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1 Corinthians 1:18-23 – Barriers and Balance
Think about the following observation:
A barrier to true biblical interpretation is blindness to influences by our social, political, spiritual and personal environment. Before seeing God’s truth, we have to see ourselves truly. To shed biases is a lifelong process. Yet to deny truth is obtainable is to deny reality. True reality is that truth is never finished being discovered while continuously being discovered.
Is there a more clear Biblical example of this observation of personal obtuseness than how Jews and Gentiles viewed the cross and resurrection?
1 Corinthians 1:18-23 HCSB (18) For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power. (19) For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. (20) Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? (21) For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. (22) For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, (23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
I believe Jesus refers to this blindness in John 9.39-41:
John 9:39-41 HCSB Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.” (40) Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” (41) “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see’–your sin remains.
Jesus also spoke concerning those who did not understand His parables because they did not have ears to hear and eyes to see.
Matthew 13:15 HCSB For this people’s heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back–and I would cure them.
Maybe you have heard of the phrase, “None are so blind as those that will not see.” That is one of those “Chimney Corner Scriptures.” We think it is in the Bible, but it is not, even though the thought itself is. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), the English Presbyterian minister and writer, popularized this phrase by frequently using it in his widely-read commentary on the Bible.
The point is that the biggest barrier to understanding is our individual selves. Shedding our biases is not easy but the first step is recognizing that we have them. Then after that self-confession and awareness, our next step is discovering what specifically they are. To admit without further investigation is shortsighted and weak. It leads to ambiguity of thought.
You can learn a lot about a person’s biases simply by listening to what they say…and don’t say. The same is true in listening to ourselves. This is especially true where the Bible is concerned, and especially preachers. So start listening to yourself so that you can better listen to God.
For example, I have often said that grace is my favorite topic. Having a favorite topic is dangerous. If I do not recognize that fact, then there is a double danger. Having grace as a favorite topic is tremendously treacherous, just look at how it was misunderstood and misused in the first century (Romans 6; Jude). It became a license to sin, to become licentious and promiscuous. Reacting like a pendulum is equally dangerous, where all anyone says is law, works and doctrine. Doesn’t the Bible speak of both? Can anyone be saved without grace? Is obedience ever denigrated? Understanding the difference between “works” and obedience is essential to understanding how our works are filthy rags, yet obedience is still required. Understanding the difference is essential to accepting that we are not saved by our works, but we cannot be saved without our works. Understanding bridges grace to responsibility.
Similarly I would worry about a preacher who always preaches against false doctrine, as I would equally worry about someone who hesitates to say anything or anyone is wrong. I would worry about someone who only sees fault in others and their religious biases, but never looks inwardly whether individually or collectively.
Balance is one of the most difficult traits to maintain and one of the most essential. Maybe one of the best measuring tools to see if we are keeping balance is this. If we come to a conclusion that we do not like, then it just might be the right one. That might be a sign that we are honestly seeing both ourselves and scriptures.
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