Dr. Jay Forrest

Childish Ways of Christians

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways” (1 Cor. 13:11).

Many Christians are very childish in the way they think and reason. They think that God is some big answer guy in the sky, who’s going to solve all their problems for them. God’s not that mean.

Part of growing up is thinking for yourself. Part of it is making reasonable choices. Another part is taking responsibility for your choices. If God did everything for you, you would never learn anything. So God doesn’t do that.

Divine Principles

God gives you principles of how to act, speak and behave yourself. He expects you to do your own thinking, to come to your own conclusions. But he also expects you to accept the consequences of your choices.

Growing Up Spiritually

Growing up is hard to do. And growing up spiritually can be even harder. We want everything to be easy for us. God will not do that. God will take us into the valley of doubt and confusion, so that we can grow.

Just like muscles require resistance, so does the will. For a strong will, we need to have a strong force to push against. That strong force is the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The Bible

We need to approach the Bible differently than we do. We need to see how the people in the Bible related to God. Learn about their relationship. And apply the principles of that relationship to our own relationship with God. That’s why the Bible was given. Not as an answer book, but as a guide to building a relationship with God.

Are Ecumenical Councils Infallible?

Three Views

The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church hold that the Ecumenical Councils are infallible. That means that there were no errors in what the council proclaimed.

The Protestants, on the other hand, only accept the Ecumenical Councils insofar as they declare doctrines that can be found in the Bible. Bible. In other words, Ecumenical Councils, in the Protestants view, cannot dictate new doctrines.

As a progressive Christian, I take a middle path. I take the Ecumenical Councils as authoritative, but not infallible. That is, an Ecumenical Council hold sway until or unless it clearly contradicts other doctrines proclaimed by other sources of evidence.

Four Sources

To recap what I’ve said before, I take four sources of authority for determining Doctrine. They are scripture, tradition, reason, and personal experience. I hold all four of equal authority. The truth is found in their Harmony. When all all four sources agree, we have the truth.

Ecumenical Council Can Be Corrected

Ecumenical councils are the highest authority within this source. What I’m calling Tradition is also known as sacred tradition in the Roman Catholic Church, but I prefer to call it Ecumenical Tradition.

Now an Ecumenical Council can be corrected, if there is strong evidence that the Ecumenical Council is wrong from other sources of authority. An Ecumenical Council should not, however, be contradicted too readily. To do so requires an ecumenical agreement of a multitude of qualified leaders and scholars.

Individual theologians have the right to offer evidence that a Ecumenical Council is wrong, and even offer a corrected version. But only the ecumenical consent of the church can make the change authoritative.

A Habit is Unnecessary for Hermits

A religious habit, as I am using it here, refers to a distinctive set of clothing worn by members of a religious order. Certain monastic orders have standardized their color and style.

Hermit Habit

Throughout history, many hermits also wore habits, but this was never required or standardized. Personally, I would advise against wearing a habit for modern hermits. At least those not associated with an official organization.

Rather I think we should follow the advice of a desert father known as Abba Muthues. He said:

“Wherever you dwell conduct yourself in a simple manner like every one else, and what you see those who fear God do, that is, those whom you have confidence in, that do also, and you will be at ease. For to be as all other men are is true humility, and the men who see that you are like all other men will regard you as they regard every one else, and you will not be troubled.”

Plain and Simple

I am not your bishop, superior or abbot. This is just my advice, you can take it or leave it. But I think you might see some wisdom in what I suggest.

Dress plainly, without designer clothes or clothing with brands on it. Plain and simple should be the rule. No flashy clothes, bright colors, or anything to attract attention. Blend it, don’t stand out.

This is all in harmony with the idea of hiddenness. You are fleeing the world, therefore flee their fashions and fads. Think practical, high quality, long lasting, and multipurpose. Not just in clothing, but in all things. Think minimalism and simplicity and practicality.

Hidden Habit

I do wear a hidden habit, that most people never see. It is the symbol of my dedication to the hermit life. It is a simple rope necklace with a small wooden cross on it. It has been blessed with holy water and prayer.

It is helpful to carry with you a symbol of your vocation. What you choose should match your calling. Some might want to wear a necklace like the metal of St. Benedict or another saint. Others might wear a ring, have a bracelet, or carry something in their pocket. It’s up to you.

Abstain from All Appearance of Evil

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22 KJV).

Based upon this verse, it would appear that we’re supposed to abstain, not just from evil, but also from even the appearance of evil. But that’s not what Paul meant. This is a mistranslation in the Kingdom James Version.

Every Form not Appearance

Almost all other translations translate this as the New Revised Standard Version Updated Version does, “abstain from every form of evil.”

For example, it is translated exactly the same in the American Standard Version, the New King James Version, the Berean Study Bible, the English Revised Version, the World English Bible, the New American Standard Bible, the Legacy Standard Bible, the Amplified Bible, the New Heart English Bible, and the Worrell New Testament.

Bible Commentaries

As Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers explains:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” –This translation cannot stand. Possibly it might be rendered “every form of evil,” but the most natural version would be, “Hold yourselves aloof from every evil kind”–i.e., evil kind of whatever you may be testing.”

Whereas the pulpit commentary explains:

“The word translated “appearance” has been differently rendered; it denotes form, figure, species, kind; so that the clause is to be rendered, “Abstain from all form of evil” (R.V.), or, “of the evil,” the word being an abstract substantive.”

Jesus on Social Justice

Social justice, according to Wikipedia, “is justice in relation to the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society where individuals’ rights are recognized and protected.”

Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:41-46:

“Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’) Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

Social justice is a moral obligation for all Christians. This is justice, not only for those that are Christians, but for all people. This is part of loving our neighbor as ourselves. It’s about being God-like, for “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Not just Christians!