FOOLISH PEOPLE AND SLOW TO BELIEVE
By Jim Silva
But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (Jas. 2:18-20)
I would venture to say that if we took a poll of Americans and asked the question: "Do you believe in God?"that an overwhelming majority would say that they do. However,if we asked the same people: "Do you attend church services every Sunday?" that there would be a substantial decrease in the numbers. If we then asked: "Do you believe everything that the Bible teaches?" there would be a further reduction in these numbers. And finally, if we asked the question: "Do you believe that Baptism is necessary for your Salvation?" There would be even further decrease in the numbers.
Well, what is the point to all this. Simply this, that people who profess to believe in God have preconceived ideas of what it means to believe in God.
Now, lest we conclude that this thinking is unique to our age and times, consider if you will, how the Disciples perceived their belief in Christ. Long before Jesus made His last trip to Jerusalem, He told His disciples that He would be killed and that He would be resurrected. The first such revelation came in Caesarea Philippi following Peter's confession "From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day." (Mt. 16:21)) In fact, again and again He reminded them of what was going to happen " while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." (Matt. 17:22-23) Despite all the forewarning, the disciples were totally unprepared for what happened. When their Master was crucified, they were devastated. All their hopes were crushed. The Apostle, John tells us in Jn. 20:9 "for as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead". When Jesus appeared to the two disciples walking to Emmaus, they expressed their disillusionment to their unidentified companion. Jesus gently chided them for their ignorance. "O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken" (Lk.24:25) We are then told: "He then expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things, concerning Himself' (Lk. 24:27) .
Before we criticize Jesus’ Disciples, perhaps we should ask why they had so much trouble understanding His simple declarations. It wasn't because Jesus spoke in figurative language neither was it due to any mental dullness on their own part. Rather. It was due to the awesome power of preconceived opinions. Their minds were trained to look for a Messiah who would restore the political fortunes of the Jewish people. In the same Chapter of Luke we are told they said to their unidentified companion "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened." (Lk.24:21) They could think only in terms of military conquest, political power, and ethnic superiority. A "messiah" whose career ended in disgrace and shame on a Roman cross didn’t fit that picture. So they refused to accept His predictions.
Preconceived ideas will always make people "foolish and slow to believe". That includes us! The only preventative is an honest heart that' is willing to study all sides without prejudice or fear of the consequences
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom;but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Cor 1:21-25)
There are many stumbling blocks that people place in their paths because of preconceived ideas. Perhaps one of the worse one is their impediment against Baptism. In spite of Scriptural teachings to the contrary many still do not believe that Baptism is necessary for their Salvation. For some reasons the idea of immersion is water appears foreign to them and they will use every excuse to avoid Baptism. Yet, that this is a God mandated condition for their entrance into Eternal life escape their mind.
"He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.(Mark 16:16)