April 20, 2012
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Paradigm Shifts
other tools and materials that I had failed to place within easy reach beside me on the floor in the first place. Getting up off the floor to run for another tool used to be so effortless--now it is often a long agonizing, time consuming process (I now thank God for grand-children and cell phones–"Debs would you please get me a phillips screwdriver?")! Such jobs are eventually completed, but the time in which it takes me to do them has increased dramatically. I don’t like it, but I have come to accept the reality. I now simply live with it.In some respects, living as a believer may be similar. The Apostle Peter spoke of the need to "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it [we] grow up in [our] salvation, now that [we] have tasted that the Lord is good" (I Peter 2:2). Life as a follower of Christ is not static, without development or progression. He speaks of some things that we are to grow out of: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. The motivation for casting these things aside is the fact that we have experienced the Lord’s goodness in our lives. As difficult and time consuming as it may be to rid ourselves of these proclivities, we nevertheless move to do so because we are enjoying the Lord’s goodness toward us.
Until recently, in the course of heated discussions or debate, I’ve often heard myself repeat some form of the following statement: "If you want to believe that, that is your business!" I don’t do that anymore (at least not quite so often). Martin Luther, appearing before the Diet of Worms in 1521 exposed and repudiated this kind of thinking. In response to their demands that he renounce or affirm his teachings, he told them; "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scripture or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."
Convictions--strongly held beliefs, are not to be exchanged or released in a light or frivolous manner. We must not allow ourselves to be "tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead . . , we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15). Occasionally, however, the process of growing up in Christ requires that we understand that change, as unpleasant as it may be, is not only not a bad thing, but may be the only viable option available to us in our determination to be true to God!
Saul (later the Apostle Paul) found this to be very true. As he drew near to the city of Demascus, he was confronted with a colossal life changing paradigm shift. In promoting his faith and religion as a Jew, he had been doing everything within his power to oppose and destroy Christianity and those who had embraced it. At that very moment when Jesus the Christ confronted him on that road, Saul was compelled to completely and dramatically change his mind and life! He did a complete about face and instead of fiercely opposing the Gospel, he soon became one of the greatest advocates for Christ and the faith. The Lord should have struck His enemy, Saul, DRT (‘Dead Right There’). Instead, in His mercy, Jesus chose to confront Saul with his utter foolishness. Because of this, Saul had to make the immediate right decision, and he did!
However, in a sense, I think this was extremely difficult for him. It was not one that I think he particularly relished having to make--especially if he had had the time to think it through. Yes, it was the right decision--one that he quite willingly made, and yet it was one that would have a radical effect on how he was to live--and die, as well. In part, Paul described some of the effects of his decision to follow and serve Christ;
How long, do you suppose it took Paul to work through the many far reaching implications of this choice and the tremendous impact they had upon his life? I suspect it was a never ending process that continued til the day of his death.
Believers are confronted with life and the ensuing process of living that life. Our inflexible loyalty to Yahweh God and His Christ must remain intact and every onslaught that is thrown against us by the enemy, must be faced with courage, determination and integrity. And yet, an integral part of that determination will also involve our willingness to allow the ramifications of the Gospel to work completely through and through our thinking and convictions like yeast in a batch of dough.
It is true that Jesus accepts us as we are, but His clear intentions are that we not remain in that static condition before Him. He intends to do major renovations in our lives–perhaps even radical alterations to the way that we think and live.
Reality or truth never changes, but our understanding and perceptions of truth probably will and should. This was what Peter meant when he encouraged his readers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). It means not just making incidental cosmetic changes, but learning again and again and again, the very heart of Jesus in our increasing understanding of what is vitally important. This will often result in us discarding what we may even once assumed was essential. And in the process, we will be released from lives of self-defeat and self-condemnation or congratulation. Jesus said; "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32)."
Strong beliefs and convictions hardly ever come to us easily and they die even harder (and they should). Before God, deeply held convictions are not to be trifled with. We should never flippantly pick and choose or abruptly shift the way we think or live! Changing our minds--giving up ideas that have been held dear to our hearts for years must be released cautiously--I doubt that they will often be things that we will want to change our minds about. It is vital that we come to the place of releasing cherished items of faith not because we desire to do so but because we have finally realized that not letting them go even now hinders God’s rule in our lives. Really it is an expression of rebellion against God and what He ultimately wants for us.
Who we are must always be tempered by our understanding of Who God is and what He convinces us we need to be and do to become more like Him! And this is hardly ever an easy task. But--He gently and insistently whispers; "I will never leave you nor ever forsake you!"--and that's enough to get us home!
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