Perspective is Everything

This one's about how we use the Bible

Photo by Roman Poberezhnik on Unsplash

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” NOT a club to beat myself up with.

Too often, when we read the Bible, we see all the ways we mess things up, and we beat ourselves up about it.

Here are a few of mine through the years…

• The Bible says “Fear not,” but I am afraid. A lot. I guess that means I’m just not a good Christian because I’m not trusting God.

• Proverbs says “Don’t be lazy,” but I’m too tired to be busy all the time.

• Proverbs says a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, but sometimes I have more than one thought about things, and can’t make up my mind.

• Jesus told Doubting Thomas “blessed are those who believe without seeing,” but sometimes I have doubts. I guess that means I’m just not a good Christian.

• Jesus said “if you have faith as a grain of mustard…” but sometimes I don’t even have that little bit of faith. I guess that means I’m just not a good Christian.

• Paul said “in everything give thanks,” but I’ve gotta be honest - I have a hard time saying “thank you” for war, illness, childhood trauma, and unemployment. I guess that means I’m just not a good Christian.

I started using the Bible as a club in the summer of 1974, when I first asked Jesus to live in my heart. It was reinforced by sermons and teachings about “the refiner’s fire,” that talked about how God was refining us to be more like Him.

In most of those sermons and teachings, the focus was on the impurities and the importance of removing them, or allowing God to remove them.

Then in the mid-90s, a radio preacher said something that totally changed my perspective. He was talking about the refiner’s fire, the ancient process used for refining silver, just like all the other preachers did. But he made a vastly different point.

This person said that when the silversmith was refining the silver, getting it ready to use, he wasn’t looking for the impurities that were being removed from it. He was looking for the silver.

With that one sentence, my perception of God changed from a judgmental grump who was always looking at how I didn’t measure up, to a friend who was looking for the good parts in me, and wanting to emphasize and help me grow those.

It took me awhile to stop beating myself up with Bible verses (old habits die hard), but I can’t remember the last time I did.

All those Bible things I listed above are still true, but my internal conversations about them are different.

• The Bible says “Fear not,” but I’m afraid. Father God, help me trust you in spite of my fear. Help me keep moving forward.

• Proverbs says “Don’t be lazy,” but i”m too tired. Father God, thank you for ordaining time to rest. Thank you for helping me understand that just because I use my time differently than others doesn’t mean I’m lazy.

• Proverbs says a double-mnded man is unstable in all his ways. Dear God, thank you for giving me the ability to see all sides of a situation, and the courage to change my mind when presented with new information. Thank you also for helping me be singleminded regarding you, your love for me and your world, and my love for you.

• Jesus told Doubting Thomas “blessed are those who believe without seeing,” but sometimes I have doubts. Thank you, God, for honoring Thomas’ doubts. Thank you for honoring Gideon and his fleeces. I know you do the same for me, and I’m so very grateful.

• Jesus said “if you have faith as a grain of mustard…” but sometimes I don’t even have that little bit of faith. Daddy, sometimes I don’t feel like I have enough faith. My mind gets filled with doubt and fear, but none of that changes your reality.
  While I may not believe I even have enough faith for this prayer, I do believe that you are the God who loves me, Creator of the universe, and you can do anything. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

• Paul said “in everything give thanks,” but I’ve gotta be honest - I have a hard time saying “thank you” for war, illness, childhood trauma, and unemployment. Abba, I’m still working on this one. I do thank you for the helpers, and the miracles you still work in those circumstances, and I thank you for the fact that you can, and do, bring good out of actions that were meant for evil. And thank you that you are still working on my heart, aligning my thoughts and actions to your will, making me more like you.

Remember - the Bible is meant to be a guide, not a club. Please stop beating yourself up with it. Instead, start looking at yourself the way God does, recognizing the ways you are growing in Him instead of the many ways we fall short.