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“Polling by the evangelically oriented Barna research group shows that at least half of regular church-goers ages 16 to 29 think their church is too judgmental, too political and too negative about homosexuality. Princeton sociologist Robert Wuthnow describes today’s young adults as spiritual ‘tinkers.’” (David Van Biema/Grandville. “The Hipper-Than-Thou Pastor.” Time 17 Dec. 2007: 60.)
In future articles we might discuss other aspects of the above quote but for now, as the title suggests, let’s think about “spiritual tinkers.” Is this a new “movement” among a current generation? If we read the Scripture, we will find many people who “tinkered” with God’s word.
Lamech Then Lamech took for himself two wives… Gen. 4:19
Jesus said that God’s intent for marriage was that a man shall be joined to his wife and that those two would be one flesh (Mt. 19:6). Lamech tinkered with that and set a precedent for a trend that has haunted families down through the ages.
Most churches today have tinkered with Jesus words “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.” (Lk. 16:18; cf. Mt. 19:9). This topic, being omitted or altered by preachers and parents leaves many people ignorant of this during youth. Thus they grow up, marry, divorce, and marry again unaware that Jesus identified the latter marriage as adultery.
Moses Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod. . . Speak to the rock . . . and it will yield its water. . . Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod” Num. 20:8, 11
Of course, this sin of Moses is what prevented him from entering Canaan, showing that God expects all men, even spiritual leaders, to take His word seriously. At one time, it was proper for Moses to strike the rock in order to bring water (Ex. 17:6) but when new instructions were given (“speak to the rock”), it was improper for Moses to return to old instructions.
The survival of Israel in the Old Testament depended in part on them following all which God commanded, which included directions for occasions when they disobeyed (Deut. 11:22-23). This law included special garments for the spiritual leaders, burning incense, keeping the Sabbath, playing instruments, tithing, many dietary restrictions, etc. Today, will God be pleased if we return to old instructions (like Moses did)? No, for these things “are a shadow . . . but the substance is Christ” (Col. 2:17). Paul often reminded his readers not to be guided by Moses’ law in service to God. “… the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal. 3:24-25). Let us look to the authority of Christ today, so that we do not become “spiritual tinkers.”
Faithfulness to God is found by following the words of Christ. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28:18). Who said that? A “pope”? Moses? Those words only fit Jesus Christ. Jesus offered no hope to those who departed from His words so let us be sure not to “tinker” with the words He spoke on earth and through the apostles (Jn. 12:48; 1 Cor. 14:37). |
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:9
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