The Firm Ground of Truth

     I recently read this quote on a friend’s Facebook page: “I'd rather run alone on the Firm Ground of Truth than stumble along with the crowd in the muck and mire of men’s messages.” Although I understand where the person’s heart is on the matter, I wanted to respond with a presentation of what might be considered a “flip-side of the coin.” This is by no means meant to be disparaging of the person, or their relationship with God, or anyone else. Just a difference of opinion and why such a statement is exactly what holds people in a place of becoming spiritually stagnant, and even possibly fearful of what else might be worthwhile of learning.
     There are so MANY concepts of what a "Firm Ground of Truth" is. For years I held onto my own definition that was passed along by well-intending believers who lived by their given perception of it, and at that particular time were used by God to help further along my own fellowship and knowledge. Looking back from my present vantage point, I would say that much of what I was taught and held as “truth” to be error. Even though the Bible warns that we're not to be moved by "every wind of doctrine" I have seen the need in my life to EXAMINE EVERYTHING once embraced as "truth" with the underlying motive of discovering what is relevant, lasting, useful, inspiring and faith-producing, even with certain elements of common sense.

     In every denomination there are those whose PERCEPTION of "Firm Ground of Truth" is fully functional, scriptural, accurate and unshakable, and it will grossly conflict with the "Firm Ground of Truth" of another. So, keeping that in mind, I have decided it best for me to LISTEN to the MESSAGE of many teachers, because according to 1 Corinthians 3:22 (regarding various teachers) Paul says, "...all are YOURS." My understanding of doctrine and my "Firm Ground of Truth" have changed more than several times because of the MESSAGE that different teachers have brought forth in their time, and according to God's purposes, who I trust is at the helm of my life and direction. So... I'm good with the fact that I am not fully understanding of "truth" in its epic scale and proportion and detail. I pray I will never present myself as one who has a fully solid grasp of the knowledge of God to the point that I plant my feet doctrinally and become indifferent to the voice of what might well be the voice of the Holy Spirit.

     Too many people read the same book and disagree largely on the most simple and elementary issues, which proves to me that right now we ALL "see through a glass darkly."  If our "FIRM GROUND OF TRUTH" is based on the cringing fear of an angry God whose purpose and pleasure is extending punishment to a broken humanity, or forcing us to comply to rigid codes of appearance, religious behavior and regulation... then our foundation will produce the corresponding unfruitful works of judging, condemnation, anxiety, hopelessness and despair. And all this will be done in HIS Name. (Which I find excessive and rampant among church folk anyway.) IF our previous foundations were similar and we find our way by God's design into the light of the Good News of salvation by grace through faith... we have a better shot of living in the light of His wholeness and gaining a clearer understanding of what a foundation for a "Firm Ground of Truth" is all about. But, if we can then learn to walk in the LIGHT of what we DO understand, there is a chance that we can live as a reflection of the glorious TRUTH that is revealed by the LOVE of God as manifested in Christ. With that in mind, I will listen to the many teachers in hopes of learning something, because, as Paul said, "they're all mine" and I've got a long way to grow.

Drink deeply...

Wine Anyone?

Through the years, I have always been taught that Christ's sacrifice was given to quench the wrath of an angry God for all the sinfulness of mankind. Seemed sound and reasonable in that context alone without scratching much deeper under the surface. But, once I began to scratch, I couldn't help but think there is more, much more to consider. Like this... who made the FIRST sacrifice on behalf of Adam and Eve? They didn't. God did. Was it to appease HIS anger and wrath? Maybe, maybe not. It might have appeared to them that He was mad. Especially given the way we perceive our reality through the lens of a guilty conscience.
It makes sense to me that, since the guilty couple had already tried miserably to appease their conscience, or guilty soul, for the blatant sin they committed by sewing fig leaves together to "cover their nakedness" God took measures and did something that would become an ongoing reminder (type-shadow) that would ASSURE their guilty souls, and future generations, that the relationship had not been fully severed. Even though death was brought into the human picture by their sin, and would not be altered spiritually until Christ's provision could make fallen humanity "alive" again.
Jewish priesthood provided the same thing. A type and fore-shadowing only. The New Testament concurs that the blood of animals did NOT and does NOT pacify God or "settle the score" where human sinfulness/guilt is concerned. YET... Israel's priesthood continued to offer these emblems for whose sake? God's? Maybe, maybe not. For THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE? Quite possibly. EVEN IF THEY BELIEVED it was to appease God's wrath, the sacrifices ultimately were MORE suited to appease the guilt of their own souls from year to year, providing the assurance that God had not left or forsaken his people. Consider the day and culture and those surrounding Israel in its written history. Pagan. Heathen. Poly-theistic. Barbaric. Brutal spiritual darkness. Blood sacrifice was the norm... for EVERYONE. Cattle, goats, sheep, doves, even babies were laid upon fiery altars when  guilty souls were fear stricken, believing they had no other recourse with an ANGRY GOD. For the course of their sacrificing upon altars, in tents and Temples, Israel was looking to the future... Messiah... Jesus. Israel should have been able to READ EVERY SIGN that POINTED to what HE SACRIFICIALLY OFFERED WILLINGLY... BECAUSE OF LOVE... FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM. Not to appease the anger of a relentless deity, but to provide ONCE AND FOR ALL THE REALITY, not mere powerless symbolism as in Old Testament sacrifices, but what SHOULD be the crushing blow to all human superstition, dread and fear. Yes, God has done for us what we could never have done for ourselves, and thereby, through accepting this provision, and believing its promise, efficiently clears our guilty conscience by understanding the offering of Himself on our behalf, ending the need of fallen, inadequate, broken human behavior to DO SOMETHING SACRIFICIAL TO APPEASE AN ANGRY GOD.
Now consider this. For the same reason... why do we celebrate communion and "drink the wine"? I know Jesus told us to do this in remembrance of him. But to what end? What purpose? Does it not provide the same REMINDER for our souls? How about when standing GUILTY of an offense before a Holy God? When we partake of the wine and allow our bodies to become infused with the symbolic liquid that penetrates and nourishes our being on a cellular level, how do we perceive what is taking place? When we drink... do we remember that HE has lovingly tended to the business at hand of providing a Lamb, whose shed blood offered on our behalf is an eternal banner that our relational position with Himself is on an unshakeable foundation? Does it prevent our guilty soul's fear from NOT TRUSTING the GRACE that made this gift of righteousness available by faith alone? Does it make us certain that HIS righteousness is infused to the core of our being? That no other sacrifice is now acceptable? God's love has become the solution for our greatest problem, the satisfaction for our greatest hunger, and the provision for our greatest need... and our guilty souls are purged. "For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Wine anyone?

Drink deeply.