How do Wisdom and Selling go together?

Welcome to Wisdom Selling. So if you are like me, you are always wanting to learn more. Well here is the deal about selling. It is the desire to exchange something you have, for something of more value to you. You may have an idea, a product, a service which people will want to pay for, allowing you to make a profit. You have to seek out people who might want it, and convince them it is worth the price you are charging. Or like me, you may just have a little wisdom, and are looking for someone who values it enough to want to use it. My value received in return is the joy of your feedback. So, I am selling wisdom. The cost to you, your interest. I want to help others as well. Visit the links page and shop for some good deals. Any profits on money you spend there will be used by Wisdom Selling to support non-profit businesses in developing their strategies.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Comparing the Bible to the SC DMV training guide for Kennedy

So my daughter is 9 days away from her permit test, and I am 9 days away from a major life change.  She is the more cerebral of the children who now drive so I have some hope she will bring some sanity to the teaching process.

As I was thinking about the DVM rulebook she has to learn, I was struck by the similarities to the Bible,  for those of us who believe it to be the inspired word of God. Let's take a look at a few of these, may we?

For example, the drivers book reflects a set of laws and regulations designed to make driving safe for the driver, passengers and those outside the car, as in other cars or pedestrians.  Those rules have been established over a long period of time, and seem to be pretty much set in stone.  There are also teachings that help a driver understand how some signs are regulatory, some are cautions, and some are short term conditions in need of care.  It shows how there is room for compromise, such as when the dotted yellow line is on the driver's side, but they must pass with care and return to their lane prior to the end of the dotted line.

We all would agree that to allow for personal interpretation and selective compliance to these laws would be catastrophic.  If some people all of a sudden decided to drive on the left side of the road, or if they decided the yellow line was not appropriate, or that the red lights now meant go, while others were rules followers, it would result in chaos.  However, as we learn these rules, each of us makes internal decisions about which we will follow, and when we might choose to ignore or violate a law for our own benefit.  For example, we seem to think that the speed limit matters only when there are policemen present.  At night, on straight highways, or when we are in a hurry, we decide to speed along over the limit, chancing that we won't get caught.  In fact, the culture now has the thoughts that 10% or so over the limit is a norm, and unlikely to have consequences.  Can you imagine if the police started ticketing at 1 mile over?  We wouldn't have enough room in the courts.

Even when caught, we find ways to negotiate the punishment.  We feel like we have a right to do as we choose, and that if is against the rules, so be it.  We don't always consider the intellegence behind a 35 mile per hour speed limit for the safety of children, or the reason for a yellow light to give us time to plan so we don't hit the car coming from the other direction.  We believe the rules are there, but we don't want to follow them, so we just change the cultural norms and move on.

The Bible experiences a similar fate among Christians and non-believers as well.  We don't want all of the Bible to be true rules, as it cramps our freedoms.  We don't think about the consequences to ourselves and others.  We also like to pretend some of the rules don't exist or are no longer relevant.  We want to have the ability to negotiate the punishments as well.

So here is the problem.  The Bible is not about the rules and the regulations.  They exist to show us we need help to connect to God, since the rules show us how we are separated.  Jesus connects us, then we go back to a rules measurement because that eliminates the need for intentional surrender.  As long as it is about right and wrong, social norms, personal rights, then the true message of being crucified like Christ is missed.  We don't want to acknowledge God's leading in our hearts, because then breaking the rules takes on an even greater meaning -a battle for control of our lives, between us and ourselves, with God watching patiently but firm in His judgement. 

Well, enough philosophical rambling for today.  I would love to know your thoughts on this.

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