So, We're Not Going to Talk About That

Good morning on this most excellent Monday! Can a Monday even be excellent? Garfield doesn't think so, but we won't ask any comic strip cats. This morning, I decided that since I have never married, we're not going to talk marriage, divorce, and such things. As I have no personal experience in getting married, then no talking about it. Yup. Do you suppose such an attitude might bring down the entire radio talk show industry? Those with personal experience are allowed to tell their stories; experts with years of training are allowed to weigh in, and the host is forced to just be quiet. Probably wouldn't work. A lot of people likely listen to the program to hear the talk show host "let 'em have it." Mocking is big in the industry, and entertainment is what many of the listeners seek in a show. Outlawing shooting from the hip by the untrained and inexperienced might just shut down an industry. Come to think of it, how can anyone expect any help with marriage issues from those sects and denominations who don't allow their preachers to marry?

It would seem easy, perhaps even right for me to drop out of the witnessing in certain areas. However, God gave us something that covers many of those areas we need to know but have no experience or training. We may need to listen with a sympathetic ear as a Christian brother suffers a divorce. We might need to answer the questions of the Christian sister whose husband just got up one day and didn't come home ever again. A friend in Christ might come to us for advice as his wedding date approaches. We may need to warm those feet up a bit, or tell him to call it off. What right of wisdom or knowledge can we use in these cases?

The Bible tells us a great many things of which we are completely ignorant in our experiences. One of those is that we have the right and privilege to ask God for wisdom. James tells us that we have not because we ask not. Solomon received his great wisdom from God. We can easily tell from their stumbles and fumbles that the heroes of the faith did not get classes in leading a nation out of Egypt, ruling Israel, or building a church from a small group of believers. We cannot know every area of knowledge well, and the wisdom we need comes only from God. One time the wise thing to do may be to shut up and lead the suffering seeker to a Christian you know with experience in that area. Another time, it may be just you, the Holy Spirit, and the Word; more than enough to handle any problem or question.

Now, get on with life in Christ!
Bucky