Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday January 31, 2006

Back when the world was much younger my daughter, Dawn, then in the second grade came home from camp, church camp if you will with the following wisdom garnered from the infinite reservoir of knowledge from another preacher's little girl:

"You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends but you should not pick your friend's nose."

At that time in her life she was certain she had just uttered the highest theological truth known to the human race. When you think about it, I doubt if there is any theology in the statement, but the United States Department of Health endorses the concept. I think.

It should be obvious that today's theme is about choice, about picking and choosing.

As a regular reader of my columns, I use the term regular rather than normal, you have noticed that I quote from a vast array of authors, statesmen, preachers and other troubled souls. In so doing I admit to picking and choosing gems from these men and women. All writers do this. Spurgeon is reputed to have said, "He who doth not quote is seldom quoted." Jesus quoted oft from the Old Testament. I received a note of scathing criticism from a man who then put the nail in my coffin with a quote from John Henry Newman. The man was a supercilious fellow Baptist. He assumed that he had the right to give me permission to quote only from those whom are in total agreement with our position. Of course I feel certain he had an apoplectic fit when I replied to his tirade using Mr. Newman's title and name; Cardinal John Henry Newman, a man not known to be overly fond of Protestants let alone Baptists! In spite of his genius C.S. Lewis was one the most theologically confused religious writers in hundreds of years. Yet, I quote from him in areas where his statement is on point in regards to the subject at hand.

I received a phone call from a strange man really castigating me for quoting the Oxford Don. In the course of the conversation he quoted C.H. Spurgeon seven times. I then asked a few pertinent questions and he assured me that he did not believe such heresy. I then read a paragraph from Spurgeon’s "Lectures To My Students." The silence on the other end of the phone was thunderous. Most men who quote Mr. Spurgeon would not permit him to teach in their church or college.

Most people recognize the wisdom of quoting people with whom we do not totally agree, on subjects on which there is agreement. The one area of departure from this license must be defended at all cost. We must not pick and choose in matters relating to the Word of God, the Bible. Tragically many in our time treat the Bible, the Word, as though it were a mere book by Lewis or Spurgeon and pick this verse and throw away the preceding or following one. Jesus Christ is the expert in matters religious and life issues. To accept only the statements you like is tantamount to spiritual suicide.

Do NOT pick your friends nose and above all do NOT pick and choose in the Word.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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