How Smart is Your God?

Sometimes I wonder if my God and other people’s God is the same God.  My God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time).

If we don’t watch out, we will think of God in human terms and He is NOT human nor does He have any human attributes.  If we can’t do it, we don’t think God can.  Also, if we haven’t been given the gifts other people have, we dismiss their ability and may even put them down because of our ignorance.  The sad part is that we may miss a blessing from God, or miss the opportunity of God using us to bless others.

I met a young man the other day that had just been called to preach in a church close to our home.  We appreciated him visiting us at our home.  We were from the same state and of course we both loved the Word, so we had a lot to talk about.  We had already been told that he rented a house in our town before the church voted on him.  He was sure God had told him that that was the church where God had called him.  I had been looking forward to meeting him. 

After talking to him, I decided to ask him about the gifts in I Corinthians 12.  If I had asked Darroll about asking that question, he would have told me it might not be a good idea. Since I couldn’t talk to Darroll at the time, I asked him about the gifts and speaking in tongues.

He quoted a snippet of the verse to prove his point that tongues were not proper in a church setting and I could feel that he was upset about me asking him that question.  Since he was a guest in my home, I dropped the subject.

Because of this website, I can share my feelings with you.  This young man quoted part of I Corinthians 14:28 “If there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church.”

1 Cor 14:26-28
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. (NKJV)

That sounds pretty good until you read the rest of the chapter. 

1 Cor 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. (NKJV)

 

I guess you could prove just about anything if you quote only part of a verse.

 

At the time he said this, I was more upset about the fact that he was not recognizing the power of God.  If God had a message for a church, and he used one of His children who was in the service to give it in tongues?  Do you think God wouldn’t know if there was someone in the service to give an interpretation?  My God would know.  He wouldn’t give a message in tongues if He wasn’t going to have that person or someone else give the interpretation.

 

Let me be perfectly clear, God would never give a message in tongues in a church if the pastor was not comfortable with the gifts moving in his church.  The pastor is always in control of the service in his church.  Mature Christians know this and would always abide by the leading of the pastor.

 

Why can’t we take responsibility for our own beliefs, instead of trying to prove our point by using part of one verse, and in doing so, take away some of God’s power.

 

I hope you use this writing to start studying the Word for yourself and not believe tradition or what you’ve heard all your life in any church.  We are the only one that is responsible for our spiritual life, not the pastor or anyone else in our lives.  You can understand the Word for yourself.  Pray and ask God for a deeper understanding and with a positive attitude, read God’s Word knowing that God loves you and will show you the way.   

 

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