Perhaps more today than ever before, our nation’s airways, print media, internet, classrooms, political arenas, and even living rooms are filled with diverse and opposing views. There is a clash of ideas ranging from religion to science to right and wrong itself.

These aren’t minor differences of opinion. They are, at their heart, worldview issues. Yet, Jesus didn’t pray for us to be taken out of the world or out of these discussions. In fact, understanding what God says about many of these ideas should make us first examine our own ideas and opinions and then be willing to share the truth with others. But how can we do that without getting as angry as many of those with whom we disagree?

Today’s Readings:

Joshua 21 & 22
Psalm 46.7-11
Proverbs 14.12-13
Luke 13.1-22

A Life-or-Death Clash of Ideas & How to Respond

Proverbs 14.12-13:

A Clash of Ideas in Politics

As I said in the introduction, our nation and many others are faced with a huge clash of ideas. These ideas are so diametrically opposed to one another that you have to wonder how they can ever be reconciled. And perhaps they can’t.

There is a clash of ideas about our system of government and how to solve our nation’s problems. In fact, it’s doubtful there has ever been a time when the two major political parties were so completely different in philosophies, goals, and ways to achieve them.

A Clash of Ideas over Science

There is a clash of ideas over what is good science and what is not.

What was once the theory of evolution is accepted by some as fact and rejected by others. Many creation scientists argue for a young Earth while most secular scientists claim the Earth is millions of years old. There is, also, a huge clash over climate change and mankind’s responsibility for it.

A Clash of Ideas over Morality

There are, also, huge clashes over some of the most basic beliefs including what makes a person male or female and what constitutes marriage. There is a clash concerning life in the womb. And to say there is a clash over gender and sexual orientation would be an understatement.

There is a clash of ideas over what is and is not acceptable behavior and what should or should not be legal. There are clashes over rights, religious and otherwise.

Even among believers in Christ, there can be confusion about how to respond to the various opinions, demands, lifestyles, and ideas.

What Does the Bible Say?

So, what does the Bible say? I’d like to share several verses of Scripture and then comment on them together. The first is from today’s readings:

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Prov. 14.12).

And from John 17 when Jesus prayed for His disciples and all of us who would one day be His followers, He said:

¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

From Matthew 5:

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Way of Death

Look at Proverbs 14.12 again, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” The end for those who continue to follow the way that seems right to them will be death.

But their hope is not in a change of mind about some lifestyle. It’s not in changing their political beliefs. It’s not in finding a church that accepts them. Just as with each of us, their hope is a Person. It’s in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God has called us to speak the truth in love, not to argue or berate, yet to love people enough to pray for those opportunities. We’re to share the truth of the gospel and to be willing to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard and costly. But to do so, we must be willing to risk rejection and persecution in the hope that some will listen and believe (Rom. 10.14-15; 2 Tim. 2.23-26). May God give us the love for our neighbors and the courage to do so.

Today’s Other Readings:

Joshua 21 & 22:

More on Being Lights to the World

The conquest of the Promised Land had to a large extent been completed. Joshua had divided the land among the tribes of Israel and while there were still pockets where they failed to completely drive out the pagan inhabitants, there was peace.

I found it interesting that as we see in today’s readings, the Levites, God’s priestly tribe, were given cities in the territories occupied by the other tribes rather than being isolated in their own territory. This enabled them to be examples to the people but also put a responsibility on them to live upright lives.

Like us, their walk was to match their talk. Paul said we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5.20), lights in a dark world (Phil. 2.15), and that our goal in life should be to please God (2 Cor. 5.9).

When Jesus was asked, what the greatest commandment was, He summed up all the commandments by saying we are to love God and love others (Matt. 22.36-40). The more we seek to fulfill those two commandments, the more we will reflect Him and bring much-needed light to a dark world. But remember, loving others does not mean accepting behaviors that God condemns. Instead, we can love by praying and speaking the truth in love while still being kind and respectful.

Psalm 46.7-11:

Pause & Think

Did you notice that verses 7 and 11 repeat the same thing?

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

When God repeats something, especially in the same passage, it means pay attention! He even added the word “Selah” after verse 7. “Selah” means pause. I have always thought of it as an encouragement to stop and think about what was just said.

In Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney talks about the connection between Bible reading, meditation, and prayer and how one should flow into the other. I was thinking about that as I read verse 7.

So pause and think about the fact that the Lord of hosts—the Lord of all the armies of heaven—is here with us. His Spirit indwells us. He is our Father. He is the Creator of the Universe and He not only sees fit to have a relationship with you and me, but He says He is our refuge and our very present help in time of trouble! Pause and think about that and allow it to overflow into prayer and praise!

Luke 13.1-22:

Life in a Broken Down House

No one is guaranteed a problem-free life. In fact, the opposite is true. We are almost certain to experience problems, heartaches, and losses.

Certainly, there are laws of sowing and reaping and we shouldn’t think we can live any way we desire without consequences (Gal. 6.7-10).

But even when we desire to live righteous lives, we should remember that we live in a world that Paul Tripp in his book, “Broken-Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad,” compares to living in a rundown house where the plumbing is bad, the roof leaks and things don’t work. There are diseases, natural disasters, and calamities of every sort. Verses 1-5 in today’s reading say this:

¹There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  ² And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

As I said, there is no guarantee of a problem-free life. In fact, we’re not even guaranteed tomorrow!

If you’re not sure where you will spend eternity, I hope you’ll read yesterday’s post, “Do You Live with a Sense of Guilt?”

Even as believers, we have no guarantees of tomorrow. So, let’s live every day as fully and as mindfully as if it was our last.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about cultural Christianity, a housewife who became a superhero, how to respond to our prodigals, and look at the question, “Should you force your religion on your children?”

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. 

If you would like to receive a FREE downloadable and printable Bible study through the book of Mark, you can click here for more information.

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.