[TruthTalk] Why the listen to voices from the past?

[Judy Taylor]

Jt says:'God has a way of hiding things...and revealing things..' This has neither to do with intellect or with education (formal or otherwise). This has to do with the heart before God. Wouldn't you agree, Judy?   jt: The heart before God is important - however, in Matthew 11:25 the contrast is between the wise and prudent and babes. If you look up the Greek words. Wise is sophos the Gk word for wisdom and prudent = mentally put together, sagacious, discreet, cautious, thoughtful, practical skill or acumen.  Babes OTOH are infants, minors, a simple minded person or an immature Christian.   From: Judy Taylor John responds:  yes I see the point. It is just that I prefer to use the good stuff and ignore that which I think is wrong.   I assume that most of them were doing the best that they could at the time  --  God covering what they missed.  I mean, where would we be without these Church Fathers that I never read?   There was no printing presses.  What if there was just nothing after John's death.   Kind of scary I think.    jt: Oh, it wouldn't be so bad.  There were 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Scripture teaches that everything we need for life and godliness is found in Him and since He is a Living Savior we don't need to search for Him amongst the dead.   Of course God would provide something  -- but that is the point Bill and Lance and Jonathan make  -- God did provide a bridge to the present in the writings of these men and the beat goes on in the current crop of theologians.     jt: This is where I would have to disagree with Bill, Lance, and Jonathan. I don't see most of these writings as a bridge, in fact to me they can foment a lot of confusion.  God is able to speak to individuals where they are at.  I have a Scots friend who receives wisdom from God by way of very simple object lessons that help her in her own walk..  God has a way of hiding things from the wise and prudent while ATST revealing them to babes.   Again, I see their value, but I prefer burning the midnight oil with Lenski, Kittle, Robertson and so on.   I enjoy the search.   You and I are very much on the same page on this point.   But I do understand Bill's respect for what has been written by others.   jt: So long as what has been written by others does not become a grid through which we interpret scripture. John:  I would add this:  in addition to a disciplined obedience we benefit from the natural process we can call "spiritual growth."   In growth, we shed ideas that once appeared noble for ideas that now seem to be sanctioned by God, and, then in time, we might even move from those ideas to others  -- all the while earnestly seeking God's wisdom; all the while depending on God's partnership and His forgiving and patient nature to see us through to maturity.   We are constantly moving from error to light, aren't we?  Thank you Jesus.    jt: Well, hopefully we stay in whatever light we are walking in - just going deeper, like from glory to glory until His likeness and image is perfected in us (but I've been down a few rabbit trails myself :(