June 13, 2018
“Go to this people and
say: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing
but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused;…” Acts 28:26
People aren’t saved
by logical arguments for their heads, but by understanding with their hearts.
Over the years, I have had several
friendships with people who have questioned my faith and challenged the ideas
of God & Scripture with me. Because
of our friendship, I would do my best to help explain their questions or answer
their arguments, and in most cases, at least provide some answer to think
about. But I cannot recall ANY of them
changing their mind or starting a relationship with God out of the
discussion. In fact, it often got
dropped and we would move on without agreement.
In each case, I tried to maintain the friendship, but it often would
fade away over time.
Then there have been many conversations
with friends who didn’t come to argue or debate a point, but came to learn and
understand. Not that I was the expert
they needed, but they came looking to figure it out. These folks OFTEN found some answers they
were seeking, and God OFTEN brought out answers in the conversation. And I have been privileged to see a number of
them start a relationship with God out of those conversations – in some cases
even baptizing them!
There is a difference between
trying to approach God with the head versus approaching God with the
heart. The brain, even though larger in
size than the heart, is not big enough to fathom all of the logic of God. (No one can have the mind of God!) But the heart has this ability to expand in
understanding God far better. Isaiah
said it centuries ago: You will be
hearing and seeing, but not getting it with the brain; because you’ve already
hardened your heart. Instead of seeking
to know God, you have come to argue his existence.
I have learned over the years it
is better not to "win people" with
arguments. Even Christians, when they
want to debate some technical doctrine or theory, need to be interested in
learning together before I will engage the conversation. That’s because the argument only does more
damage to the heart, hardening it even more.
I would rather be considered dumb and hope for a future time their hear
might be ready than do more to harden their chance at salvation.
However, the sad part of this
often quoted verse for me is not the hardness of other people’s hearts, but the
hardness of my own. I too am guilty of
having a hard heart on some areas and not even realize it until sin has done
the damage. The cement of pride can get
in the way of understanding my wife, loving my family, or obeying completely
God’s Word. It took years for me to want
to UNDERSTAND giving, serving and witnessing for Jesus. It has been a lifetime struggle to push down
pride and ego in order to understand the teachings of Jesus. I’ve got some more work to do on this, and
maybe you do too.
So listen to Isaiah (and Jesus,
and Paul) from this text: stop trying to
argue or justify our behaviors, and try to listen with your heart in order to
understand His ways. Use the heart’s
capacity to understand instead of your head.
And what you will find is that the head catches up soon after!
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