Learn the Truth pt. 1

On two separate occasions when I was in 6th and 11th grade, teachers taught wrong information in class. I remember it to this day, because I was shocked.  One morning sitting in the back of a makeshift classroom in metal shop, my 6th grade science teacher was teaching about the stars.  Being a voracious reader, I had already read most of my textbook. So, when she asked us to copy down the wrong information in our notes, I raised my hand and explained that the book disagreed with her and referenced the page number where the correct information could be found.  Later in 11th grade government class, my teacher told us that Michigan only had 16 electoral votes. But earlier that week, I read that our state had 18 electoral votes, so I raised my hand and explained that a state's electoral votes can change with each census.  My teacher sarcastically asked me if I wanted to teach the lesson the next day.  I said, "yes," and came in prepared the following day.  He let me teach. Thus began my career of being better with information and data than with people.

Fast forward a few years, and through an interesting set of circumstances, I found myself behind the scenes of a very large international ministry.  I even counted money for them on a few occasions.  During those years, I personally met some  big name "preachers." All of them were kind, charming, considerate, and extremely charismatic.  They seemed very genuine in their concern for people.  And because of their personalities and education, I assumed they knew more than I did about God.  So I sat and learned.

People like Joel Olsteen, Kenneth Copeland, TD Jakes, and many others spoke at ministry events.   They taught that God desires for His children to have money and good health - all we had to do is support their ministry and sow a seed (give some money to them). Then, God could make us happy, healthy, and well.  The promise was and still is enticing!  Who doesn't want money, good health, and happiness?  I know I do!  And if God gave me a secret formula for all of these things, I'd be the first in line.  So, after I'd given some money ("in obedience to God" or so I thought), I decided to do what I had always done and find the secret code for myself in the Bible.

I looked up all the verses quoted during the gatherings.  I read materials to learn how the "prosperity gospel" scriptures might apply to my life.  But instead, I found verses like James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  What?  James, the brother of Jesus Christ, is telling me to be joyful about suffering?  I thought we were supposed to avoid suffering.  I don't feel joy when I suffer!  I feel sadness, anger, and frustration.  I want to feel happy.  I want money so that life will be easier!  I want good health.  Sickness does not make me joyful.  What I found in the Bible did not match what I heard on the stage.  This is the kind of thing that makes me want to raise my hand and point out that what the teacher is teaching does not match the textbook.

God's word never fails to teach.  Through James, God tells us that we will have trials of many kinds.  (Regardless of what ministry we give money to.)  So, why would a loving God let us suffer, or worse, plan our suffering?  Doesn't that make God, cruel?  No, just the opposite. Because God is loving, He explains what He is doing.  God uses suffering to draw us closer to Him.  We learn to endure.  We learn to lean on God.  We learn that people will fail us, but God never will.  Maturity is born out of suffering through trials both big and small.  Suffering does not come from a cruel God, but from a loving God who desires to mold us to be more like Jesus.

Over the past 30 years, I've learned that confronting your teacher in the classroom is probably not the best way to handle things.  On the other hand, it is always good to go back to the book.  We can trust that God's Word never fails.  It is always true.  It is always right.  It never changes.  God does not ask us to blindly believe all we are taught.  Instead we are to test everything against God's Word.  We are to hold on to what is true and reject everything that is evil.  (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)