Certain people ask me, “Jason, why do you spend all your time writing on here? What's the point? Don't you have better things to do?"
I can't help but laugh-- a little—at the presumptuousness. Firstly, I don't spend a lot of time writing on here. Actually, the words come out pretty quickly. Sometimes too quickly...typos and all! In fact, once I start the actual 'writing part'... it's actually hard to keep up. I can't type nearly as fast as I can recall points of doctrine... doctrinal applications... My fingers can't keep up.
I fall behind. Quickly.
So, I really don't spend “a lot of time writing”. I don't spend a lot of time thinking up: what I'm about to say next...
That's the thing about Bible Doctrine... you're not writing a fantasy series... you're not writing a fiction novel... you're communicating the Word of God. You don't have to invent anything. You don't have to invent any characters. You don't have to invent any plots. Any story lines... any themes... complex back stories... any drama...
You don't have to weave an intricate tale...
You don't have to start bringing it all together...
You don't have to reach a stunning climax...
You don't have to force a happy ending...
None of that is necessary.
It's. All. Right. Here. It's just waiting to be covered...
You just have to study to show yourself approved...
You just have to rightly divide the word of truth.
You just have to be willing to stand.
God The Holy Spirit does everything else.
God The Holy Spirit does all the important work.
God The Holy Spirit does all the heavy lifting.
So, “what's the point?” The point is: even if you don't see with your own eyes... even if you don't see the 'results'... even if you don't see the 'proof'... even if you don't see empirical evidence...
God's Word NEVER goes out empty. Never. Not for a second. So, you can rest assured: it's accomplishing EXACTLY what it needs to accomplish. It's working in the lives of others.
It's working in the lives of those who are having emotional revolt of the soul..
It's working in the lives of those who have locked in negative volition...
It's working in the lives of those who have blackout of the soul...
It's working in the lives of those who have scar tissue all over their soul....
It's working in the lives who are just curious... people with some positive volition, but not quite ready... not yet... The seeds are being planted.
It's working in the lives of those who do have positive volition. Right here. Right now.
The point is: too many people look with their eyes... their physical eyes... too many people are impressed with numbers... too many people are impressed with church attendance... how many big butts are sitting in the pews... how much offering gets collected... how large a church is... how big it is... how many mixed-up and confused pastors they have on the payroll...
Too many are impressed by: being part of the inner circle... being part of the clique... Being on the inside looking out...
I consider it an honor to stand: on the outside.... not looking in. No. On the outside... Looking at: Him. On the Outside: In Him! In His Word.
If you had a thimble full of Bible Doctrine... an ounce of humility... you would know why this is.
Yes, I do have other things that I have to do. Things that I enjoy—greatly!--doing. Fun things. And I do them. But as long as the Lord provides the time and the resources... I will keep on doing this. And, no, there is nothing better than: Sharing Bible Doctrine.
Even when 'results' aren't obvious...
Even when I can't always see what is happening...
Even when I'm not privy to God's plan...
Even when I don't have a clue about: How—exactly--God is working...
In my life.
In the life of others.
But. I do know this: He is. He never stops. Not even for a second.
And this Gentile Woman didn't stop coming...
But. The Disciples? They sure wanted her to!
This Gentile Woman didn't stop 'crying out' to the Lord.
The Disciples? They wanted her to shut up and go away.
That's religion for you...
That's legalism for you...
That's arrogance for you...
Matthew 15:21-23
21. Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon.
22. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”
23. But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.”
Yes, I know... I've already covered these passages. I have. But. Most of my attention was on the Gentile Woman. Now? I want to focus in on the Disciples. I really want to evaluate them. To scrutinize them. To reveal EXACTLY what is going on here...
It's important. Very.
It's relevant. Relevant in the right way: it has application for our lives. Importance. Significance. Not: being relevant in order to lure people in... To be topical... trendy... “accepting” of people just as they are. It's not about people! Ever. It's about: Christ!
It's not about bending to accommodate others... to make sure they aren't offended by what we believe. It's about: presenting the truth AND letting God The Holy Spirit work in their lives.
