Part 2: Half Understanding
Seeking to understand
Back at Wye after Easter I became friends with the “Travelling Secretaries” from the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). When they visited Wye they spoke about the Christian life and introduced us to modern Christian songs. They also brought with them copies of Christian books to “help us grow spiritually”. I bought one called “In Understanding be Men” by TC Hammond. I needed to understand what this Christianity was really about, and this slim book answered my need. It helped me not to “lean on my own understanding”.
The book’s title “In Understanding Be Men” was a partial quote from the King James Version of the Bible. In the more modern Passion Translation it says: “Beloved ones, don’t remain as immature children in your reasoning. As it relates to evil, be like newborns, but in your thinking be mature adults.”
Google’s AI overview says :
“1 Corinthians 14:20 is a biblical verse urging Christians to be childlike in innocence (especially regarding evil) but to develop adult, wise thinking, for spiritual matters, emphasising discerning judgement over childish whims or immaturity in spiritual practices. It means don’t be childishly swayed by appearances; instead, think critically, seek understanding, and grow in wisdom to discern what truly edifies, similar to the mindset of a grown-up.”
Early struggles to understand
I remember my early struggle with belief. I felt I didn’t really understand the deep truths of all Christ had done for me on the Cross. It was during a College Christian Fellowship “away weekend” at Ashburnham Place in Sussex that I received a further nudge. We were sitting in a circle listening to the visiting speaker when he stopped in the middle of his talk, walked across to me and touched me on the shoulder. I was feeling lost, a bit aimless and somehow he knew it. “Do you need a touch?” was all he said as he placed his hand gently upon me. Once again there was a surge of warmth into my body. And once again at the time I thought little of it.
Still struggling!
Yes, I acknowledged Jesus as my Saviour and I was beginning to see Him as my Lord, one to be obedient to – that is what being a disciple was all about. That really was the limit of my understanding. But what was these warming touches? In part 3 to be posted next Monday I reflect on receiving the answer to that question.
All references are from the NKJV unless specified otherwise.
John Partis
bearing-kingdom-fruit.com
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