CAST UP!

Introduction

Christianity removes the stones that lay in people’s path. Why would this be the case?

As I have stated from the opening page of this project, the reason for this endeavor is to contribute to people recognizing the many stones that lay in the path of life that cause some to stumble. These stones represent, metaphorically speaking, the distorted views of human beings trying to understand the world in which they live and the God who put us here. The proponents of these views make the claim that their views accurately describe reality—that is, truth. Yet, many people, including myself, contend these stones are but stumbling blocks that simply misdirect people away from the truth and away from God. And these misdirections, once ingrained in an individual’s thinking, cause people to form an inaccurate opinion about God. Whether for the good or the bad, everyone forms an opinion about God. In his book, Everyone’s a Theologian, R. C. Sproul correctly addresses this matter saying,

Everything we learn—economics, philosophy, biology, mathematics—has to be understood in light of the overarching reality of the character of God. That is why, in the Middle Ages, theology was called “the queen of the sciences” and philosophy “her handmaiden.” Today the queen has been deposed from her throne and, in many cases, driven into exile, and a supplanter now reigns.

Sproul makes an accurate point—everyone is a theologian. In other words, every person will come to a personal conclusion about what he or she believes about God. That conclusion is derived from an assortment of information which each person is exposed to and ultimately which source of information the individual ascribes to. Eventually, each person will form a personal opinion about God. Just ask anyone what they think about God. You will find that everyone has an opinion and a set of beliefs they can articulate: whether the response is unrefined and shallow, eloquent and polished—whether positive or negative—whether biblical or no. The person may not know exactly how or why he came to those conclusions, but every person forms beliefs and an opinion about God.

This being the case, the source of information we choose to inform us about God is of paramount importance.

Why is this important? Frankly, contrary to popular cultural persuasion, the single most important matter in life is what a person believes about God. No other question, no other matter, and no other dilemma is as pressing, as vital, or as unavoidable as a person’s opinion about God. Because of the supreme importance of this issue, anything that lay in the path of a person coming to a correct understanding about God is an impediment. The definition of impediment is “a hindrance or obstruction in doing something.” Therefore, anything that hinders or obstructs an individual from coming to a correct understanding of God is an impediment in his life—a stone in the road and an obstacle over which he trips. And let us make no mistake, there are a great number of impediments in this world that direct people away from the truth about God.

Christianity removes the stones of stumbling
Only the Christian message as found in the biblical text provides the information necessary to make a right conclusion about God which removes the stones that lay in the path. This is the case because the Bible informs us of the truth and reality of God. It is the Scriptures alone that are the basis for understanding who God is and what He wants from us. And because the Bible alone informs us of the truth about God, it stands in direct opposition to views and opinions that oppose God.

But why is Christianity the remover of stones that lay in people’s path? Let’s discuss why and how the gospel removes the stones that prove to be impediments to understanding God.