I didn't want to, but...thanks Sam.
With my last post, I received a few comments. I appreciated so much the first comment from Brian. I thought to myself, "Wow, Josh, you're really something!" And, to my pleasant surprise, I checked and "Yes! Another comment." As I clicked on the link to enjoy reading my praises, the feeling expanded inside of me that a child experiences when daddy pulls out the big present on Christmas. I couldn't wait to see what new ego inflating flattery awaited my eyes.
Click. It opened and...gulp. Like a jack-in-the-box humility popped up and laid the smack down on me. The cloud I had been walking on dissipated and I fell to the floor...thud. Wounded, I finished reading Sam Dilbeck's suggestion that I go and check the context of Isaiah 55 because I may have inappropriately applied verse 8.
I didn't want to. I wanted to retaliate with a reactionary response like "the passage says what it says--duh!" But, I didn't. Like a whipped puppy I went and did what I should have done initially. I read the context. And guess what? I had taken a passage of scripture out of its surroundings and affected its meaning. Something that irks me when others do it!
The point of my article continues to illustrate God's incomprehensible nature and acts of grace, but the verse in Isaiah doesn't support that idea in the way I portrayed it. God's thoughts and ways do reside above man's (as far as heaven is above the earth, Isaiah 55:9), but the point of verse 8 should prompt man to pursue the lofty nature of God's thoughts and ways. The plight of those in Isaiah's day settled on the fact that they had developed lives in distinct opposition to God's purposes. And so, to accept the gracious invitation offered at the beginning of chapter 55, the people of Israel were encouraged to forsake their ways and thoughts (55:7) because they weren't in line with God's.
I didn't want to put forth the effort to go and discover I had used God's word out of place. I didn't want to face my failure and admit my mistake. At first I had wished Sam would have left it at "Great Illustration." But Sam is a Christian and a friend. I've claimed to want it real when it comes to Christianity, and this experience didn't let me down. Sharing this recent eye-opener has hopefully painted for you a picture of realistic Christianity.
So, thanks Sam. You gave me a dose of realistic Christianity that was long overdue.
Click. It opened and...gulp. Like a jack-in-the-box humility popped up and laid the smack down on me. The cloud I had been walking on dissipated and I fell to the floor...thud. Wounded, I finished reading Sam Dilbeck's suggestion that I go and check the context of Isaiah 55 because I may have inappropriately applied verse 8.
I didn't want to. I wanted to retaliate with a reactionary response like "the passage says what it says--duh!" But, I didn't. Like a whipped puppy I went and did what I should have done initially. I read the context. And guess what? I had taken a passage of scripture out of its surroundings and affected its meaning. Something that irks me when others do it!
The point of my article continues to illustrate God's incomprehensible nature and acts of grace, but the verse in Isaiah doesn't support that idea in the way I portrayed it. God's thoughts and ways do reside above man's (as far as heaven is above the earth, Isaiah 55:9), but the point of verse 8 should prompt man to pursue the lofty nature of God's thoughts and ways. The plight of those in Isaiah's day settled on the fact that they had developed lives in distinct opposition to God's purposes. And so, to accept the gracious invitation offered at the beginning of chapter 55, the people of Israel were encouraged to forsake their ways and thoughts (55:7) because they weren't in line with God's.
I didn't want to put forth the effort to go and discover I had used God's word out of place. I didn't want to face my failure and admit my mistake. At first I had wished Sam would have left it at "Great Illustration." But Sam is a Christian and a friend. I've claimed to want it real when it comes to Christianity, and this experience didn't let me down. Sharing this recent eye-opener has hopefully painted for you a picture of realistic Christianity.
So, thanks Sam. You gave me a dose of realistic Christianity that was long overdue.
posted by Josh Linton at
1:06 PM
3 Comments:
Josh,
I did not know I could affect you so deeply. One thing I should have done is bring the answer. In other words, I shouldn't have just complained about your usage of Isa. 55:8, but I should also have given a solution. So, now I repent and give you the solution--Deut. 29:29. God keeps somethings secret, but has revealed to us all that is necessary for salvation.
By
Anonymous, at 12/02/2005 2:04 PM
Sam,
You have nothing of which to repent. I honestly appreciated the comment. I sorely needed what happened. The post honors your love for what's right.
By
Josh Linton, at 12/02/2005 2:38 PM
My friends, this is what Christianity is all about and what fellow preachers are for. Thank you both for setting such a good example.
By
Anonymous, at 12/05/2005 10:11 AM
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