Time to go back to boot camp?

Dusty said something yesterday that hit home with me. In his sermon to the seniors, he quoted Will Rogers and said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." That's a good enough quote as it is without any explanation or example, but it reminded me of something I read over the weekend.

In this article by the AP, you can read about a group of court judges from throughout the Southeastern United States who attended a crash course in modern science and scientific developments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The conference was titled "The Southeast Regional Science and Technology Boot Camp," and covered such current scientific issues such as gene therapy, genetic discrimination, genetically modified foods, human cloning, and stem cell research.

You see, the judges attending this three-day session have noticed that issues and controversies are appearing in their courtrooms that deal with emerging technology and sciences that they are all too unfamiliar with. This makes it difficult for these judges to make proper, fair and impartial decisions when they are not familiar with all sides of an issue and when the two disputing sides fail to adequately explain them.

I was especially drawn to a quote by one judge, the Honorable Jose Rodriguez, a circuit court judge in Florida. When talking about the importance of developing a knowledge and understanding of different subjects, he said:

"...the greater our ability to understand different disciplines the better it makes us."

So that got me thinking, does that apply to me as well in my walk with Christ? And I think the answer is a resounding YES!

Am I continuing to learn, to grow, to question, and to doubt? Am I stuck, perhaps on the right track, but not moving anywhere, not searching for truth, for stability, and for answers to my questions?

I find it extremely dangerous if we as young adults attempt to sit in our comfortable church pews and classroom seats and claim that we know what we need to be truly righteous. Jesus speaks about this and about knowing truth when we proclaim to live by His name:

"But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." - John 3:21

What this says to me is that if we are actively and constantly searching for the truth and for knowledge in different arenas, people will know that our lives are a reflection of what we have searched for and what we believe, and not just what we were taught and accepted.

Like these judges, are we searching for truth in situations and in topics where we lack the knowledge necessary to understand the issues in 2007? Is it really okay for us as believers to hold on to every aspect of a faith that was established at an early age and expect it to last us through changing cultures, changing technologies, and changing economic landscapes?

I think it's okay to challenge yourself on something you think you believe, but really know nothing about. It's okay to change your convictions after knowing the facts instead of basing your beliefs on conjecture. Right now I am reading a book that discusses current scientific findings in the macro-evolution vs. intelligent design debate, because I could not contribute much to a conversation that came up at work on the topic. Sure, I learned when I was two that God created the world in six days, but does that mean I can't learn what the science tells us today?

This summer, whether in class or at Life Groups, there may be a couple of things that make you a little uncomfortable, some things that challenge you, and some things that make you think. I hope they do, because they are designed that way. But then again, God is designed that way too. His desire is for us to seek Him, to study Him, and to find Him.

So my challenge to you is this: Find one topic or one subject you are unfamiliar with, but are interested in. Read everything you can about it. Whether it is stem cell research, evolution, healthcare reform, genocide in Darfur, corporal punishment....whatever. Weigh all of the facts and seek for truth.

If these 60 men who have been charged to create and maintain the laws of our country can use a refresher course here and there, I am sure we could, too.

-Ryan

May 5 update

Just a reminder today of some of the things for this weekend and also things upcoming:

This Sunday, Senior Sunday, we will not have an official Life Group planned since a number of you will be at the church that evening. We will begin our Summer Life Group on May 13 at about 6:00.

There will also not be any basketball this Sunday as the gym will be taken over by the Youth Group for the day.

I will have with me Sunday morning the sign-up list that started going around so people who were not able to sign up to host or bring food the first go-around can do so now. We have plenty of houses these days so we should be able to fill up the list with very few people having to repeat. I will also remind everyone what the plans are Sunday morning for the night of the 13th so you have plenty of time to prepare.

Let me know if you have any questions, and have a great weekend!