An Important Note To Students And Teachers
Both congregations and individuals tend to "pick" for themselves what is "important" to God. Usually what they "pick" is (a) an inherited thought from their childhood congregation or from their family, (b) a conviction that is the result of some trauma in adult life, or (c) something from the text that "stands alone" but is regarded as critical to proper biblical interpretation [everything is secondary to this "stand alone" statement]. This "picked" thought may be a theological perspective, a historical happening, or a conviction centering on "what is wrong with our world" or on "what is wrong with the church."
This tendency is readily seen in congregations in the churches of Christ [as well as most other churches]. Consider two examples. (1) There too often are "issue" congregations. "We will accept you as a full member of this congregation with the full rights of a sanctioned member only if you agree with us regarding this 'issue'." The 'issue' may be the nature of congregational cooperation, the manner in which communion is dispensed, the use of classes in communicating God's teachings, or the methods of making life application of God's teachings. However, the message is generally the same: "Even if you believe Jesus is the son of God resurrected from the dead, even if it is your choice to turn your life around and redirect it, even if you are unashamed to confess that Jesus is the Christ, even if you in faith and repentance have been immersed for the forgiveness of sins, you are not fully a Christian unless you agree with us on this 'issue'."
(2) African-American congregations and Caucasian congregations often hold differing views. Worship is noticeably different in matters such as vocalized "Amens!" and spirited singing. In many African-American congregations, a preacher recognized as an evangelist is superior to elders. In many Caucasian congregations, nothing is superior to elders.
The point of this series of lessons is to allow God to stress His priorities. Often we seek to "speak for God" instead of allowing God to speak for Himself. Having "faith in God" too often is a matter of agreeing with me/us rather than agreeing with God.
This series of lessons will focus on Jesus' acts and teachings. The focus is in the conviction of Jesus' statements in the gospel of John: 3:34, 35; 5:19, 30; 6:38; 12:49, 50; etc. If Jesus said it or did it, the action or words came from God.
You may find that God's priorities and your spiritual priorities [emphasis] are not the same. The objective of this study is NOT to get you to agree with its presentations. The objective is threefold. (1) As a person of faith in God, think! Do not be afraid to think. Think to strengthen faith. (2) As a person of faith in God, be pliable! Allow God to shape you in the manner He wishes. When you change, have the courage to change in ways that make you more like God. (3) As a person of faith in God, look at people as God looks at people. Consider Matthew 5:43-48 carefully. Note carefully the motivation in verse 45.
Everything from the first sin, to the flood, to Abraham, to the Jewish exodus, to God's wilderness acts, to God's response to Israel's faithfulness or repentance, to Jesus' death and resurrection stress a common fact--God cares about people! If He did not, our situation would be inescapably hopeless! If we belong to God, we also care about people!
