Let's be reasonable

I love to study the New Testament. I’ve been blessed to enjoy several good bible studies recently with both friends and family and as always my knowledge by understanding has decreased while my suspicions in faith have increased. I recalled a verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where Paul stated, in part, that a man in Christ is a new creature and “all things become new”.

I remember that before my conversion I honestly thought that being Christian meant you knew all about God. I actually expected that was a requirement and that all you “so called” Christians were actually hypocrites because it was obvious that none of you knew much, if anything about God. I remember when I first believed and how shocked I was at how little I actually “knew”. The only thing that was obvious was exactly what Paul had said. Nothing was what it had seemed before. Suddenly all you hypocrites were my brothers and sisters, my support group and my best friends. The people I once hated I now loved and my dope smoking, drinking buddies were convinced I had been brain washed. Something else that was so different was this burning desire I had to understand, not only God’s will for me, but also just exactly what had happened to me. Odd isn’t it? I wasn’t educated into faith, rather my education had to be set aside in order to have faith. Once I had it I became totally ignorant and every day was an adventure filled with one blessing after another as I began to see God in all creation.

Then my education started and I couldn’t get enough of the bible. I tried to start in Genesis but by the time I reached the first genealogies I was lost so I went to Matthew. “Ah, this is where it’s at” I thought, and so began my obsession with the New Testament. I used to love trying to unravel the mystery within each verse. I used every free moment to study, even at work during lunch. As time progressed and I became a little more comfortable with my new found understanding I began to have a desire to discuss it with those who seemed to be so knowledgeable of the scripture. It seemed God had opened my eyes to so much and yet still I knew they were head and shoulders above me in their understanding. I followed all the normal lessons and questioned my teachers endlessly. Once again I was surprised to find that they too had their own questions and these lessons simply couldn’t satisfy my thirst and my hunger. I continued to study and to discuss my studies with any poor soul who would allow me the time. I was building here and it was a strong building with each block checked and rechecked for accuracy. I can’t honestly say how long this continued but I do know it went on until at some point I no longer considered myself only a student but also capable of teaching. My answers began to be more numerous than my questions and this was a sign to me that now I should give what was given to me.

There’s been a lot of life between then and now and the other day I had tapped out a sentence to a friend I’m corresponding with and I was amazed at the thought that had escaped from my mind. “Quite frankly of late I question the need for any reasonable understanding at all, only the acceptance of all that is of God.”