Fridays are always slow at work. I guess there are less fires being set? So I read online. Staring at an unchanging computer screen for long hours at a time may be hard for most people to do, but luckily I’m gifted.
I wanted to get more ’study’ in my Bible study, so I had googled ‘Bible podcasts.’ (Genius!) And with that, eventually came across Grace to You’s website, headed by John MacArthur. While we have some differing viewpoints, this guy knows his Bible. That’s all his sermons are about. Since my church is covering the book of Acts, I’ve been listening to podcasts on Paul’s journey and luckily, Paul is his favorite character. He’s becoming mine too.
But when he speaks, there are practically no jokes, no practical applications, just references to other Bible verses, and it’s really interesting. So I was reading some of his sermons – free, mind you – on How to Study the Bible because from how he speaks, he could back it up.
From what I’m reading, a rich Bible study means several hours meditating and studying and praying. A helpful idea that he suggests is getting a book of the Bible, separating it into 5 or 6 chapters (or 3 or 4), and then just re-reading 1 section over and over again for 30 days. The next 30 days, move to the next section. That way, the theme becomes very familiar, and you can’t help but think about it as you go. And, while it isn’t necessary, it helps to know Hebrew, or to have a Hebrew reference Bible. And Greek, a very complicated language, which he’s studied since a freshman in college. It’s also useful to have several different commentaries on a passage to get the historical context. Secular authors have good information to help close the culture gap. In fact, one of the books he recommended, Daily Life in Ancient Rome, is available through the Harris County Public Library, and now on reserve. Geography helps too.
As a nerd, I love soaking up this information. I was there at work googling where I could take Hebrew classes in Houston. I’d LOVE to be an expert on the Bible.
And then I get home and pick up “Tortured for Christ” and continue reading about persecution in the Underground Church behind the Iron Curtain. Some of the pastors have little biblical training as Bibles aren’t allowed in prisons. Many of the devout Christian ‘bishops’ lack formal ordination because their pastors would turn them in to the government. One group of young men went to the grave of a Christian saint (saint as in great soul for Christ) and laid their hands and prayed to God for blessings on their ministry. No formal training whatsoever. Some of the most avid soul-winners are day-old converts. But they have passion. They have conviction. They have faith through persecution. And again, I’m blown away. I want to have a love like that.
I want to be on fire, where not even beatings and hunger would shake my faith. I want to be versed in the Bible so that I can encourage others to know the Greatest-of-all-things-that-ever-existed.
I want to have this crazy understanding of the Bible, and I want to be a “sold-out” believer and I don’t think I should consider myself bipolar for having such a crazy change in mood. They can go together. God’s in it all. If at least 1 person can be saved from my having a better understanding of the Bible, and at least 1 person can be saved from a bold, authentic Christian life, they’re both possible.
It’s strange, but in some moments, I regret not having formal Biblical training. Or I’ll regret not being a guy called to preach where God just dropped down a mate to help him out in his ministry. Or I’ll regret being a Christian in a free country where I understand that a lot of my actions and thoughts are enslaved to society. Just being very honest. I regret parts of my life, but I know God doesn’t want us living with unholy discontent. He works through it.
Somewhere, God wants us to understand His omniscience, His purpose in everything. Paul dreamed of going to Rome where he could be in the pulse of civilazation and be with the Christians there, and God’s providence moves him there. Situations fall together in Acts that give Paul his desire. Just as Christ desired to spend some time preaching to those leaders in Jerusalem who would eventually crucify Him. His desire to speak truth to Jerusalem was fulfilled ultimately in his death, burial, and resurrection. God made a way. Similarly, Rev. Wurmbrand’s desire to spread the news of the atrocities occurring to Christian martyrs in Communist prisons, allowed him to suffer terrible persecution, survive, consider it all joy, and be the voice that allowed Western civilization to become aware of the truth. God always makes a way for your joy to be filled, when our joy is in Him.
Even though I sit behind a desk, He doesn’t forget my passion. Even when I feel like I’ve wasted a lot of time, God doesn’t count it against me. What I lack in education, behavior, or my cultural background, God makes up for. And I know my hope isn’t lost in Him. I can have it all if I consider Christ’s glory my foremost desire.
