We Know In Part…
Ҧ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
(1 Corinthians 13:8–12 ESV)
I’m a Calvinist.
Actually, I’m an Anglican wannabe as that tradition offers the freedom to think inside of a Reformed historical structure.
I need and want that freedom because the more I study, the more I understand that we all “know” in part.
I need the structure because it helps me define orthodoxy.
You see, I don’t know the parts I don’t know…they tend to jump out and surprise me as I study.
Some people hate surprises…
I thrive on them…theologically.
My God is beyond my comprehension, He is a priceless jewel of infinite facets.
He cannot be contained by any single tradition of men.
While the “accepted” list of teachers in my tradition are wondrous and gifted, it is when I venture outside the gate that I most often have my vision of God expanded.
I have profited from everyone from Eugene Peterson to Chuck Smith to Bernard of Clairvaux to Calvin.
I have heard the voice of God from mystics and martyrs, Methodists and theological mutts without a proper lineage.
When I have questions, I have the community of the saints to come to for clarification.
If we as pastors and teachers are teaching the Word faithfully, we have nothing to fear from ideas other than our own.
If we as lay people are committed to the church and the fellowship of believers we will always have correction available to spurious doctrine.
We need each other…we need my tradition to remind us of the sovereignty of God in all things, we need the Arminians to remind us of our responsibility before God, we need the Pentecostals to remind us that the Spirit has come, we need the renewal to remind us that the kingdom has come, we need the Wesleyans to remind us that without holiness no one will see the Lord, we need to the Lutherans to remind us that Christ did it all for us on the cross…and on and on.
God has given to each of our traditions a part of Him to exalt…because no one tradition can possibly exalt Him in His fullness.
What we don’t need are fences that restrict us to our own little pieces of the kingdom…that leads to inbreeding and ignorance and fosters hate and suspicion of the rest of the family.
We know in part…and it takes the rest of the family to fill in the parts we’re missing.
We will never have the full picture till we see Him face to face…but today we can see a little more if we just jump the fences of tradition and meet the rest of the family.
Amen.
Well said, Michael.
That was the best
interesting read … as i did so i pictured the Church as the steel marble in that game called “Labyrinth.” We’re bouncing off the walls tipping this way and that about the maze (miraculously not dropping thru those holes) ’till we get to the end 😆
sorry – and i do pray for William and Harry when they come to mind…
Thank you, guys…I am a tad exercised over this stuff… 🙂
Now that was good!
Michael,
That was super.
My favorite line that I will no doubt be able to share over and over:
If we as pastors and teachers are teaching the Word faithfully, we have nothing to fear from ideas other than our own.
Well done.
AEA,
Thank you…I truly believe that if we soak folks in truth that they can make intelligent decisions about error.
We are all indwelt by the Spirit…and He’s promised to finish His work in every believer.
Yep, too often ministers think their job is to be the Holy Spirit.
We have to have the confidence that God is able to communicate with His people.
I’m his special problem…er I mean project, and so are you. 🙂
Blessings brother
AEA,
Blessings to you as well…we are all projects in process!
powerful
Thanks Michael…
Great message, Michael.
BD,
🙂
Great commentary. Michael, you put into writing what I’ve been contemplating and dealing with for quite a while. Wait, I shouldn’t use the word “contemplating.”
DavidH,
That can get you in trouble… 🙂
Michael…one of your best writings to date, IMO…and I am always questioning and picking at things and don’t part with compliments that easily (especially when pastors are involved).
So glad I found the Anglicans to read (after so much wrestling). It has given me some peace that I am not a whack job and that it’s OK to ask questions…as long as you accept the answers and are affirmed in your Faith.
…I nominate this thread as PP canon…can we get a vote from the council of PP? 8)
Believe,
Thank you…I’ve needed to articulate this for some time…I’m glad it was understandable and helpful.
Joshua went half way up the mountain — Moses went all the way to the top.
On their way down they heard a sound from the camp, and Joshua knew something was wrong and said it was the sound of war — But Moses heard and knew it was a party.
My point is those who didn’t draw near to God had no discernment while Joshua has enough to know something was wrong, Only Moses who went to the top –was able of know what was wrong
Great writing, again….
Thank you, Apple. 🙂
DMW,
That was good. My mind reels with applications.
Just a thought, the thrust of your post was that ecumenicism isn’t bad. In fact, truth is truth and we can find it coming from many sources. I think at times we need to focus less on the source and more on the message. I would also add that there were distinct differences in the early church that can be seen in the scriptures. Consider what the church in Corinth would have been been like in 100AD compared to the church in Jerusalem. The problem isn’t just difference from one group’s traditions to the next. What is the problem? Why would anyone say that ecumenicism should be avoided?
“Why would anyone say that ecumenicism should be avoided?”
Seems like everyone is OK with the Ecumenical Councils and especially Canon.
Michael,
Good post here. I continue to follow and I’m blessed by the example and passion to uphold the Word of God.
