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Burning Heart, knowledge
Burning Heart, knowledge Monday's Meditation Correct Answers and Cold Hearts
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:04AM Knowing the right answer is overrated. A heart moved by the truth is beyond measure.
In Matthew’s account of the Christmas story three wise men (rich pagan astrologers, actually) follow a star to Israel. They know the star is the herald of a new king and a new world order. Because these men understand protocol and honor, they pay a visit to the current king of Israel. The Magi presumed Herod and his court would be aware of this epochal change:
Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2: 2 - 6)
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2: 2 - 6)
I have always been astonished at this passage. The Magi had gone as far as their knowledge could take them. They had already traveled a long way and were willing to go the distance. The chief priests and teachers of Israel--the religious professionals--could correctly answer the question regarding the birthplace of the king, but not one of them said to the Magi, “What?!? It’s happening now? We must go with you to see the king.”
Not a single scholar went to see the the hope of Israel and Savior of the world. They were content with knowing the correct answer, but their hearts were apparently unwilling to experience the truth first-hand. This Monday, this Christmas season, may God deliver us from right answers living in cold hearts.
Reader Comments (6)
Thanks so much Ray. It reminded me of a Donald Miller Quote:
My most recent faith struggle is not one of intellect. I don’t really do that anymore. Sooner or later you just figure out there are some guys who don’t believe in God and they can prove He doesn't exist, and there are some other guys who do believe in God and they can prove He does exist, and the argument stopped being about God a long time ago and now it’s about who is smarter, and honestly I don’t care -- Donald Miller
I have to disagree with you a bit. A lot, actually.
The pith of it is that NO answers or WRONG answers in a warm heart can be, and will be, just as destructive as "right answers in a cold heart."
Anybody remember the warm hearted Christians casting demons out of each other in the 70s? Telling each other who to marry or what schools to go to back in 80s during the discipleship movement? All warm-hearted Charismatic gooey goodness, right? But it wasn't right. The Y2K hysteria? How about the Evangelicals who jumped on the "satanic ritual abuse" bandwagon? They were "moved" in their hearts beyond measure -- about sin, or something; but at any rate they checked their God -designed brains at the door.
Did Paul crap his pants in fear at Mars Hill? Daniel, the expert in the literature and learning of the Babylonians, speaking to the Emperor? How did they get to that point of knowing *why* they believed something? From hugs in the fellowship hall? I think not.
I do not know how to quantify "cold heart" in any consistent way. What one sees as "arrogance" another will see as "panting after righteousness." Do we have leave to rebuke someone whose ernest question stands between them and faith?
You want your doctor to think sloppily? Your accountant? Given that we are talking about souls, should we not then have at least that same level of careful attention in those who "think" for us and tell us what to believe? Is not careful thought an extension of Holiness?
Charismatic Evangelicals in particular need to get over the idea that because God shows up in times of Worship that they have leave to ignore His proddings to actually understand things. Not everyone is looking for a hug.
You may be simply saying something like "it is better to be comfortable in what I know in my heart than to engage in pointless dispute with someone who will not listen." Excellent wisdom.
But the longitudinal fruit of too much of "not thinking" is to think of thinking as something sinful.
How did we get a Protestant Reformation?... an English language bible?....contemporary Christian music (which used to be thought of by warm-hearted, well intentioned Christian folk as "of the devil")...? The freedom to read that English language bible? From thinking and acting.
We actually have a shepherd of national visibility metaphorically speak of "breaking noses" on people who, basically, are not willing to be rebuked by him into believing something - people who are not committing any sin. We are so hungry for authentic leadership that we get drawn to what looks like leadership but is in fact dancing with abuse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKDgEufMKvQ
In the real world, where all those people are looking for answers, they know that a warm hug is not a substitute for recognizing Truth.
...RIght answers are not overrated. They are hard to come by and precious.
A heart moved by truth is beyond measure." how does that encourage or excuse error? Finding fault is easy and, frankly, boring. The issue is that knowledge, left to itself, leads only to pride. Love builds up.
I guess that I am saying that our hearts being moved is not evidence of our hearts being moved by truth. It's easy to confuse the two.
A heart moved by truth is beyond measure." how does that encourage or excuse error? Finding fault is easy and, frankly, boring. The issue is that knowledge, left to itself, leads only to pride. Love builds up.
I guess that I am saying that our hearts being moved is not evidence of our hearts being moved by truth. It's easy to confuse the two.