This doesn't mean that we go out and be ugly to certain people... To attack them... To condemn them. No. BUT. It doesn't mean that we back down—in our lives—either. There's a big difference.
Anyway...
These Disciples... These handpicked--by Our Lord!--men... These men who walked... who talked... who ate... who slept... these men who had constant fellowship with Our Lord...
You would think they would be the holiest men in the world, right?
You would think they had their act completely together, right?
You would think they were spiritual giants, right?
I mean: they were with the Lord. Constantly! They were always by His side! Always!
But you know what? They were idiots.
Spiritual Idiots.
They didn't have a clue! They didn't understand what was going on. They didn't understand that they were still steeped in religion. They were still steeped in legalism. They were not grace-oriented...
They were bigots. They looked down on other races of people. They looked down on Gentiles. They thought the Gentiles were beneath them. Lower than them. Unworthy of them. And most certainly unworthy of The Messiah.
Their Messiah! What arrogance...
Bible Doctrine is meant to be applied in our own lives. Our. Own. Lives. Not the lives of others. We don't go around meddling in people's private lives. We don't get all up in their business. Yes, there are times when MUST make certain judgments... certain evaluations... certain determinations...
BUT.
It's not our job to try and change them. It's not our job to bend people to our will. Even if what we believe is **actually** right... it's still wrong when we try and enforce it on other people. Now, please note: I'm not talking about parents raising their children. Parents have every right to ensure their children follow their orders. Every right. But. Other people may act like children... they may act like spoiled rotten brats... BUT. They aren't our children. We can't go changing them. We have to leave them in the Lord's hands.
Anyway... we apply God's Word in our own individual lives. But. This doesn't mean that we aren't able to see certain trends... certain parallels... certain corollaries...
We can.
In fact, we should.
We better be able to. If not? That's a problem... a BIG problem.
Doctrine Illuminates!
It gives: clarity!
If we don't have clarity...
If we're confused...
That's a problem.
Not Having Bible Doctrine IS ALWAYS a problem.
And when I read these verses... when I close my eyes and watch it all play out on the screen inside my mind... it reminds me of something. It reminds me of something that I am VERY familiar with. Very.
Reading about these disciples... it reminds me of so much—entirely too much!--of 'Christianity' today.
Here in the south... we have churches on almost every corner. They are everywhere. Everywhere. Even in all the older shopping centers. These 'churches' are like weeds... they pop up everywhere. And just like weeds... they suffocate... they destroy... they terrorize... they wreck havoc on a garden.
They try and destroy the path...
But people are in these 'church' doors every time they open up! If something is going on... they are there. They are always with the Lord. Walking with The Lord... Talking with the Lord... Doing all kinds of nice and sweet things for the Lord...
They don't have any Bible Doctrine. Very little. Maybe a thimble full—if that. But. They walk with the Lord. They Talk with the Lord. They eat with the Lord. They congregate with the Lord. They associate with all the other disciples...
They don't have a clue who The Lord really is. They don't have a clue about what our Lord was really about. They talk about: “WWJD????”, but they don't have an actual clue what our Lord would do. They wouldn't know what The Lord would do if it walked up and slapped them in the face!
And often... through our circumstances... that's EXACTLY what He is doing! Slapping us right in the face with: reality! And that reality is: We need Him! We need His Word.
But we don't know His Word...
So what happens?
Christians are going to end poverty! But Scripture clearly states... this won't happen. Not in the dispensation of the Church age.
They're going to end war! But Scripture clearly states... this won't happen. Not in the dispensation of the Church Age.
They're going to usher in peace! But Scripture clearly states: there is no peace! Not when it comes to man. No Peace! None.
Yes, one of the titles of our Lord is: “Prince of Peace!” It is! No doubt. But “peace” doesn't mean the peace that you're thinking about. Peace is: Christ has propitiated a Holy God. A Perfectly Just God. An Absolutely Righteous God. We have been reconciled with God. The enmity between a Holy God and a sinful—completely depraved!--man has been removed. That is: PEACE!
