A wise man once said, “Question your questions.” The meaning is that “When you ask a question, be sure to check the assumptions behind your question.” Good scientists and responsible philosophers check their assumptions as a natural part of their work. When they tackle a new question or problem they ask, “What am I assuming to be true about this situation before I begin my experiment?” Our assumptions play a big role in the questions we ask and the answers we hear. For example, in all the years leading up to the space program, one of the assumptions in scientific experimentation was gravity. Gravity was an assumption in any science experiment. But when scientists had the opportunity to do their experiments in space they had to leave behind an old assumption, that of gravity. What if gravity wasn’t a factor? How will that change this experiment?
People at times raise this question: Are the Gospels of use to mature Christians? This question comes with an array of assumptions. First, it assumes that possibly there is a distinction among the books of the Bible that some are specifically “for beginners” while others are “for the mature.” It also assumes that at some point we “graduate” from one kind of Scripture to the other, and having graduated we no longer need “beginner stuff.” It also assumes that the mature, whoever they are, need a different kind of Scripture (and possibly a different kind of grace), than the beginner.
But what does Scripture say about these assumptions? In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we hear that all Scripture is breathed out by God and useful. We can appropriately emphasize the word “all” here. All Scripture is useful for our growth no matter what genre—narrative, poetry, circular letter, prophecy, history—God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in this sacred Word. Another place that gives us clarity in this is 2 Peter 3:14-18. Peter speaks of Paul’s letters saying that some things in them are hard to understand. What a comforting thought! Peter, the apostle, thinks there are some things hard to understand in Paul’s letters—there’s hope for me. But then Peter adds this blessing in v. 18: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." How better can we grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ than by pouring over His life and His words in the Gospels? Peter implies here that we will never graduate from the Gospels. It would be naïve to think that we could.
So my suggestion to you is this. Pick one Gospel account and own it. What I mean is that you should choose one Gospel that you learn to the point that you could walk through the basic outline of every chunk (or pericope) from memory. Memorize verses from it. Listen to a series of sermons on it. Read the notes from a good study Bible about it. Keep a list of questions you have about it. Journal about it. Pray that the Holy Spirit would use it in your life. Then let me know if you feel you ever graduate from it. One of my mentors is a professor who has spent 30 years working on the Gospel of Mark. Even though he has written two books about it, he has never felt that he has graduated from it. But what about the other three Gospels? Find others who own those accounts and then get together and share your notes, thoughts, prayers, and questions. Then watch the Holy Spirit work. I cannot describe for you exactly what will happen, but I think I can say positively that you will experience the essence of what we call Discipleship through Relationship.
I’d love to hear which Gospel you own and why. If you’ve been in Foundations recently, you’ve probably figured out that mine is Mark. As always, I’m happy to talk about the Gospels and any other topic with you as we grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Him,
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