Randy Stonehill: "Big Ideas (In a Shrinking World)"

This Christian artist was led to Christ by Christian rock pioneer, Larry Norman. He became one of many singers and bands in the Jesus People movement of the early seventies but he kept releasing records long after the movement fizzled. Listen to one of his songs here.

Just like the people with big ideas today, the early church had their own pompous people. As Galatians 6:3 (Bible in Basic English) reads, "For if a man has an idea that he is something when he is nothing, he is tricked by himself"

Paul also worried that proud Christians would laud themselves rather than giving all praise to Christ. As 1 Corinthians 4:6 and 7 (BBE) says, "My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother. For who made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you?"

Paul also knew some folks would fool gullible believers with feigned humility. That's why he wrote in Colossians 2:18 and 19 BBE), "Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind, And not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God."

Peter likewise wrote in 1 Peter 5:5 (BBE) regarding the value of humility. "And in the same way, let the younger men be ruled by the older ones. Let all of you put away pride and make yourselves ready to be servants: for God is a hater of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low."

If the longed-for return of Christ hasn't happened by Saturday, I hope to feature a song about a sniper.

Puffed Wheat Christians

I'm sure that most of you have eaten a breakfast cereal called Puffed Wheat. Because each kernel is filled with air pockets, the space it takes up is more than double that of a wheat kernel. So a bowl of Puffed Wheat is equal to less than a half of a bowl of wheat material.

One of the Apostle Paul's warnings to the early churches was the danger of becoming proud for learning spiritual truth. Instead of sharing wisdom with a glad-but-humble heart, some folks thought themselves better than the rest.

The Apostle Paul sure had to deal with a lot of know-it-all believers. He wrote in Colossians 2:18 and 19 (BBE), "Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind, And not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God."

Worse yet, some preachers claim to know secrets and have revelations directly from God. As Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 4:6 (BBE), "My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother."

Knowledge of itself isn't a bad thing but pride is. That's why Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:1 and 2 (BBE), "Now about things offered to images: we all seem to ourselves to have knowledge. Knowledge gives pride, but love gives true strength. If anyone seems to himself to have knowledge, so far he has not the right sort of knowledge about anything;"

Peter also addressed the problem of false knowledge masquerading as truth. He wrote in 1 Peter 3:17 and 18 (BBE), "For this reason, my loved ones, having knowledge of these things before they take place, take care that you are not turned away by the error of the uncontrolled, so falling from your true faith. But be increased in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May he have glory now and for ever. So be it."

If our Lord hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to post about how we long to have face-to-face contact with friends.