Peace is: “Growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Peace is: IN THE WORD! Not: in the world.
RIGHTFULLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH!
That means: we get out of the way! We don't let our erroneous thoughts and feelings get in the way. Scripture is not subjective! It is not relative. It is not how it makes you feel! Scripture is: Objective. It's what God would have us to know. There is only ONE MEANING and ONE MEANING only: God's Meaning. That's it.
Our Lord makes His stance on 'peace'--in this age--very clear over in Matthew 10:34: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Our Lord makes it very clear: “I'm not going to usher in peace. I'm going to cause: DIVISION! Separation. Fights! Even: WARS!"
You'll be at war with your family... You'll be at war with your friends... You'll be at war with your neighbors... You'll be at war with this world! And you'll be at war because: YOU HAVE MY THOUGHTS! Bible Doctrine! And that makes you an enemy to this world. To Satan and his Cosmic System. And that Cosmic system includes EVERYTHING outside of God's Word. Including: Religion. Especially: Religion.
Religions is a 'form' of godliness...
A form...
Not: THE FORM! Not: Christ!
These Disciples were right there with the Lord... Right there next to Him... Right there in His presence.. And they were missing the boat. They weren't getting it. They were confused. They were mixed up. They had the wrong ideas. They were making the wrong assumptions.
They started with a false premise... and they ended with the wrong conclusion. Completely wrong!
Just like so many believers today... they start their Christian life off with the wrong premise: “I'm going to change. I'm going to do better. I'm going...”
Me. Me. Me. Me. ME!
Focused on: Self.
So busy being wrapped up in what self wants... never learning what God wants. So busy trying to bring about their plans... never learning... never opening themselves up to: God's Plan. So busy trying to whitewash the devil's world with a superficial coat of paint... never experiencing God's Word changing their thinking... never seeing the light of Bible Doctrine shine out—like a spotlight—in the darkness of this age. A beacon that serves as a guide to all the ships caught in the storms of life.
Too busy telling the Lord what to do... How to do it... when to do it...
Too busy telling God to remove something from your life... to make it go away... “I don't care how you do it! Just do it! NOW!”
Never realizing... Never understanding... Incapable of understanding.... They're asking Him to remove the very things... the very places.. and, yes, even: THE VERY PEOPLE that God has sent your way for blessing.
Clueless!
Idiotic!
Ungrateful!
But. They walk with the Lord... They talk with the Lord... They're part of the inner circle...
And you know what else? They were Jews! The chosen ones!
That woman... That Gentile Woman... That lowlife Gentile woman... That woman who was loud and obnoxious... that woman who had the audacity to interrupt—and interfere!--with their one-on-one time with the Lord...
She was nothing.
Well, God has this way of using “nothing” to teach us something. He really does. I know that I've seen it time and time again—in my life. Time and time again. It always amazes me how He drives a point home. And how it often comes from unexpected places... Places that I would never consider... People that I would never consider...
God has this way of taking the people we don't like... the people we don't care for... the people we don't approve of... the people who are beneath us... the people who are inferior to us.... the people who don't measure up and meet our standards...
God has this way of letting them... letting them teach us a lesson. A lesson that we desperately need to learn. A lesson that WE MUST learn. We must. IF we are to truly be used by Him.
And speaking from experience... these lessons are quite often painful. They hurt. Some? Some have felt almost unbearable. But. They are for our betterment. And I can promise you this: if you keep with Bible Doctrine... if you keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... if you keep advancing...
A day will come when you will look back on your 'hardest' times... and you will see: God's Faithfulness. You will see it perfectly. You will see it absolutely. You will see it clearly! You WILL have clarity. And you will have appreciation. And you will have capacity.
And you know what else? You will be grateful that He loved you enough to spank your butt. That He loved you enough to teach you a lesson. That He loves you enough to jar you! To shake you! To awaken you from the slow and insidious death of: being negative to His Word.
His Word. Rightfully Divided.
That He loved you enough to teach you the beautify and joy of: His Grace.
Many people “walk with the Lord” every Sunday—at Church.
Many people “talk with the Lord” every time they have a problem.
