"Keeping It Simple"

“Keeping It Simple”

Years ago a TV commercial for an insurance company read a statement of coverage from a competitor’s policy which was drowning in legalese. The ad then stated what their contract said about the same issue: “If you are involved in an accident we will defend you.” Now those are words I understand without a translation—likely you do too.

A BBC news story from 2016 pointed out that there are 66 words in The Lord’s Prayer, 174 in The Ten Commandments (by my count 319) and 286 in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (I came up with 266) but the EU’s regulations on the sale of cabbage came in at 26,911! (Research has called this number into question but the report would still fill a good sized manual.) This account was spread far and wide as an example of out-of-control governmental bureaucracy and how simple matters can be made complicated.

As I read through the Scriptures I come across many statements I don’t understand. While these might stump me I accept what the Bible says as true (“…All {God’s} precepts are trustworthy,”—Psalm 111:7) and recognize that I’ll never grasp all of who God is (“For who has known the mind of the Lord…?”—1 Corinthians 2:16) or mine all the riches of His Word (“{This} is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’”—1 Corinthians 2:9, NLT.) President Lincoln is reported to have observed that it wasn’t what he didn’t understand about the Bible that bothered him but the things he did understand but failed to practice! Now that’s a bit of valuable down-home wisdom!

Let’s think of several simple statements in Scripture. The prophet’s message to Nineveh was concise: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” (Jonah 3:4). The people understood (“The Ninevites believed God.”—Verse 5) and the city was spared for 250 years. Then in answer to a jailer’s question of what he had to do to be saved Paul said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31). The next few verses tell how he and his family came to faith based on 14 simple words. And who can forget the message of an angel to the women at Jesus’ tomb: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said,” (Matthew 28:6)? For 2000 years skeptics have made the simple complicated by trying to explain away this building block of our faith but these attempts have raised more questions than they’ve answered.

Yes, there are places where the Scriptures are puzzling but the key truths surrounding the Person and work of Christ are clear. So heed Jesus words to Thomas: “Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27) and respond as he did (“My Lord and my God!”—John 20:28).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan