“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose.When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he assumed the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out loudly, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household…and he rejoiced greatly that he had come to believe in God, together with his entire household,” Acts 16:25-31; 35b.
Author and speaker Ken Davis shares the following true story: “In college I was asked to prepare a lesson to teach my speech class. We were to be graded on our creativity and ability to drive home a point in a memorable way. The title of my talk was, "The Law of the Pendulum." I spent 20 minutes carefully teaching the physical principle that governs a swinging pendulum. The law of the pendulum is: A pendulum can never return to a point higher than the point from which it was released. Because of friction and gravity, when the pendulum returns, it will fall short of its original release point. Each time it swings it makes less and less of an arc, until finally it is at rest. This point of rest is called the state of equilibrium, where all forces acting on the pendulum are equal.
“I attached a 3-foot string to a child's toy top and secured it to the top of the blackboard with a thumbtack. I pulled the top to one side and made a mark on the blackboard where I let it go. Each time it swung back I made a new mark. It took less than a minute for the top to complete its swinging and come to rest. When I finished the demonstration, the markings on the blackboard proved my thesis.
“I then asked how many people in the room BELIEVED the law of the pendulum was true. All of my classmates raised their hands, so did the teacher. He started to walk to the front of the room thinking the class was over. In reality it had just begun. Hanging from the steel ceiling beams in the middle of the room was a large, crude but functional pendulum (250 pounds of metal weights tied to four strands of 500-pound test parachute cord.). I invited the instructor to climb up on a table and sit in a chair with the back of his head against a cement wall. Then I brought the 250 pounds of metal up to his nose. Holding the huge pendulum just a fraction of an inch from his face, I once again explained the law of the pendulum he had applauded only moments before, "If the law of the pendulum is true, then when I release this mass of metal, it will swing across the room and return short of the release point. Your nose will be in no danger."
“After that final restatement of this law, I looked him in the eye and asked, "Sir, do you believe this law is true?" There was a long pause. Huge beads of sweat formed on his upper lip and then weakly he nodded and whispered, "Yes." I released the pendulum. It made a swishing sound as it arced across the room. At the far end of its swing, it paused momentarily and started back. I never saw a man move so fast in my life. He literally dived from the table. Deftly stepping around the still-swinging pendulum, I asked the class, "Does he believe in the law of the pendulum?" The students unanimously answered, "NO!" (Ken Davis, How to Speak to Youth, pp 104-106.)
Now, I’m not sure any of us would be willing to place ourselves under a pendulum, although Edgar Allen Poe would love for Father Time to give us each a first-hand glimpse! But we all believe in the law of the pendulum…
In a very real way, all of us - every last single one of us - live our lives based on what we believe. Some beliefs change, mature, or become rejected over time…others grow stronger. Life has a funny way of teaching us what we believed yesterday is nothing more than a lie today, including spiritual beliefs.
What we were taught to believe as children - within the confines of Christianity - more often than not changes over time. Why? First and foremost, we eventually open the Bible to read, study it for ourselves - allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us, not a flawed human being. Secondly, what we were taught to be concrete facts as kids often crumble when we face struggles in life we never thought we would have to endure.
We would like to add a third reason for why our beliefs change. We have to give full credit to Beth Moore for this one. During a “Women of Joy” conference she referenced something which really ministered to Missy…and something she fleshes out a bit more in her teachings on the Psalms. Moore lays out what she calls "spine issues" and "rib issues". “Spine issues comprise the backbone of our faith. . . . disagreement may mean one of us is in Christ and the other is not...Rib issues tend to be more interpretive and less heretical,” ("Stepping Up", p.159)
In other words, we discover some ideas and issues are not as important as others.
She goes on to give several examples, listing under "Spine Issues" beliefs such as Jesus is the only way, truth and life, and no one gets to God any other way, the resurrection is fact, and miracles did occur. Under "Rib Issues" things such as spiritual gifts, worship styles and music, and bible versions are discussed.
Truth be told there are about 1,000 rib issues for every spine issue. Nonetheless, we cannot equivocate on spine issues. These are central to our faith and establish a sure foundation which cannot be shaken no matter what may occur in our lives. It is these which we should defend - at all costs. However, it seems the rib issues - including baptism and communion, music and lighting, etc. are what seem to consume us. It seems we major in the minors and minor in the majors.
It seems many who are leaving the church are doing so because their beliefs are changing…but primarily to the negative. Again, this is neither right or wrong - it is part of the human experience and the way God designed us. We just pray we are changed for the positive - for growth, for maturity.
Consider Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians where he openly criticized the church there as they were falling short of God’s desire for their personal growth. They were stagnant and Paul would not stand for this.
In a very disappointing manner, he regrets he could speak to them only as infants. He writes, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready,” (1 Cor. 3:2).
God wants us to grow! God wants us to change! God wants us to grow from mere “believe because you were told to” faith, to a mature "standing on the promises" faith. He wants us to move beyond the elementary stages of milk and into the meat of the holy Scriptures. However, as we strive for a deeper spiritual life - a deeper walk, if you will - there are some truths - "spine issues" - we must cling tightly to, while there are others - "rib issues" - we should reconsider.
It’s unfortunate but for some people a “rib” issue has become a “spine” issue and a “spine” issue has become a “rib” issue. We have to be mindful of this and be compassionate to people when we wander into these areas. The healthy local fellowship will be one where there is no debate over "spine" issues and open discussion of "rib" issues. The healthy local fellowship will be one where the spine is strong and straight. It can withstand outside pressure and maintains stability and balance. Ribs do serve a purpose…they are just not primary to the function of the body of Christ. A healthy congregation knows the difference.
So, do you believe in the law of the pendulum? Good. Do you believe in God? Good…but so do demons AND they quiver and quake. Maybe, we need to strengthen our spine and eat some more meat…
Straightening Spines…
Steve and Missy
She goes on to give several examples, listing under "Spine Issues" beliefs such as Jesus is the only way, truth and life, and no one gets to God any other way, the resurrection is fact, and miracles did occur. Under "Rib Issues" things such as spiritual gifts, worship styles and music, and bible versions are discussed.
Truth be told there are about 1,000 rib issues for every spine issue. Nonetheless, we cannot equivocate on spine issues. These are central to our faith and establish a sure foundation which cannot be shaken no matter what may occur in our lives. It is these which we should defend - at all costs. However, it seems the rib issues - including baptism and communion, music and lighting, etc. are what seem to consume us. It seems we major in the minors and minor in the majors.
It seems many who are leaving the church are doing so because their beliefs are changing…but primarily to the negative. Again, this is neither right or wrong - it is part of the human experience and the way God designed us. We just pray we are changed for the positive - for growth, for maturity.
Consider Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians where he openly criticized the church there as they were falling short of God’s desire for their personal growth. They were stagnant and Paul would not stand for this.
In a very disappointing manner, he regrets he could speak to them only as infants. He writes, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready,” (1 Cor. 3:2).
God wants us to grow! God wants us to change! God wants us to grow from mere “believe because you were told to” faith, to a mature "standing on the promises" faith. He wants us to move beyond the elementary stages of milk and into the meat of the holy Scriptures. However, as we strive for a deeper spiritual life - a deeper walk, if you will - there are some truths - "spine issues" - we must cling tightly to, while there are others - "rib issues" - we should reconsider.
It’s unfortunate but for some people a “rib” issue has become a “spine” issue and a “spine” issue has become a “rib” issue. We have to be mindful of this and be compassionate to people when we wander into these areas. The healthy local fellowship will be one where there is no debate over "spine" issues and open discussion of "rib" issues. The healthy local fellowship will be one where the spine is strong and straight. It can withstand outside pressure and maintains stability and balance. Ribs do serve a purpose…they are just not primary to the function of the body of Christ. A healthy congregation knows the difference.
So, do you believe in the law of the pendulum? Good. Do you believe in God? Good…but so do demons AND they quiver and quake. Maybe, we need to strengthen our spine and eat some more meat…
Straightening Spines…
Steve and Missy
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