Many people surround themselves with other 'disciples'... and they put their noses up in the air to certain people... certain places... certain things... certain taboos... the things THEY don't like...
Many people mistake attending Church with: Knowing Christ.
Many people mistake carrying a bible in their arms with: Having His Word in their soul.
Many people mistake being 'sweet' with the Christian life.
Many people mistake being 'kind' with the Christian life.
Many people mistake being 'nice' with the Christian life.
Many people mistake being 'charitable' with the Christian life.
Many people mistake 'loving' people with the Christian life.
Many people mistake 'doing something' with the Christian life.
BUT.
ANYTHING that an unbeliever can do also... IS NOT the Christian life. Any unbeliever can be: sweet, kind, nice, considerate, charitable, giving, loving, caring...
Any unbeliever can do something. Any unbeliever can give money away.... Any unbeliever can work in a soup kitchen... Any unbeliever can collect clothing for the needy... Any unbeliever can volunteer... Any unbeliever can become a political activist....
Any unbeliever can be a humanitarian...
If an unbeliever can do it... it's NOT the Christian way of life.
It's missing something. It's missing a lot. It's missing EVERYTHING!
Everything.
Being in union with Christ. The filling of the Holy Spirit. The Ability to utilize the Faith Rest Drill. Grace Orientation. Doctrinal Orientation. A Personal Sense of Destiny in Christ. Personal love for God The Father. Impersonal Love for ALL Mankind (especially the ones we don't like! The ones we can't stand!). Sharing the Happiness of God. Occupation with Christ.
The Unbeliever can't have these things. Can't! Doesn't!
The Unbeliever can't be motivated by Virtue Love.
And you know what? Neither can the believer who doesn't have any Bible Doctrine! Their isn't ANY—I mean: NONE!. You can't have: Virtue Love without: Bible Doctrine in the soul. None.
What you have is a believer who is motivated by: self. A believer who wants to do good things because: it's how they work their way into heaven... it's how they earn favor with God... It's how they impress God... It's how they impress other people... It's how they impress themselves...
It's how they assuage their guilt...
It's how they pay penance for some wrong (that may or may not be an actual sin!)...
It's how they make amends...
It's all about them.
It's all about what they want to do.
23. But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.”
It's all about who THEY want to be kind to. To be gracious to.
It's all about who becomes their pet project of the week...
Their spiritual flavor of the week...
But. That person must meet their approval.
That person must warrant their sympathy.
That's not: GRACE! That's: legalism. That's hypocrisy.
That's too much of Christianity today.
God has extended His grace to us all.
And we were all unworthy of it.
Every. Single. One. Of. Us.
Every one of us.
We didn't deserve it.
None of us.
God gave it—anyway.
These men walked—and talked—with the Lord. Daily. Constantly. They were right next to Him. They were the closest to Him.
BUT.
They were a million miles away in their thinking. Their thinking was NOTHING like His. Not even close. They only thought about what they wanted. They only thought about their needs. Too arrogant to understand: Just like John the Baptist's voice was one crying out in the wilderness... pleading with Israel to embrace the Messiah... most did not. Most dismissed John's message. Most rejected John's message. Most laughed at John's message...
And you know what?
Most rejected: The Messiah.
But the disciples had chosen to believe in Christ.
But that was just the first step in a long journey...
Their salvation was secure. But. Their minds must be renovated. Their thinking must be changed.
Now: This woman’s voice crying out was: a call for them to change their minds about what they believed. To replace human viewpoint with Divine Viewpoint.
To replace legalism with: Grace.
God's Voice is always crying out for us...
Even still today.
And it often comes from unexpected places.
Unexpected people.
That's how He gets our attention.
23. But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.”
Humility hears and responds.
Arrogance? Arrogance reacts and chases it away.
Arrogance runs it off!
Arrogance finds a way--any way!--to get rid of it!
And the whole time it does: It's so impressed about how closely—and often!--it walks and talks with the Lord.
Blind.
Oblivious.
Sinister.
That's: religion.
And it is antithesis—the enemy!--of: Grace.
