Some theologians will lead you in the right direction, and some theologians will lead you in the wrong direction. And here’s the catch …Jesus of Nazareth/Jesus the Samaritan lover/Jesus the temple wrecker is the one who absolutely and ultimately defines and dictates what THE RIGHT DIRECTION is.
So, “Where do you want to go?” Do you want to follow ‘venerable,’ ‘credentialed,’ excessively educated, prosperous and popular kingpins? OR… do you want to follow Jesus and the uneducated fishermen, tax-collectors, and former terrorists whom He ordained and appointed to serve as leaders?
Do you want to accumulate a surfeit of scholastic experiences, and books, and gourmand knowledge? OR… do you want to endure suffering and do the awkward and painstaking work of an evangelist? (see 2 Timothy 4:3-5)
Do you want nice facilities, and manicured campuses, and name brand clothes; and do you want to be venerated and popular, and receive greetings in the marketplaces and enjoy seats of honor, and have a prestigious and comfortable life? OR… do you want to follow someone who said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but I have nowhere to lay my head”?
Do you want access to power and authority? Do you want to feel efficient and productive? OR… do you want to follow theologians who refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and who choose rather to be mistreated with slaves and outcasts (rather than enjoying the fleeting pleasures of this life)?
Do you want to stare at your phone, and watch youtube, and scroll your popularity and gossip apps? OR… do you want to fixate on the reproach of Christ, and treasure the forgiveness found in Christ alone as greater wealth than the treasures of Ancient Egypt or Modern America.
Do you want to get through life by ‘being the victim’ and hunting for people who will tell you what you want to hear? OR… Do you want to endure as seeing Him who is invisible?
Do you want to close yourself off, and reject surgical help from your siblings in Christ? OR… Do you want to embrace the paradox of invasive relationships and forgiveness and reconciliation?
Do you want to be irritable and resentful? OR… Do you want to be patient and bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things?
Sadly, there are a lot of theologians who will lead you in all the first things listed above. But there are precious few who will lead you in the way of all the second things mentioned above!!
Listen to THIS guy!
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