I remember in my younger days someone told me, "You are God's best choice as the father to your children." I protested. They couldn't know that. In fact, I knew that I wasn't the best choice for any children. I was (am) a man of failings and faults. There were much more capable fathers out there than I was. Stop. Think about that for a moment. I just offered a line of reasoning. Lines begin and end somewhere. Where did my line begin? Me. My own knowledge of my own self. I built my argument from the top down. Knowing who I was, I thought down through to the ramifications of much bigger things. I didn't realize that this is not a good approach.
In Ephesians, Paul describes how the Gentiles were "separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). Then he goes on to speak of the wonderful work of Christ who broke the barriers and formed Jew and Gentile believers into "one new man" (Eph 2:13-16). Then he describes a wondrous thing. We are "of God's household" where the "foundation" is "of the apostles and prophets" and Christ is the cornerstone (Eph 2:19-22). Individuals in this model are the bricks, the building blocks of "a dwelling of God in the Spirit." Paul builds his argument ... from the ground up. Christ is the cornerstone, the primary guide, the founding principle. Everything is guided by Him. The foundation is the apostles and prophets, a standard reference to God speaking through His designated mouthpieces ... what we now have as "Scripture." Paul didn't describe the building first. He described the foundation, so the "holy temple" to the Lord is built on that and the "questionable" bricks take on a different significance because they aren't ... "foundational."
It's best to think that way ... from the ground up, rather than from the top down ... generally. Take my objection to God's choice of me as father to my children. If I started with the foundation, I would see that God is Sovereign (Gen 50:20; Job 42:2; Psa 115:3; Prov 16:4; Prov 19:21; Prov 21:1; Dan 4:35; Isa 46:9-10; Rom 8:28-29; Rom 11:36; Eph 1:11; etc.), and all that occurs is by His choice and guidance. Stepping up from that point, "all that occurs" would necessarily include "I am the father of my children." Given His sovereignty and His goodness, "I am the father of my children" would necessarily be His best choice. Logically, then, my strengths and my shortcomings would be God's best choice for my children, and God, not me, would be the one providing for my family. From the ground up, it makes perfect sense. On the other hand, most arguments that begin with "me" can be a little dodgy ... or worse. Don't get hung up on my example. Pay attention to the principle. We need to reason from the truth ... foundational ... as given to us in Scripture. Start with the foundation of Christ and the Word. Work up from there ... not from the top -- "me" -- down.
This post made good sense to this reader--a very “questionable brick,” indeed. We humans would falter at everything we attempt in life, if success depending upon our abilities and wisdom, while God never fails to accomplish His purposes. How much better to build upon a sure thing, with a solid foundation, than our pathetic efforts and ambitions. Just as I build my theology (my orthodoxy) upon God and His Word, so too should I base my precepts for living (my orthopraxy) upon that as well; this reflects a solid trust in God’s sovereignty and will, where our weaknesses and missteps are “folded in” within His plan--worked into the mortar, so to speak--but do not compromise the rock-solid structure.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this encouragement towards thinking rightly about our place within God’s plan--and the “line of reasoning” that should properly inform that--from the ground up.
As a bit of an aside, I will say that the statement, "You are God's best choice as the father to your children,” is thought-provoking. I had heard this one many times: “The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother” (or father)--another principle that falls nicely within the Lord’s design for God-honoring family life.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while your observation, "I am the father of my children,” seems to be stating the obvious (i.e. only you can sire your own offspring), I can see beyond the logic to the full truth that God built into that very arrangement. As a parent, I would say that that example illustrates the point of this post very well. (I have been thinking about this topic this past week, in light of the tragic deaths or the Reiners at the hands of their own son.)
As an aside, my mother's musings have interested me since she shared them years ago. Her father left when she was 2 years old. She concluded (eventually) that God PLANNED that because her father was adamantly anti-God and would have tried to prevent her from any church activities ... like the one where she met Jesus. Another "you meant evil, but God meant good."
DeleteIndeed, another instance where “God uses all things” (as I like to say).
DeleteYou hadn’t identified the speaker of that observation, but I should have guessed it was someone wise like a mother :). It will probably take another 20 years for my children to appreciate their mother’s “musings,” so I suppose I should plan to hang around to see that!
This is a blessing of being in Christ. We're not limited by our meager and usually unhelpful ability. We have a God trust has promised and can keep that promise, that He is in control and nothing can overcome His plans.
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