Doug Van Pelt

It's Been A Rough Week

Last weekend we moved my computer, etc from the old location into my home, so that the final week of deadline can be done here while the new location is being set back up for officing. It made for a challenge by itself (with moving details still a daily duty), but getting sick threw another wrench into the system. I should've finished on Friday and sent all the magazine files to the printer. But I wasn't able to get that far, with the columns, back page, album reviews, the "pick of the litter," "play," and "intermission" section, and a few feature articles not laid out. Several ad files aren't here yet, either. I've had to delay the deadline, which is something that can have long-term effects on the next issue, delaying a mail-out and causing reader dissatisfaction, as well as trouble with the printer. It's a good thing that this time of year isn't booked solid on the press like the pre-Christmas season is, though, as a delay of several days should not translate into a longer delay at the printer. This problem should work out. My virus-infected stomach still feels rotten, but the power of its pain is getting milder.

A new week begins today, and with it a new book to read -- Galatians. While Paul starts off the letter with pleasantries -- "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father to Whom be glory for ever and ever" -- He quickly gets to the point of something that is making him angry (in a reasonable, nurturing, fatherly kind of way).

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One Who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- which is really no gospel at all."

He makes some strong statements about "other messages" that people had been preaching to them. In doing this, he shows that he's not trying to flatter them or win their approval, but simply trying to please God, which is going to make him unpopular at times, because some of the things he will say will confront their lazy lifestyles or simply be something they don't want to hear. People don't want to change or be told that they're wrong. It's natural to think we are doing things right (the exception would be those times when we know we are willfully doing something wrong and don't care or are trying not to think about it or care), and therefore it will "rub us the wrong way" if and when we are confronted about it. The problem is that we are all pilgrims on a journey. We all "see through a glass darkly." We are all sinners. None of us have arrived at perfection. None of us have all of our doctrine 100% correct. But it is foolish to believe that we would knowingly adopt a false doctrine. No, the areas that we are not correct about are simply areas that we are deceived. It is for this reason that we should strive to remain teachable. Willing to acknowledge that we don't have all the answers and could be wrong. Now, as an adult or growing person, we get stronger and we build a foundation to stand upon. If we're careful we can build a foundation that's stable. The corrections that we get along the way would then hopefully be minor things (not foundation-shaking major things). Even the "small things," though, can be painful to change. It's not fun to be proven wrong. But humility is something we should "clothe ourselves" in. We should be gentle and teachable. That way strong words can have their necessary effect.

Paul commends people to think. He didn't even use his position to try to make people take everything he said at face value. He applauded the Bereans and others for "checking out" what he said and comparing it to the Scriptures. This is what we can do anytime we are confronted about something. The process should normally be something we can do on our own time in the privacy of "being alone with God," and not standing on a podium with people looking on for your response and immediate public repentance. The context for teaching and growing should, in my opinion, be gentle as well (even if the instruction is "strong" and unwavering), something we can process individually.

Well, here's hoping that this week brings about closure to this next issue.

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at January 23, 2006 08:11 AM