What are your distinctives in the faith? Even within a unified Body of Christ, different churches, and on a smaller scale, individuals, have unique gifts and talents that enable them to contribute to the functioning of the whole body. This is illustrated in the scriptures by reference to one body with many members, and each has its own contribution, and each one should be content with the mission given to it and not jealous of the other members. Then the body functions effectively as an integrated team, lacking nothing. Do you know what your distinctives are?

Do you find that intelligence is highly rated and a measure of social standing in your culture? Rationalism has been the governing system for centuries and it is well established. But have you noticed that beyond a certain level that other factors have equal or greater effect? Do you think people are held back more by lack of cognitive ability, or by fear, insecurity, ideology, biased preconceptions, habits and addictions, and other hindrances to comprehending the truth? How many people are truly not smart enough to lead a good life if they are free of these other things?

Where do you get validation? Do you know anyone who doesn’t thrive on affirmation of their existence and humanity?  Do you know of anyone who gets as much as they want? Have you met people who get little or none, and try to generate it on their own? This is a sad thing to watch. Is this something you can do on your own at all? Doesn’t it require input from others to be valid validation? Where do you go if you don’t get enough? Those who are rejected by this world have a special incentive to seek the Kingdom of God, for they have no reward here.

Do you believe that you should follow your curiosity fearlessly, and that all knowledge is valuable? Is there anything you wouldn’t want to know? What about the details of your eventual death? I shared this information with Peter and he was not pleased. Would you want to know for yourself? Some things are too great a burden to bear. There are some things in the Kingdom that are mysteries to you, and for a good reason, and you should not be too curious about the inner workings of evil or the thought processes that justify it. I know all things and can bear the knowledge but you cannot.