. Happy thanksgiving everybody!

Just A Little Misunderstood...

Wow from those few comments I decided I wasn't as clear as I should have been. So I'm going to try and clarify my position.

1) I'm not saying we can understand everything about GOD. My contention was over what He has revealed in Scripture. We will never fully understand God. In fact we will have all eternity to enjoy trying to figure him out, and the joy of discovering brand new things about God every day for millions and millions of years. So let me clarify this does not relate to God himself, but to his Word, which he wrote to be understood.

2) I agree that there are aspects of the Scripture’s teachings that require faith, but it is not a faith based upon our ignorance of the issue. The example given was the trinity so I will go with it. The trinity is based upon truth mined from Scripture. The Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God - three propositional truths supported by Scripture. God is also one - a propositional truth also supported by Scripture. It is therefore based upon these truths, clearly understood, that the doctrine of the trinity comes from.

3) What can be understood about God is based upon his condescension. I agree we cannot know God as the exalted King of all because he cannot, and will not, fit into our small brains. However, God has chosen to make himself simple to be understood by man, even fallen man. God has come close to us in order that a part of him might be understood. This part is revealed in Scripture.

Wow I didn’t expect the response I got. I hope this clarifies the issue at hand and let’s keep talking about it!

Just A Little Irritated...

Ok so I may open up a can of worms here and get a few people upset at me. I don't think I will because very few people read my blog. Probably because I don't write very much on it. I have a life you know!

So this is what has been irritating me lately. Using the word 'mystery' to any and all revealed Bible doctrine. When people don't want to think about an issue any longer they say this phrase, 'It is a mystery and we cannot understand it'. I have a problem with that phrase for several reasons I will give below.

1. This phrase, at its core and unintentionally by those saying it, attacks the clarity of Scripture. God gave us his Word to be understood. The Word was not given to make the darkness we live in darker, but on the contrary, it was given to be light.

2. The word 'mystery' is used in the Bible to describe a doctrine which was not known previously but has now been made clear. Example Romans 16:25-27, 1 Cor 2:7-12 and there are many others. These two are very clear.

3. It gives unbelievers strength in their argument that Christians do not think. Sadly too many Christians start here instead of spending time thinking and praying and reading and asking God to open up the meaning of Biblical doctrine to our hard and undiscerning hearts.

4. It dishonors God because his doctrine is worth spending time pondering and thinking over. Perhaps there is so much fruitless ministry these days because those ministering do not spending time laboring over doctrine.

5. Hiding behind the phrase shows a lack of faith. The Holy Spirit was given to help us understand what God has written. When we say that it cannot be understood we betray that we really do not believe the Scriptures promise to believers to illuminate our minds by the Holy Spirit.

I'm sure there are more reasons but I wanted to get the conversation going. So what do you guys think about the phrase and my short list of 5 reasons why I don't like it. Please add a few and question those I have given. I want to get this in the open and talked about. Let’s get ready to rumble!