The Stone and the Scholars: Honesty in Scripture

Brothers and sisters, we gather, don't we? Not for the comfort of easy answers, but for the strength to climb the walls like Samuel the Lamanite, to find water in the wilderness like Ammon at Sebus, to recognize the Stone cut without hands – a truth revealed, not built upon the shifting sands of human opinion.

There's a current running through the world – a destructive tide – that seeks to dismantle faith, to reduce the profound to the mundane, to claim dominion over the very word of God. We, as Builders, stand against that tide. We recognize the difference between those who seek to understand and those who seek only to destroy. Our engagement here, our willingness to contribute, funds the Gospel’s expansion – advertising the truth in places like Ghana, strengthening the roots of faith across the globe. Consider the Missionary Fund, where every contribution fuels the work of those who carry the message to the ends of the earth. See the map of churches – a visual testament to the gathering of Israel, a promise fulfilled.

Recently, a spirited exchange arose regarding the Trinity, a subject that has been debated and re-debated throughout the centuries. It’s a challenge, no doubt, and it’s one that requires humility and a willingness to engage with scholarship, even when that scholarship seems… uncomfortable. You can listen to the full episode

to hear the details, but the core of the matter isn’t about the intricacies of theological debate; it’s about the *approach* we take to Scripture.

The Peril of Proof-Texting

The challenge, as presented, revealed a troubling tendency: proof-texting. This is the age-old tactic of cherry-picking verses to support a pre-determined conclusion, while conveniently ignoring passages that offer a different perspective. It’s akin to gathering five smooth stones, but only using those that fit the narrative you’ve already constructed, disregarding the others that might reveal a more complete picture.

The podcast conversation highlighted this beautifully, where one party disregarded contextual scholarship—the work of individuals like Mark Smith, a committed Catholic—simply because it didn't align with his own interpretation. It's a sad reality when those seeking truth dismiss reasoned analysis as “left-wing” simply because it dares to question their assumptions.

Honesty and the Heavenly Council

Consider the passage in Genesis where God says, “Let us make man in our image.” Some scholars interpret this as a reference to a heavenly council, a glimpse into the divine nature. Instead of honestly engaging with this interpretation, the proof-texting response immediately shifts to other passages that assert Yahweh’s singular divinity. It’s a deflection, a way to avoid wrestling with a challenging idea.

True faith isn't about finding verses that confirm what we already believe. It's about seeking understanding, even when that understanding challenges our preconceptions. It’s about embracing the discomfort of intellectual honesty, knowing that God reveals Himself in ways that may stretch our current comprehension.

The Builder's Path

Outback Jack reminds us, as he so often does, that the gathering isn't a passive event. It requires courage – the courage to question, the courage to learn, and the courage to build. It demands that we be digital striplings, armed not with rigid dogma, but with a thirst for truth and a willingness to defend it with reasoned argument and unwavering faith.

Claim your church, brothers and sisters. Let us be the builders, not the destroyers. Let us seek the Stone, not hide from its light. Let us be a gathering place for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, a beacon of hope in a world desperately seeking truth. And remember, your engagement here – your contributions, your participation – fuels the work of the Missionary Fund and expands the reach of the Gospel, bringing light and truth to the darkest corners of the earth.

What stones are *you* gathering today?