Lisa Notes: Tired of talk

Debates lose much of their heat when you are working side by side with Jesus for the kingdom.
SCOT McKNIGHT, Embracing Grace

I grow weary of hearing debates about doctrine.

I don’t see Jesus spending hours going roundabout explaining the exact definition of a Hebrew word. Or analyzing the same stories over and over ad nauseum. Or sitting students in rows for classroom instruction, for as many years as they’ll come in the building.

He said what he wanted to say, asked what he wanted others to think about, then invited them to follow him as he went about his work—pointing people up to the Father.

By forgiving sins. Healing hearts. Saving souls.

Many of us today are tired of “too much talking” and “not enough doing” when it comes to a gospel life.

An undeniable feature of the attractiveness of Jesus is that he wasn’t distracted by endless debates about theories: he rolled up his sleeves and he invited people to join him in his vision for the kingdom of God.

Jesus valued people. (He made them, after all.)

And he took pleasure in bragging on God by giving them grace.

He still does. And he appeals to us to do the same.

. . . I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for.

Love each other. This is what I'm commanding you to do.
John 15:16-17 (GW)

~ *~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Tomorrow I’ll share the story of Annie (not her real name). It’s not big; it’s really just the middle of a story, I’m certain.

But she taught me something about grace Thursday night, about receiving it and giving it.

And I don’t want to waste it.

Day 7 of . . .

0 Vote up Vote down

Diane · 648 weeks ago

I reminded of a song I heard long ago that was written and sung by Keith Green about the sheep and the goats. It finishes with these words...the difference between the sheep and the goats is what they did or didn't do. Faith in action, sowing, weeding, watering, and harvesting....
Any horticulturist will study to discover what is necessary to make the seed grow optimally for the flower, fruit, and harvest. But....if all they did was study...in the end there wouldn't even be a seed. Because eventually it would rot away for having not be used.
Thanks for the nudge.
My recent post {31 Extraordinary Days} It’s Joy Day! | Intentionally Developing a Heart of Gratitude

1 reply · active 648 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Lisa notes 103p · 648 weeks ago

I appreciate your horticulture analogy so much. Having the seed but not using it does no good. God has given us the seed; now how will we cooperate with him in the cultivation of it? Thanks, Diane.
My recent post Tired of talk

Pamela · 648 weeks ago

I think it was the Pharisees who worried about doctrine and we all know what Jesus thought about that. :-) I just what to share Jesus and BE Jesus to others. That's where my heart is.
My recent post The Grace of Joy

I think a lot about the Pharisees--about how I've been one and wonder about in what ways I am still one unknowingly....

To share Jesus and BE Jesus--yes, that's what I want too, Pamela. Asking for more grace to carry it out.
My recent post Tired of talk

barbarah 65p · 648 weeks ago

I'm catching up on my blog reading and commenting -- can you tell? :-)

I read this a few days ago and it have been processing it ever since.

Doctrine is definitely important -- I know you feel it is, too. Jesus did discuss details and nuances of it. -- He even debated with the Pharisees. Paul placed much emphasis on sound doctrine and contending for the faith. I'm a word nerd who finds explanations of Hebrew and Greek words behind our English Bible text enriching (usually). And nothing wrong with classrooms, though that's not the exact way Jesus taught. I could have been a professional student for several more years after college just taking classes that interested me if I'd had the money (and hadn't wanted to finish and get married. :-) )

I think there will always be debates about doctrine as long as we're in this world because none of us has perfect and complete understanding yet.

I don't mind talking with someone on the other side of a doctrinal debate as long as it is open and civil.

But, yeah, too often we can get entrenched in principles, not bad in themselves, but forget the Person they're about, forget to extend the very grace He showed to us to others.
My recent post Rambling

I play catch-up like that occasionally, too. :-)

I do think we're probably on the same page about how we feel about doctrine. I'm just currently searching for a place of balance after a tipping-over too heavily on the talking side of things.

Your last sentence is so true...thank you.
My recent post When you see grace