I’ve been pondering something else from the conference I went to. I have gone back and forth on what I think about a statement that was made. “Ask God to teach and explain. We aren’t called to be explainers, we are called to be believers.” I’ve really been wrestling with this one. As I begin this post, I’m not even sure I’m thru pondering and batting it around.
At first, I REALLY liked it. It made sense. It seemed to free me of the need to explain things that I just can’t explain. It seemed to free me from a need to “know before you go”. It freed me from the need to have ALL the answers wrapped up in a neat little package before making a move of any kind. It gave me freedom to trust Him to teach me all that I need to know. It gave me freedom to believe promises in God’s word just because He said so. Promises that I have no way of explaining. Promises that I have no way of knowing how they are going to be fulfilled before I profess to believe them. It is much easier to believe that God can heal the sick because He says He will than it is to explain how He is gonna do it or why He doesn’t always. It is easier to believe that if you train a child in the way she should go when she is old she will not depart from it than it is to explain how exactly that is gonna play out for a child living in a season of rebellion. It is easier for me to believe He is setting captives free than to explain why so many Christians seem to be walking around looking and acting like captives. It is easier to believe my faith can move mountains than to explain why I believe that…
Oh wait…doesn’t the bible say I have to explain myself? Doesn’t it say I need to be ready to give an account?
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect- 1 Peter 3:15
Then maybe I do need to be more than a believer. Maybe I’m not off the hook. Maybe I do need more knowledge. More proof. More stuff to back up my beliefs. More stuff to justify my actions or inactions in my faith journey. Maybe I need to work a little harder at the ability to explain…
Oh! Wait! The quote started with “Ask God to teach and explain.” Isn’t that one of Jesus’ names in the Bible? Teacher? Isn’t that a role of the Holy Spirit? Teacher? Isn’t that one of the purposes of God’s Word? To Teach?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. – John 13:13
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. – John 14:26
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness – 2 Timothy 3:16
I loved school growing up. I liked it for more than just P.E. and Art and Band. I liked the academic courses. I liked learning new stuff. I even liked school so much that my sister and I would play school. One of my favorite subjects was math. You know what? I didn’t really ever feel the need to explain why 2+2=4. I just believed it because the teacher said so. No one has ever had to explain to me why we call the color red, red. It’s just red and I believe it to be red because when I was little my mom, who was teaching me, told me it was red and I just believed it. It wasn’t my job to question her, it was just my job to believe…
But as I’ve gotten older, it’s become important to teach my children stuff and I found out that kids like to have stuff explained to them…my kids do. They especially like to have the rules explained to them. They ESPECIALLY like to have the rules they DON’T LIKE explained to them. The like to have the rules they DON’T UNDERSTAND explained to them. I don’t want to explain the rules to them, I just want them to follow them and BELIEVE them! I’ll take care of the teaching if they will just trust me and believe me…
Hmmmm! Maybe I’m like a kid that wants to argue with the ONE who’s making the rules…I can delay having to step out in faith and just believe if I am waiting for an explanation…I can delay stepping out in faith if I’ve got more to learn FIRST…I can delay stepping out in faith if I can convince myself I need a really good explanation for my belief first.
I never did find anything I was called to explain except for the HOPE that is inside of me. All the rest…just believe and let HIM teach and fulfill His promises.
Whatcha Thinkin'? 