Keeping it simple
I have
often wondered why it is, that so many people want to see the New
Testament as complicated or mysterious. So many claim that there are
hidden things that need discovering and so on. I admit that sometimes
the scriptures can be a little confusing. But for the most part the
New testament is pretty straight forward. Just think how it would be
if we took a more simplistic approach to reading and studying the NT.
Lets
look at the layout of the NT. Its put put together quite simply. The
gospels, Acts, the letters and the revelation which really is a
letter as well. Although revelation is written in a far different
format than all the rest of the letters. Maybe we should to look at
the NT in this way... The gospels and the book of Acts are the
reference and history books, the letters are the instruction manual
and the revelation is the Lord's letter of encouragement to His
people. If you want to learn about Jesus and what He said and did
it's in the gospels. If you want to learn about where and when the
church began and how it grew it's all right there in the book of
Acts. If you want to know what the original church was like, read
Paul's letters. If you want to know what the original teachings of
the church were on what it is to be a Christian and how to live as
one, it is in all of the letters. If you want to learn about how
intimate Jesus is with His church and their struggles, read the
revelation. It is such a love letter for believers, as well an
encouragement to remain faithful to Jesus.
We have
complicated the NT, because we tend to over think things. One of mans
problems has always been that we don't take God's instruction at face
value, we aren't content to say to ourselves, He said it so that
settles it. If we had been, the problems in the garden never would
have arisen. God had given Adam and Eve one simple rule to obey and
they didn't do it.They fell prey to an influence outside the word of
God. When they fell under that influence and began to question God's
word in their minds it was all over, but the crying. Their choice to
think it over and to look at God's word from a different perspective
caused them great grief. One of the biggest issues in christendom
today is man wants to look at God's word from societies perspective
and impose that on what God has stated clearly in His word.
Many
today want to say that the bible was written for different people at
a different time. Society and science has shown us things that we
need to apply to God's word. We need to rethink what we read and look
at it from our modern and enlightened perspective. But if people
would just read God's word and take it at face value they would see
that many of the things they think acceptable, go directly against
God's instruction.
If we
keep our reading and study of God's word simple and straight forward
and take God at His word and apply it to our lives we will be far
better off than if we try to apply our perspective to His word.
Simply put, we need to accept God's word with a child-like faith. He
said it, that settles it.
Do your best to present
yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2
Timothy 2:15 NIV
© 2012
Leo J. Woodman
