Head Knowledge II

A little more on head knowledge from yesterday’s post. One of the results of a quest for head knowledge is a list of the things that we don’t do. You know the things we don’t participate in, (mixed bathing - that terminology always baffled me - dancing, playing pool). The, "we don’t drink and we don’t chew, and we don’t run with those who do" kind of attitude. Our emphasis on "Speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible was silent" while honorable, led to the development of a number of rules and regulations that became law and gospel among our tribe. Our champions took up the list and preached its contents long and loud. What followed was sort of an unwritten code of conduct of the things that we would not do. Things on the list ran from a T-totaler attitude toward alcohol to the prohibitions of instrumental music, etc. It even covered things like ladies not wearing pants, shorts were a no, no. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. The result was that we became known for all those things we didn’t do. While I am not implying that that is all bad, it is for sure insufficient when it comes to the purpose and intent of God’s desire for His people. God’s purpose for our development I think is best seen in Rom. 8:28,29 "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." NLT God’s desire was to have a people who were just like His Son. People who not only would not do certain things, but also people who would do the things that Jesus did. It is interesting to note that Jesus got in trouble with the religious people of His day when He did things that were on the religious people’s no, no list. He was, in their opinion, hanging out with the wrong crowd, and teaching doctrines that were in conflict with the accepted teaching of the day. While the religious people were upset, the masses were drawn to him by the thousands. They were drawn not for what He did not do, they were touched by what He did. His kindness, compassion, and mercy touch many hearts. His look, His touch, the genuine concern moved the hearts of men, women and children. Jesus was known to these by what he did, not what He did not do. A disciple’s goal in Jesus’ day was to become just like his Rabbi. It was a goal of more than just emulation, it was the goal of duplication. The disciple was to be like his Master in head and heart. It was more than knowing what the Master knew (head knowledge), it was becoming what the Master was (heart knowledge). How do we know which we are following? When we feel what He felt when we see the lost, the poor and the hurting. When we then in love and faith respond as He would respond, then we will know. Then we will know.