The Elephant In The Auditorium

                  Debates of one sort or another are still everywhere in the church....at conferences....on panel discussions....and yes there are dueling books. They might be on doctrine or the church or any of number of individual topics. They often are helpful....informative....practical.....and wise. What is very encouraging about them is that they retain the civility of times past. That alone is refreshing. I could very easily revert back twenty years or so and base my daily reading and opinions on this very academic and even biblical 'two kingdoms' type of Christian life. In fact I was there throughout the 1990s. It surely is easier on the body and the mind....and really....if done right....doesn't alienate anyone. There's only one problem with this....well two problems....the first is that there is a great big elephant in that room. Consider the setting....a comfortable meeting room or auditorium....the temperature being perfect....the chairs comfortable....confidence in whoever is moderating....and plenty of Gevalia coffee. Everything is perfect.....except for the trunk of the elephant swaying back and forth causing everyone to keep an eye on it and duck when necessary. That elephant is what appears to be a very biblical warning and proclamation coming from the very words of Scripture....Old Testament and New Testament.....that in spite of all our wise defensive mechanisms that we set up....God let us know....increasingly over decades and ever-increasing even recently....that Jesus is already mounted.....so to speak.....with His mighty angels. The second reason that going back in time is not something that I would want....even if the big elephant were not in the room....is that along with removing veils on the nearness of the return of Christ....and very related to it....there has been removal of veils on the overwhelming....and overpowering....glories of God. I've led both lives. The former is good....edifying....and necessary in its time....but the latter is...."for the praise of His glory"...."Blessing and honor and glory and power....Be to him who sits on the throne...And to the lamb....forever and ever!"