Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hi there, nice people.

We just did our Gospel Sing thing at Pheasant Pointe. Now we need to move on to other things.

Becki didn’t feel up to a walk this morning, so I did a jog alone with Dandy, taking along a tennis ball and flinger. I gave him such a workout that he dropped in that nice little pool of water to cool off, even though it was already fairly cold and rainy. He is an absolute fanatic about chasing stuff that you throw. That may be the only reason he keeps us.

Blessings on the rest of your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

If you were asked to reduce the basic message of the Bible to five words or less, what would you say? A very good answer would be to simply quote the first five words of the FOCUS VERSE—“Seek the LORD and live.” SEEKING is essential. It’s not optional. There is no substitute—no “after-market” replacement. Without this core heart-level engagement, everything falls apart—nothing works right—the entire matter of God, faith, doctrine, Christian tradition, and church attendance is reduced to no more value for you and me than a plastic banana.

Talking about a plastic banana was not premeditated. But now that I’ve post-meditated it, I’m inspired to go a little farther with it. Consider the fact that a plastic banana is man-made. The maker is clever enough to make it look like a banana, feel like a banana, maybe even apply some special scent so as to make it smell like a banana—but try peeling it and eating it! IT’S NOT REALLY A BANANA! And if you did eat it, it would render the opposite effect of nourishment—you may be taken to the hospital—or worse. This is absurd! But what is more absurd than to actually choose the plastic banana over the real one?!?—when you have the option?!?

Here’s another crazy idea: Imagine someone of high standing visiting your home. You sense a kind of social obligation to offer him something to eat. Can you imagine what would come of this encounter if you offered him a plastic banana? I can see the local newspaper headline now. Not good. Now you risk the mental hospital. But what could be more offensive to the Lord (“the LORD God Almighty”—5:16, 27) than to offer Him plastic (non-real) praise, plastic songs, plastic worship—made artificial by the absence of a HEART AFTER GOD—a heart that genuinely SEEKS Him.

To add support to this spin, consider God’s words through Amos in verses 21 through 23: “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.” Wow! Get the picture? How often have you heard this read at the beginning of a church service?

So what is the omniscient x-ray laser scanner of “the LORD God Almighty” looking for as people gather in “sacred assembly” (or anywhere else, for that matter)? The prophet Micah gives a safe and sound answer: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)—in other words, He’s looking for seeking HEARTS AFTER HIM. Let me try to put it another way according to my own overview and understanding: The God of the Bible does not really want your monetary means, your sacred songs, your religious rituals, your pious prayers, your perfected platitudes, your powerful preaching, your pews, platforms, pulpits, and programs—HE WANTS YOU!—AND ALL OF YOU!—because, then all that other stuff becomes AUTHENTIC. Furthermore, taking into account that He made and owns everything, and has every right to call the shots, why should that requirement be judged as unreasonable? Anything less, well—I think it drives God bananas! Pun intended.