(Nerd Alert…contains weighty thoughts!)
I’ve noticed that the New Year brings a flurry of goal setting,
resolutions and fitnessprograms. I believe that is good, but I think spiritual
fitness is probably the most important aspect of our goal setting and
resolution making. In January one of my Facebook friends posted the following
two paragraphs and it set me to thinking.
“A Cambridge matric requires the students to THINK and REASON with
insight. The correct use of GRAMMAR and a RICH VOCABULARY are the means to REASON and to validate the statements made by the
student. It is accepted that the students was already highly proficient in
these skills. The main focus is about COMMUNICATING with COMPREHENSION, INSIGHT
and WISDOM. General knowledge is also required!
I often wonder about living a life that PLEASES Father
GOD ... we often seem to be stuck in the "GRAMMAR" and miss the
actual “PURPOSE.” From the Apostle Paul, here is what it is about:
"[The
purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God
in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to
the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly
sphere. "
Eph 3:10 ( Amp Bible).
Eph 3:10 ( Amp Bible).
A “Godly matrix” would require the student of God to THINK and REASON with wisdom and insight. For this to happen would require that
· The correct use of GRAMMAR (would this be doctrine
and Biblical principles?) and a RICH Christian VOCABULARY (clearly defined) would be the means to THINK and REASON
and that same grammar and vocabulary would validate the statements made by the
student because it flows from the Scripture. It is accepted that the students were
already highly proficient in these skills (i.e. in the use of grammar which is
the doctrine and principles and Christian vocabulary). Do you suppose the
grammar and vocabulary would form the grid within which to think and reason?
· The main focus is about COMMUNICATING with
COMPREHENSION, leading to INSIGHT and WISDOM. “But in your
hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to
give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect (I Peter 3:15). As we respectfully give our reasons for why we believe as we do the kindness of the
Holy Spirit can draw the ones with whom we speak to Jesus. We will be witnesses
who make sense.
· General knowledge is also required! (We will look at
what this entails later.)
I often wonder about living
a life that PLEASES Father GOD.
We seem to be often stuck in the "GRAMMAR"
and miss the actual “PURPOSE.” We split hairs over denominational rules and
doctrines like parsing verbs, looking for case and mood and are unable to
comprehend the sentence! The Apostle Paul, makes what we about wonderfully
clear:
"[The
purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God
in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to
the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly
sphere. "
Eph 3:10 ( Amp Bible).
Eph 3:10 ( Amp Bible).
After reading slowly to absorb the meaning, my mind immediately began to
wonder what such a Christian paradigm of thought would look like, a Christian
logic that could give a believer rules for reasoning…God did say “Come
now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). From that Scripture it seems to
me that we should be able to discuss an issue with God until we can see it from
His perspective and He would not have a problem with that. In fact, He is the
One issuing the invitation to reason with Him! When we see life’s issues from
His perspective we will be changed from red like crimson to white like
wool—completely changed. Reasoning with God is transformational.
Now, back to the Cambridge matrix. The British definition for matrix is “the
set of conditions which provides a system in which something grows or develops”
(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/matrix_1?q=matrix
). So students wishing to demonstrate their grasp of their high school subject
matter take this exam which shows their ability to think and reason according
to the system of logic and reasoning espoused by Cambridge University and arrive at some insight or wisdom.
What would be
the result of a Godly Matrix rather than the Cambridge Matrix? What would be different? A Godly Matrix would train our
thoughts to run with Godly thoughts, with His rules of logic so that we could
think and reason to arrive at insight and godly wisdom. We could think like God
thinks and reason as He does. We would use the grammar (put our thoughts and
sentences together in a way that communicates rather than confuses) and rich
vocabulary of Christianity and Judaism as the means to reason through decisions
we have to make, to reason our way through the issues of life so that we could
make decisions or come to conclusions that would be aligned to His will. The
principles and doctrines would guide the reasoning; provide the parameters, the
grid, for the reasoning to flow in to reach Godly decisions and conclusions
that please Him.
With such a Godly
system of thought we would be able to communicate our faith and encourage
ourselves and others in such a way that those who see and hear us would
comprehend, gain insight and wisdom and be transformed as we would also have
been transformed. Matthew 5:14 tells us that we would bring light and joy into
darkness.
I have never attempted something so profound so I am sure there will be gaping holes in my thinking. I would be eternally grateful for you to jump in, point out the flaws and maybe suggest a patch! Westle with it with me. I will attempt to be more consistent in posting--sorry about that!
Blessings, Carol Brown...making it plain!
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