"So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them." - Luke 8:18
I came across this passage in my morning quiet time. I usually do my quiet times before I even touch my computer, but today I turned it on early as soon as I read this. I have read Luke before, but this verse has never really stuck out to me. I wanted to get some input on what it means.
If we listen to the teachings of Jesus Christ, we will be given more understanding. More understanding into God's mystery (if you look back at at Luke 8:10 it says "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God". Secrets literally means mystery - that's where I'm pulling this from). That part makes sense to me.
The next part is where I admit I'm confused. "But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them." Now when I read this the only logical conclusion is that they're not being let in on the mystery. They don't get to know about the Kingdom of God and its mysteries. When I think of someone who "thinks they understand" I think of a lukewarm Christian who thinks that knowing about Jesus and going to Church is it. But when they pass on, they will realize that there was indeed more to be done.
I don't think my interpretation of this passage is too far off, but I wanted some input. The way I described the passage above just doesn't feel right. I don't know why, necessarily...it just doesn't sit well with me.
So - am I right? Am I off? Can you add some crazy awesome knowledge?
Honestly I think what's being said here is that those Jews who were listening to Jesus, but not necessarily hearing him, would get left behind, that is to say everything they knew about God was going to change because of Christ. So if they didn't listen, if they refused to comprehend his message then all the theology etc. that they thought they understood so well would be "taken away" as Christ changed the entire game.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right to apply the passage to the modern Church as you have though. It seems like many grow up in a particular Church, with a particular set of doctrines, and they become convinced that simply attending and adhering to those doctrines is what it's all about. That kind of attitude, it seems to me, can often result in people missing the point entirely.
P.S. The default Blogger comment system is annoying as heck, you should change it lol.
I think the bible is coming alive to me lately as a word that means something different to everyone based on where they are in their walk. So to the Creaster Christian, it makes sense to mean what you say.
ReplyDeleteBut what I personally get out of it is a call to learn and study. It says to pay attention to 'how' you hear. To me that personally speaks to the fact that it's not enough anymore for me to just skim the bible and that's it. I shouldn't 'hear' it like that anymore. I need to be listening in a way the bring understanding, and then Christ (or the Holy Spirit) will reveal the wisdom of the word.
It's no longer enough for Christians who actually attempt to pattern their lives after Christ to just skim by. I guess really what I see is Jesus saying, "once your here, you need to stop backsliding because the more you backslide, the more you're going to get it wrong. The more you claim to know Me and follow Me but in reality are just surface leveling, the more you'll get into trouble by believing something on your own understanding instead of mine."
Just my two cents...
Thanks for the input guys. Matt - interesting that you perceive how I interpreted it as being from a "Creaster" mentality. Makes me think a bit about how I read...
ReplyDeleteBut I think Bible reading is definitely a person endeavor. I like that - pay attention to "how" you hear.
John - I like the historical context you put behind it. I often forget to look into the context as to why it was written. It is important to read with the understanding of the past and present (and heck, even the future).
I apologize, I wasn't trying to say you're a creaster, I was saying I agree with your lukewarm Christian assessment. I associated lukewarm Christian with a creaster Christian.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry if I came off as saying that's how I view you or your interpretation.