I kept a few of my university textbooks as reference materials. One I find particularly interesting is a compilation of Lee A. Jacobus titled, "A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers" (Fourth Edition). It is a smattering of ancient and modern writings which include offerings of Aristotle, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson, Mary Wollstonecraft, Lao-Tzu, Karl Marx, Mary Daly, Plato, and Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha). The great irony is this "world of ideas" considered essential for the modern writer pass over words spoken by Jesus Christ. Perhaps the Sermon on the Mount provides too much food for thought.
For a follower of Jesus Christ, this is no surprise. It can hardly be debated Jesus Christ should be counted among the most influential people in the history of the world and certainly among the most polarising. He was inclusive and exclusive at the same time. He bid anyone who was thirsty to come to Him and drink of the Living Water He alone could supply. He also said things like in Luke 14:26: "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Jesus claimed to be the exclusive Way, the Truth, and the Life - the sole way to eternal life. Such claims are either the ravings of a madman or the honest truth from One who can provide salvation for all who trust in Him.
I have been convinced by the testimony of scripture Jesus is the only true source of divine spiritual wisdom, and His is wisdom not of this world. Paul had something to say on this topic in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; 20 and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." The primary contrast between all the writings in "A World of Ideas" and the words of Jesus is He makes constant truth claims which require faith and obedience. He did not care to say deep things but what was, is, and will be true and remain shockingly objective. The words of Jesus are without apology in our subjective age and are understood fully only by those who believe Him.
The greatest intellects in the world will find themselves quite out of their depth should they dive into the Bible. A unschooled man filled with the Holy Spirit has more spiritual understanding and acumen than a thousand intellectuals. This is explained in 1 Corinthians 2:12-15: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one." The Bible is a book only spiritually discerned by the wisdom of the One who inspired it, the God who gives us Living Water and rest for our souls.
There is an immeasurable amount of facts in this world I am ignorant of, but I have tasted and seen God is good. Like the man born blind whose eyes were opened by Jesus, I can testify that once I was blind but now I see. Ideas, theories, and reasoning cannot save anyone, but Jesus Christ can. Knowing Jesus Christ is the principle thing, and in knowing Him it opens up a new world of understanding beyond this one.
For a follower of Jesus Christ, this is no surprise. It can hardly be debated Jesus Christ should be counted among the most influential people in the history of the world and certainly among the most polarising. He was inclusive and exclusive at the same time. He bid anyone who was thirsty to come to Him and drink of the Living Water He alone could supply. He also said things like in Luke 14:26: "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Jesus claimed to be the exclusive Way, the Truth, and the Life - the sole way to eternal life. Such claims are either the ravings of a madman or the honest truth from One who can provide salvation for all who trust in Him.
I have been convinced by the testimony of scripture Jesus is the only true source of divine spiritual wisdom, and His is wisdom not of this world. Paul had something to say on this topic in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; 20 and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." The primary contrast between all the writings in "A World of Ideas" and the words of Jesus is He makes constant truth claims which require faith and obedience. He did not care to say deep things but what was, is, and will be true and remain shockingly objective. The words of Jesus are without apology in our subjective age and are understood fully only by those who believe Him.
The greatest intellects in the world will find themselves quite out of their depth should they dive into the Bible. A unschooled man filled with the Holy Spirit has more spiritual understanding and acumen than a thousand intellectuals. This is explained in 1 Corinthians 2:12-15: "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one." The Bible is a book only spiritually discerned by the wisdom of the One who inspired it, the God who gives us Living Water and rest for our souls.
There is an immeasurable amount of facts in this world I am ignorant of, but I have tasted and seen God is good. Like the man born blind whose eyes were opened by Jesus, I can testify that once I was blind but now I see. Ideas, theories, and reasoning cannot save anyone, but Jesus Christ can. Knowing Jesus Christ is the principle thing, and in knowing Him it opens up a new world of understanding beyond this one.
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