One’s effectiveness in understanding the scriptures is not just rooted in sound doctrine, but rather it is rooted in just how much the Lord has chosen to show you about himself!
I had learning disabilities (dyslexia) since childhood, I was tested and tested again in the 1960’s to pinpoint how I could best learn to read and write and function in memorization of academia. My hyper activity didn’t help much in applying myself to my studies neither did being slapped in the head and parental frustrations that only helped to tear down my self esteem, which I did not overcome till in my 30’s in still feeling marginalized and substandard till the Lord saw fit to give me a supportive wife, the love of my life!
However, the Lord is not a respecter of men, but rather looks upon the heart to see who earnestly seeks to know him and love him. It is humility and not pride which enables the Lord to show his son’s and daughters his great love for them, and a greater insight into who He is!
I was also very fortunate to have a mother who came to know Jesus Christ and offered me encouragement and scriptural direction as a teenager. This served me well in my early years in avoiding the pitfalls of false teachings and even cults. I went into the Coast Guard partially to get away from home in which I often felt the scapegoat in a well-educated but sometimes dysfunctional family setting. My biggest desire was in being a man in my own right, with a personal walk and understanding with the Lord. Yet more then not, I found my faith challenged and often scuttled by those who thought more highly of themselves than they should. I’m speaking about the Religious Community, often well-trained men who were proud of their accomplishments while in College or in business.
The “Church” is not immune to such men, in fact it oftentimes tends to breed self-righteous and pride by many who join its ranks. A social status creeps in educationally, financially, and spiritually as to how “fit” one is to be serving the Lord. I could go down a long , long, list on how the Lord has shown me himself working within my life, but it would take too long to write about all the supernatural things which I have learned in life.
Little things like a newspaper page blowing between my feet, showing me a neighbor who had passed away, to larger things like a plaque on a statue of a Civil War soldier which bore my name: as I had been praying about its meaning. The really supernatural part of this is that after decades of searching for the statue that the Lord used to speak to me, under “Roland (Park) Dell”, (which is what I saw engraved on the placard) yet it actually reads Whyman Park Dell in Baltimore Maryland; both near where I studied under a brilliant Pastor having 23 years in seminary , three doctorates, and many spiritual giftings such as healing;“but only” when the Lord moved him to do so, as well as being one of two top exorcists in the city.
I once surpassed the training for Deacons and Elders because of what I learned under the late Dr. Gross, but it seems I wasn’t their “cup of tea” so to speak, or just maybe they felt uncomfortable having Christ-in-me around, as the Holy Spirit really shined on me that day, even apart from a Harvard educated Elder who could find no fault in what I had learned. But again, I experienced rejection from a place I had thought I would gain acceptance. I see many people who argue doctrinal points while quoting the scripture, and theological positions as to why a statement is out of contexts or even wrong. But what I rarely see is someone who can give insight as to why the Lord did what he did, especially when involving Jesus or the Holy Spirit. The lack of understanding is usually because a limited understanding in who God is; shall I say (as a personality), for lack of a better description. This is often found to be the case as the one teaching may be Biblically illiterate, or worse yet, does not have a mature relationship with the Lord!
It is the same type of situation as one speaking about your Father with authority and understanding, but do not know him, or oftentimes have never even met him! I would much rather listen to a person who knows my father, than one who knows all about my father : are you getting my point? But the world is a proud and sinful place, and really has little use for us dime a dozen simple followers of Christ.
That’s why I believe the scripture teaches that if a man loves the world, the love of the father is not in him; no matter how well trained or religious. The other twist to this equation is one who judges their brother in having “not loved the Lord enough”; or should I say, that they deem him in loving the world more!? That is the inherent Religious Pride aspect often found within many a church system, even if they only ever use the term Ekklesia when describing themselves.
Yeah, to understand your Bible is not just about the texts on a page, but the relationship one has with their heavenly Father.
By Brother,
Roland Dell
Lightship Ministries 