Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special ones.

Beautiful clear calm morning from this window. I need to run off soon to the sawmill again. I’ll do a round of milling, then hook up to the mill and haul it home, set it up, and be ready to do a little job with it at 4pm. Thano is engaged at his Safeway job today, so will not be accompanying me this time.

Have a great day doing whatever you need to do.

Love. Dad/Ray.

Let no one think that the congregation of the righteous is a trouble-free congregation. The fact that it is composed of less-than-perfect human beings who are characterized by a very broad spectrum of background and experience and view on all manner of topics and issues provides a built-in problem. Controversial questions will always befall the Church. God knows that. I even think He intends it. He only requires that we subscribe to an attitude of Christ-like love that lends itself to engaging in the only proper means of problem-solving that He makes available to believers—HONEST DISCUSSION THAT IS AIMED AT REACHING WISE AND GODLY DECISIONS THAT ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE WORD AND THE GOOD OF ALL CONCERNED. In upholding standards of Biblical righteousness and making practical application, more intense dialogue may be required—that of DISPUTE AND DEBATE. But it must be understood that even this can be transacted in an attitude of love. Occasionally God may intervene with special gifts of knowledge or wisdom or discernment to assist in the process, but for the most part we must walk the road of discussion, DISPUTE AND DEBATE in reaching collective decisions. Don’t be afraid of that fact. Just make sure your attitude is right and that you are dedicated to truth. Furthermore, I think this fact is worth my bearing in mind: Just because I know that God loves me personally does not guarantee that He loves everything I think. These Biblical accounts offer volumes of support to that reality.

I, for one, am very grateful that the leaders of the early church followed a wise course and made the decision they did in regards to the issue of circumcision—without anyone getting punched out or killed. I would hate to have seen the legalistic circumcisers win the debate. I would hate to be expected to promote and inspect circumcision in my missionary efforts and the general promotion of the Gospel—or see modern churches compelled to implement such a standard. Can you even imagine a Billy Graham crusade where—oh, never mind—use your own imagination. But godly discussion and wisdom prevailed and the wonderful foundation of our faith was reaffirmed.

Please pay attention to this foundational principle of the Work of God. I know there are lots of stories of serious arguments and big fights within church fellowships. In fact, they are commonplace. Where there are apparent breakdowns and ugly schisms, the problem is most assuredly not with this Biblical plan, but with the rigid attitudes with which the plan is implemented. The plan of God will work if men will work the plan. So be it.