What I believe determines what I believe.

Ok, I’ll admit it sounds like double talk. Stick with me on this.

I remember more than once my daddy telling me we could all see the Bible alike if we would just read it.

My dad was a child of God. Knowing his reading habits, I doubt he ever read the Bible straight through, cover-to-cover.

He loved God. Through his lifetime presence in church and Sunday school, I have no doubt he knew the content of Scripture. He also knew Jesus.

Dad was probably wrong in his assessment of all Believers’ ability to interpret Scripture alike.

Here is what I now believe.

My wiring, my place in history, my past, and my current environment, are among multiple factors that determine my perception of truth.

That is also true for my seven billion neighbors of planet earth.

Scripture shows humankind a glimpse of God and His purpose. That fact alone makes its riches too abundant and too deep for me to wrap my pea size brain around every truth it presents.

I think I just made the case for diversity in the way God’s creation sees Scripture.

I believe Scripture is absolutely and unquestionably true.

As a casual observer, I notice those who follow Jesus and would take a bullet for His cause, have a difficult time seeing the Scripture alike.

I no longer accept the conclusion that fellow Christ followers who don’t agree with me are either insincere, not trying hard enough, or are just dead wrong.

Somewhere in the mix, as long as He owns my heart, Jesus’ grace covers me along with the erroneous conclusions I attribute to Scripture.

I can be dead wrong on what I believe to be true while being dead right in my secure relationship with God.

Over 66 years of living, I notice my truth fluctuates. What I once saw as non-negotiable truth, I may now see as false or at best, a concept I file under the tab of “my current judgment” on the matter.

There are times when truth is like a dream. It seems so real at the time. Then upon awakening, I discover what seemed true during the night is not valid.

Just maybe, it is about getting my relationship right with Truth whom the apostle John shows to be Jesus, rather than working on my truth collection.

Could it be that my search needs to focus on Truth as the personified Jesus rather than attempting to bundle together a truth collection?

Would not following such a course increase the unity in Jesus that I can offer other Christ followers?

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – Reflecting on Cross Church

Gary@GodReflection.org