Hebrews 5:11-6:3 is a portion of Scripture that needs to be carefully considered today. Before launching into the main part of his presentation in 7:1-10:18 the writer stops to make sure his readers are fully engaged in what he is saying. In terms of teaching methodology his pause is exemplary. He is serious about what he is presenting concerning the supremacy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our great high priest in the order of Melchizedek, and he wants people to understand what he is saying. In his mind there is no room for detached discourses about Christian theology as though it were all academic speculation. Nor should preachers and teachers merely lay out the various options and leave it up to the individual to decide what is right for them. The closer we come to the heart of the gospel, the more we must insist that people sit up and pay attention. The writer's approach in these verses is entirely consistent with what he is teaching. If all that he has said in 1:1-5:10 is true then Christians must go on to maturity. To do otherwise is to deny in practice what he is asserting in principle.
I realize that passion cannot always be measured by how loudly someone speaks or how sincerely they present themselves. There is more to it than that. But passion is necessarily when we are standing on holy ground and dealing with such glorious truths. In our world people get excited about many things, and when they do you can usually tell what they think because they will get their point across in one way or another. Some love athletics, while others like to make money. Some are always ready to talk about relationships, their marriages and their children. Some love cars and trucks and boats and anything else that gets them from point A to point B in style. Others can never see enough movies or hear enough music. The list could go on and on. But whatever their interest it is soon apparent if you listen to them talk for very long. If this is true in these areas, how much more should it be true of Christians who claim to know the sovereign God of the universe through his Son, Jesus Christ! Although there are many things that we may legitimately enjoy in the world, none compares to the joy of knowing God. The writer of Hebrews challenges us to go forward in the Lord Jesus Christ and to stand for him no matter what difficulties we face.
No comments:
Post a Comment