An
Inkling
God
so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in
him may not perish but have eternal life.
If you were to pick a single verse to summarize
the good news, which would it be? Many choose
the verse above, John 3:16. It is about
as basic as our faith gets, and yet it expresses some of the gospel’s central
mysteries.
Often we think of “the basics” as something we endure
so that we can move on to what really matters.
We begin with basic grammar so that we can move on to competent writing,
and with basic math so that we can move on to calculus. But “the basics” are not lost; they are just
assumed. You can’t work a derivative
equation without the assumptions of basic math.
So too with our faith. We begin with the basic understanding that God so loved… Only we do not really move beyond that. We may study complex theological issues about
the nature of God, or ethical questions about war and abortion. And sometimes we lose track of “the basics”
in the complexity of such matters. But
if faith remains Christian, then we can never leave behind those basic gospel
truths.
In fact, one reason I’m persuaded of the gospel’s truth
is that its deepest mysteries are found in its simplest truths. It is not as if we ever move beyond John 3:16. And we need not, for there is more than
enough depth there for a lifetime of pondering, and more than enough good news
there to make life worth living. Thanks
be to God!
Thinking simple thoughts,
Keith
