The Art of Lively Discussions

Jesus was a rabbi.  A spiritual teacher.  In the society He lived in young men who showed promise in learning the Torah would follow the rabbi.  This meant that they would eat, sleep, pray, talk, and think like the rabbi.  They were learning to eventually BE Him. 

Another thing that these men would do is that they would talk about various scriptures from the books of our Old Testament.  Not only would they simply have a discussion, but they would hold lively debates over issues often by pointing to other scriptures that apply and using their learning to help them make their point. These debates helped solidify their understanding of the scriptures and gave them further insights as they learned from each other.

God has given us many mysteries in the Word.  In fact, I kind of like to think He is a mystery writer.  I want to read it more to know how it ends and figure out things that are not very clear.  Last Sunday our pastor, Joe, was talking about how God created us to be searchers and discoverers of His mysteries.  I like thinking of that.  It makes perfect sense.

As people we are always learning and searching for answers.  How does the human body work? How does the universe work?  How did people in ancient history live?  I find myself continually amazed by simple things such as petals on a flower or how different plants have different species of insects that pollinate them.  Such small but complex things that are part of God's creativeness. 

Do I approach His word in the same way?  Noticing the complexities in such small things and being amazed by them?  Some things we really can't know for sure.  But He wants us to ponder them, think on them further, ask Him about it and learn more about Him.  I can only imagine at this point in my life that perhaps all of eternity will be spent just learning and discovering Him and His greatness because He is infinite. 

I also think however, that we have missed the boat on lively discussion as Christ followers.  If we are to follow the rabbi as the scripture intends and become more like Him each day.  We also need to engage each other more in lively debate over the scriptures.  I am not talking about arguing each other down in some shouting match over who is right or wrong.  But talking to one another about what we think about scripture, what God has shown us about a passage.  Listening intently to each other.  Thinking together about it and how it applies to our lives.  Then go back to the Word and look it up again and think on it some more.

I had the privilege of a couple of lively discussions this past week.  It felt like a breath of fresh air in a stale dry landscape of personal quiet time.  It enriched my thinking and drove me further into the Word to understand more and think and pursue Him.  Did we agree in everything we talked about?  No.  Did we know all the answers to the mysteries?  No.  Did we get into an argument over who was right or wrong?  No.  It was  lively interesting discussion.  It made us think. 

We are rabbis in training.  How can we train if we don't look at the Rabbi and what He says?

We need to slow down in life.  Take time with each other to meet and talk about Him and what He is doing in our lives, what He is teaching us from His Word, what we think about the mysteries that aren't finished in the Word.  How do they apply to our lives?

Mysteries to ponder that I have been thinking on this week:

1) The Book of Life -  How does one get in there?  When are folks blotted out?  What does it mean and how does what I know it says about it apply to my life?
2)  Did Jesus preach in hell?  Hint:  begin in 1 Peter 3.  If so who did He preach to?  Why?  Does Abraham's bosom apply to this issue?  (this one is what I am looking into now)

Feel free to comment back with other scriptural mysteries to ponder or thoughts you have on these mysteries above.    I would love more things to think on further!