Those who are closest to me will tell you that I am not easily shocked.
There are not many things in the world that would surprise me, and the reason for that is fairly simple: I believe anything is possible.... unless God says that it is not.
However, there are some things that I just find plain confusing.
{contemplative pause}
Like the conversation initiated by a church-attending-acquaintance this afternoon when she asked me if I believed in dreams and visions.
Am I the only one who gets uncomfortable when these questions pop out of nowhere?
Anyway, if you have been hanging around here for some time, you already know that I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, so it should come as no surprise that I proceeded to list a few of the many dreams and visions included in the Scriptures... all of which I believe were God-given.
And since I believe in the Creator God of the universe, it would make sense that I would believe in His Word. Yes?
But there was a problem... she declared that she was a New Testament Christian and I had started in the Old Testament. She read the Old Testament only for the history.
Okay, that is fine by me. All Christians are New Testament Christians because "... the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26)
So on to the New Testament..... but before I could recount the a few of the dreams and visions of the New Testament, the conversation took an interesting turn.
"Those were inspired men, not laymen. I don't believe in dreams and visions in our times."
There you have it. The Old Testament is nothing but a history lesson..... but it is inspired.
Joel 2:28 came to mind, in regard to her final declaration, but - since it would have to be found in the Old Testament - I held my tongue as she moved on.
She told me of a woman she knew who had built a church on the basis of what she thought was a vision from God, and then she asked me: "Do you believe the vision was from God?"
Please understand that I am not acquainted with the woman in question, I have no knowledge of her belief system or her lifestyle, so I had nothing to compare against the Word. I absolutely refused to pass judgement.
We are admonished in Scripture to "Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good", and my only standard for proving dreamers, visionaries, prophets or spirits is the undiluted Word of God.
If you tell me that my eyes are blue, I will measure that by the mirror..... but if you tell me that God told you - in a vision - that he will come next week, I have an obligation to measure your vision by the Scriptures.
For me, it is just that simple.
Jesus declared that false prophets would arise, so all prophetic messages that land in my lap get picked apart for examination, and I do mean all.
He even said there would be some like wolves in sheep's clothing, so all that have the appearance of sheep and 'bleat' in my hearing will be scrutinised.
And if the Holy Spirit inspired Joel to prophesy of dreams and visions in the last days, who am I to say otherwise? If God says it, I believe it, and that settles it.
It is my considered opinion, that we should refrain from disposing of the baby with the proverbial bath water..... but that is just my opinion, and not the opinion of the general public.
I disembarked this particular train of conversation when I realised that there was no definite destination, and common courtesies were not being extended to me, but I am always a bit bemused when people ask me what I believe and then refuse to listen when I begin outlining what I believe and why. :-?
Alas it is a mystery that I may never live long enough to unravel. *sigh*
Hoping you are less confused than I am,
