Third Expression of Love...the Academic.

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

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The modern misunderstanding in the church is that God doesn’t care about logic, almost like “if you follow God doesn’t plan on it making any sense.” It won’t be natural, it will be supernatural. It won’t be normal, it will be paranormal. We can easily and falsely conclude that God functions mostly in the absurd.

“The Devil is in the details” as they say, right. He doesn’t care about details.

Oh, no? Apparently you haven’t read the book of Leviticus lately. Cause it becomes painfully obvious that God may care more about details than we could ever have imagined. The Jews accept 613 laws or "mitzvot."

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God doesn’t care about NUMBERS either. OH, No? Apparently you weren’t aware that there was a book of the Bible actually called “Numbers” (which contains 36 chapters and 1,288 verses) wherein we find that God is deeply concerned about exacting numbers and precise measurements. The Book of Numbers or Bəmidbar (Hebrew: במדבר, literally "In the wilderness of").

**The would take a census of the people (count people).

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It's easy to to think that...

**God doesn’t care about organization, cause the church isn’t an “organization” isn’t a living “organism”.

**God is sick of religion, especially “organized religion”. Can I let you in on something, the only thing worse than organized religion is “disorganized religion”.

**He isn’t about programs, so we don’t value programmers.

**He isn’t about organization, so we don’t value organizers.

**He isn’t about details, so we don’t need detail-oriented people.

**He is about ministry, not administration. Administration is about bureaucracy, and God hate bureaucracy.

Can I let you in on something?…ministry doesn’t happen without what I call “administry”.

ADMINISTRY – “the skeleton on which the flesh of ministry hangs.”

And yet, what often can happen is the flash of the artist or the activist can get all the credit for the churches success, when in actuality, the flesh of the academics and administrators hold everything together and fuel the flash.

There is flash, but you can’t forget the flesh, the fuel.

And then beyond numbers and coordination and administration (which is one of the Spiritual gifts by the way)…things that pertain to details…there is the deeply important issue of doctrine.

Truth. Theology. Theo – God Logos – Logic. The logic of God.

Romans 10:1-3 - 1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Proverbs 19:2
- It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

Galatians 4:18
- It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

The academic is always reminding us that truth is more important than tricks and treats. And that is all we have on this planet without the truth…tricksters and treaters.

2 Timothy 4

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations…”

(it goes on to say...)

13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

This is why Paul told the young Timothy to watch both sides very closely…your life and your doctrine.

I Tim 4:16 -

16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I’m finding that the best worship, is intelligent worship.

The best art is intelligent art.

The Best activism is informed and infused with the depth of conviction that comes from the bedrock of belief.

The more you know the deep things of God that the academic excavates for the church, the more beautiful and attractive God becomes. It’s filled with an emotional and logical love.

So all you Academics arise...we need you!