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Questions of Jesus, Religion & Spirituality, Think Red Ink

Jesus for Answers?


A recent interview on GLC television, with Host Amy Cooper on the “Light of the Southwest,” led to a discussion (as often happens with TRI) of “Did Jesus come to give us the answers?” It is my contention that He did not – He came to teach us to think. The secrets we’ve been missing are in “the red ink.” (Red Letter Edition Bibles record the words of Jesus in red ink.)

The first book I read as a child was the Bible.  Although I don’t hold a reckless view of infallibility of inerrancy of the Bible – I feel that it is a valuable record of the exemplars of faith. One can ascertain my appreciation of the Bible, not as demonstrated by the liturgical adjectives that I use to describe it, but by the fact that I live by it.

Jesus said about His words what can be said by no other, “My words are Spirit and they are Life.” I believe Him. Some of the authors who inspire me – Abraham, Jeremiah, David, Job, John and Paul; but when you get the red letters (the words of Jesus) right, it ALL makes sense.

I am a former pastor, an insider who was privy to many of the escapades and shenanigans employed to build congregations calling it church; to build hope and call it faith. I quit. However, instead of tossing the whole package, I committed to an objective read of the Scriptures.

One day when I was demanding answers of God the tables turned; God became the inquisitor and I the examined one. As I answered His questions I came to a startling conclusion, “The Bible is ruining my religion.”

Then, my education began . . .

My life journey, searching for a logical and honest faith, has given me an objective view of the Scriptures. I learned years ago, to have a mind that is not hemmed in by prejudice, stifled by tradition, fenced by preconception is to have all knowledge at least within reach. It is a daily fight to keep these encroachers at bay, but is well worth the struggle. To see something that is so familiar to you a little differently because the God of the universe took time to illuminate you, will change you forever.

Don Harris of Think Red Ink Ministries is a preacher who offers solid, practical advice to men and families. Don is an accomplished author and the weekly host of “The Red Letter Edition – LIVE!” radio program which features a call-in segment for listener questions.

You are invited to “give a listen” at www.ThinkRedInk.tv.  We broadcast 24/7/365.

 

 

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Answers

Quote

[Insert your question here…]  I wish I had a wonderful answer for you… however, in my life I have learned to stop struggling over what has not been revealed to me.  Jesus said, “Why ask ye among yourselves of that which I said?” Here’s an excerpt from “The Questions of Jesus” book, Q.118, page 377.

We Should Go To Him

We should have no fear of making Him our teacher and ask Him for clarification or explanation. Why do we go to the professors or other so-called experts? If we but ask, He can make it plain to us. It is His desire to do so. When Jesus explained His comments the disciples exclaimed, “Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things…”

Revelation from the Most High is probably one of the greatest experiences of the Christian’s life. It forms a bond, a communicative bond, between God and us.  After all, the main difference between our God and the gods of stone is that our God speaks!

The Scriptures are replete with examples:

Jeremiah 33:2-3, “Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

John 5:39-41, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men.”

Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Mark 4:22, “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad.”

1 Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

When you do not understand, when the sayings are obscure, when you are not clear on a point, a doctrine, a concept, you are to go to Christ and not one another. He can make it clear, expand upon it, or dispense with it altogether. He is the teacher, He is the revealer, and He is puzzled by your lack of confidence in Him when you go to man and his narrow understanding for answers.

When you are perplexed about something  that He is trying to teach and you forsake Him for the wisdom of man, or when He finds your nose in books on Greek and Latin, or discovers that the concept, idea or mystery that He has been trying to reveal to you being bandied about in discussion groups, He asks, “Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said?”