Medlin' Around...

I don’t know about you but I have a lot of trouble throwing books away. I don’t mean giving them away. I mean “tossing” them. No matter how old they happen to be and even if they are not “classics”, I just cannot bring myself to send them to file 13. I have always had a passion for books. Sarah says that if I would just read all I have before I buy more that I would never HAVE to buy more because in whatever years are left in my natural life, I would never read all I have now! I know that is the truth, but I just don’t seem to be able to shut down the passion for keeping up-to-date with the latest in fiction and spiritual nurture.

I guess if the truth is known that I don’t want to throw books away because I feel that if the thing was worth writing and publishing in the first place, there is still something beneficial in the book for me.

I feel that way about the “books” in the Bible as well. I love the Gospels and never tire of reading the movements and teaching of Jesus. I love the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Samuel, Kings, Hosea, Psalms, Proverbs, Jeremiah and Isaiah. I have great appreciation for Judges and Micah.

But I am not wild about Paul. Oh, he’s theologically profound, but for a fellow who was forgiven for so much he certainly does not seem to forgive his own followers too freely. I am speaking specifically about John Mark, who went with Paul on one of his early missionary journeys. John Mark became overwhelmed with everything taking place around him. He wasn’t ready for the challenge. So he quit, left Paul and went back home. Years later when Paul was about to leave on another missionary journey, John Mark volunteered his services again. But Paul would have nothing of it. He never forgot John Mark’s failure. He never forgave him for quitting. He absolutely refused to take John Mark with him. So it was Barnabas who parted company with Paul so that he, himself, could affirm the value of John Mark. And Barnabas’ trust was confirmed by the work of John Mark. And this failure, John Mark, was the one who later penned our oldest gospel – The Gospel of Mark.

The key to understanding the Bible lies in our willingness to read the story of divine grace given to all the mother and fathers in faith before us, and to understand that the same grace is what we MUST extend to all among us. I cannot throw this book away simply because I’m not crazy about Paul or think his writings are too narrow, vague or condescending. I have to take the other teachings of the other writers and put them into practice. Then the “old, old” story will become NEW again!

God be close to you,

Bill