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TWO MILES OF DITCH
Written by Peter Youngren on October 24, 2006Lately I’ve been ‘hanging out’ in 1st and 2nd Corinthians; what a marvelous book! Almost every major doctrine is covered in there and Paul does it in an extremely clear and relevant way. Of course we all know 1 Corinthians 13 which is probably the finest piece of literature ever written on love! But the rest of the book has real gravitas (you can go look that word up later and use it in a conversation tomorrow with your boss’..haha) as well.
Let’s take a small snippet from the first chapter; that’s probably all we can handle for today.
‘For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom’ 1 CORINTHIANS 1:22
There it is. Doesn’t that sum up some of what mainstream evangelical ‘Christianity’ has turned into today? Remember that for every mile of road ‘there’s two miles of ditch. The same ‘ditches’ that the Corinthians were falling into 2000 years ago are the same ditches that many find themselves in today. The Jewish mentality was to always seek a sign. Jesus did many signs and wonders and they confirmed that He was who He said He was. However, Jesus miracles are not the only proofs we have of His divinity, authority, power and love. There was much more ‘His teachings, His life, His character (I could go on for the entire day).
Now the Bible is clear that many will come and do false signs. Signs are not to be the ‘thing’ that we seek after. Jewish mentality (back then) was to request/seek after a sign and I must confess that that seems to be the same mentality in many today. They drive great distances, leave their local churches, fly, walk, call and follow a ‘persona’ all based on their performance of a sign. A personal prophecy, miracle, word of knowledge or healing has never and will never be something to seek after. We seek after Jesus. And Jesus alone! Then signs will follow.
Now Greeks on the other hand, loaded with the teachings of philosophical thinkers like Socrates and Plato, seek after wisdom. They desire to dissect the Bible in a rational way. They want to hear secret wisdom/knowledge that no one else has and that (in the end) makes them sound smart. Paul refuses this time and time again when he says ‘we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness’ It has always amazed me how an ivy league school professor of religion can study the Bible their whole life and yet not become a believer. But then it occurred to me ‘they’re denying its power by treating it as common book. Friend, every time you open up the Bible you can have great expectations that it will be alive and relevant and that it will speak to your life. It’s not like any other book. It is not meant to be studied. It is meant to be lived!
And so you have the two groups, as alive and well today as they were back then. Those who only seek after signs and those who only seek after ‘wisdom’ and neither one saves. We preach Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Think about it!
Comments
Right on! good preaching too!
Bill Gay
Inspired message, succint and powerful.
GEORGE THOMAS
Yes,We cannot fully depend upon ‘signs’ amd ‘wisdom’ to know the truth.The word of God surpasses all worldly signs and human wisdom.As you rightly commented its to be lived upon and not dissected by our limited knowledge.
Al Huggett
That’s right Pastor Peter Carl, signs and wonders follow, they don’t lead.
Philip Rose Nethagani
Hello Pastor Peter,
How are you doing. Thanks for the article. It is simple and yet very profound and powerful. The words you mentioned are so true that in this day also we have 2 groups , one seeking signs, wonders and miracles and the other wisdom. I work as a Pastor of evangelism and outreach at a community church in mississauga and i continuosly raise up teams , equip them and send them to evangelize and everyday myself and the teams meet so many of those Jews and Greeks in the malls, coffee shops and public places.We share the gospel to thousands of people in the GTA every year but only a few hundred accept the gift of Salvation. It is the spirit of this age that has blinded and enslaved people from knowing the redeeming truth of the Gospel message. I have attended your church a few times in the past years and have heard your powerful Christ centered messages. Please pray for my ministry and that together we can take GTA for Christ crucified. May God richly bless you and your ministry.
Philip
Pastor For evangelism and outreach
Emmanuel Luther Ratiq
Learned brother Peter,
Very well written.I did not know it before that you write so well.May God use your insight on 1st & 2nd Corithians for the edification and glorification of that very Person who is the sum and substance of these epistles as well of the whole Bible and Christian Faith. May God Bless you richly.Yours in Christ Emmanuel
Kim
I agree Pastor Peter Karl, Its very true we seem to like the glitz of the ministry the desert so to speak instead of the meat and potatoes. Jesus said himself these people seek after a sign… I myself was caught up in the hype too. Who doesn’t enjoy a personal word it seems to uplift, and knowing a man of God spoke a prophecy to you seems to put more clout with it. If you focus on Christ first then the prophecy if it does come is put in perspective. We need to focus on the important things like reaching out to people the truth of the Gospel. Christ, Him only shall you serve and He is the life. He who has the Son has life and life abundantly, and not he who has the best toys, signs, wonders ect. wins.
Brandi Michielsen
Wow…what a timely and needed articule for me!!! I worked for Greeks for approximately 15 years, starting at about the age of 15. Many moons later, I continue to visit a few of my old favorite haunts that they own. They are a bunch of hard nuts to crack…lol! Being very grounded in their religion they have laughed at me when I have shared with them my love and personal relationship with Jesus. I also did housecleaning for an elderly Jewish lady and learnt of their silly ideas of who Jesus really was. Got some strange looks when I asked a question in their London, Ontario synagoge a few years back, during an open forum with visitors. So thank you Pastor Carle, for your excellent teaching in your articule of ‘TWO MILES OF DITCH’! I’ve printed and plan on giving a copy to the Priest, when I finally get out to their book store and buy a copy of the history of the Greek Orthodox church. To think my first employer (with all the teasing and brain picking that he does with me) won’t buy me a copy for a Christmas gift. Invites me to their dances, etc., but makes me travel a distance to see his Priest and find what I want to study. I told him that I stopped in for a coffee, not to be taught the rich history of these people in half an hour. His wife was standing to the side saying ‘Sam, stop it!, your confusing the girl! He has been like my god-father since living in Chatham before 1984. Rock on Pastor Carle, cause you are one cool dude in my book! Like father, like son.
Joshi Pooja
~ India
I really like reading your article. I read chapter 1 which is really good. God is everywhere & if you believe in will surely give you protection as well. I read somewhere that people worship god with lots of things. I think they gets good satisfaction after doing like this. Even i try sometime as well it gives peace of mind….. Faith all about
Corporate Diwali Gifts
~ India
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chetan
~ Hyderbad, India
May God richly bless you and your ministry
kosono
thank you dr peter for coming to our country
Brenda
~ Halifax, N.S.
Signs will follow those who believe.
Mark
~ Islamabad, Pakistan
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It’s the old what goes around comes around routine.
Mark
~ Islamabad, Pakistan
This is going to get very interesting!
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Sosina
Right on! good preaching too!