Thank you!
Aaron stayed with the people and listened to them and built a false god
DMW,
Nice P.S.
Believe,
I have made my avatar for your favorite reference. just wondering, did you notice? Or am I being to vague?
Michael,
Great post! I was still catching up on reading the other thread and hadn’t seen this one. I had posted on the other thread something that goes along with your point here, so I’ll re-post here:
It is impossible to write deeply about philosophy without sounding kooky at times. Shallow people would rather dismiss it than to think it through. The ignorant then become the arbiters of orthodoxy, and philosophy and theology are reduced to the least common denominator. The result is dummied down theology and philosophy. When you consider the complexity of an eternal God, one should beware of simplistic explanations, especially those that exclude others. The funny thing is, I’m certain than Leonard Sweet, who is brilliant, would readily admit to having said some things that are kooky. But those who are criticizing him can never conceive of being wrong themselves, while they are incapable of tying his shoelace intellectually. Rejecting everything one doesn’t understand is bad practice in every field of study, but devastating to the study of theology and/or philosophy.
Dave,
Well said…and thank you.
I’ll bet you’re right about Sweet…he probably would like some things back, just like the rest of us.
I just wish I was half as smart as he is…
Michael,
Anything other than just quoting the Bible is taking a risk. But it seems to be that kind of risk-taking that encroaches on the eternal. It is so important that in our adventures we distinguish between those things we know and our human speculations. To add our human ideas to the Scripture, lump it all together, and call it all orthodoxy, labeling anyone outside our club as a heretic, is sheer folly, whether your label is Orthodox, Catholic, Calvinist, Calvary Chapel, ODM, or any other human system.
If I had never read the Phoenix Preacher before today (and I’m glad that I have), this one essay of yours, Michael, would have made me an instant fan. A thousand Amens!
CK,
Thanks…you’ve been around long enough to know I’ll blow it later too… 😉
Dave,
Again ,well said and that’s why I’m spending so much time these days pleading for charity around non essentials.
There is such a thing as heresy…but it’s not as simple as a different view of the atonement or eschatology.
Michael,
LOL! Yep, and I’ll still be around after that too. Love you, my friend!
CK,
Much love to you as well…what a faithful friend you’ve been…and I thank you for that.
Waytooclose…probably a tachometer from a Cannon (not Canon) motorcycle.
I’ve been referencing “canon” a lot lately 8)
Waytooclose…either that…or it’s an altimeter for “balance”… 🙂
Am I in the neighborhood?
….oops! Meant Horizon Indicator, not Altimeter…but I’m not “waytooclose”…I’m way far off.
Fun guessing though!
Waytooclose…GOT IT!
Starts with a “V”….and, ironically, the motorcycle reference was not far off! 🙂 🙂
Believe,
Congratulations. You finally got it!
I’m sorry I haven’t reached out to you as you invited me to do some time ago. It’s just still a little raw and it greatly involves a reference to your thorn as well.
I’m sure that between us both we could open a lot of closets in CA.
Wow…
Beautifully put.
Here here!!!
Michael… a vision of God and of His Bride….edifying and wonderful. Thank you.
confession, i’ve spent the last day wondering why Michael’s posting of this has moved everyone here so deeply… i thot to myself, why does such an obvious truth have such an impact on everyone who comments here?
it has made me realize that this issue is still tearing at the hearts of so many… and it made me realize how indebted i am to that Baptist minister 50 some years ago who pointed out to me that no denomination has God’s truth all neatly wrapped and tied and, i guess, credit where it’s due, i’m indebted to those lackadaisical Presbyterians in whose church i found Christ, also … it’s why i’ve always back-peddled when a fellow Believer gets that look in his eye and starts talking dogma as he begins to elevate into the realm of interpretive infallibility…
but when a fellow Believer starts talking about his Lord and Savior and another look comes across his face – you all know what i mean – my spirit is so refreshed
this is a good place to be refreshed IMX
praying for all here who are called to do this battle for God and, rightfully weary
to be clearer: i left out a word – it is those who are doing battle who are rightfully weary
FYI – ODM’s DON’T WORK AGAINST DOCTRINAL HERESIES THAT ARE VISIBLE TO ANY CHURCHMAN, THEY EXPOSE DECEPTION THAT WEARS A MASK OF ORTHODOXY AS A SHIELD TO DECEIVE.
Noble and encouraging, Michael.
I love “bouncing ideas” off of folk here.
Most of y’all are unlike anyone I fellowship with, and it’s been an enriching experience (thanks for the JI Packer article from 1 1/2 weeks ago on Calvinism, Michael).
I love learning. And I love diversity.
At the end of the day, I may still place my bet on a very specific place, for myself, my family, my church, but I try to honor and treat all my brothers with respect.
…Sometimes tough in a certain hard-to-spell town…
Waytooclose, do you have my email?
agrenier7 at gmail
Michael,
What a manificient post! I truly enjoyed the wisdom.
Thank you, David!