For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).
When Saul of Tarsus encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus he was knocked to the ground and left blinded. A few days later he received the Holy Spirit and his eyes were opened. His encounter with Jesus Christ challenged everything he knew about the God of Abraham and the Law of God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he presented a renewed vision of God and a new redemptive paradigm in which all of humanity may be redeemed. Even so, he testified that he suffered from poor eyesight (Galatians 6:11).
Yes, we know that Paul’s vision was very poor. But Paul also testified that his theological vision sometimes suffered from clarity. His encounter with God left him blind, then opened his eyes, but left him with him imperfect vision. Paul confessed that his vision was dim, and his knowledge was partial. In other words, Paul admitted that he was fallible.
I’m not suggesting that Paul’s canonized writings are fallible. I believe in the verbal inspiration of Scripture. But that confession is based upon the perfection and omniscience of the God who breathed Scripture, not upon the fallible humans who transcribed the holy words. In other words, my faith is in God not in Paul. But I highly venerate Paul because of his Spirit-anointed mind and for his confession of fallibility. Paul admitted that his theological insight led to a tendency to be arrogant. The only remedy for this kind of spiritual arrogance is humility – a confession of fallibility.
As a young student of scripture I had clear eyesight and a relatively keen mind. As the years passed I discovered that my eyesight became blurry and that a keen mind does not necessarily translate into spiritual wisdom. So, I begin praying for wisdom and started wearing glasses. I recently realized that with age my eyesight is becoming more blurred and my hearing is diminishing. I need a new pair of glasses and will probably need hearing aids in the future. Also, after years of serious biblical and theological study I must confess my own fallibility. Like Paul, my theological vision is blurred and my knowledge is limited and fallible. What is the remedy for my condition?
I must confess that I don’t always approach the holy scripture with clear vision or a pure conscience. My reading of Scripture is blurred by my fallibility – the sinful context in which I live. All of us read scripture with this malady. If we do not confess our own sinfulness, then our reading of Scripture is blurred by self-righteousness. My blurred vision requires that I read slowly and carefully. My diminished hearing requires that I listen cautiously to other voices so that I can discern the voice of the Spirit. Therefore, every morning I read the sacred Scriptures I must open my heart and mind.
I must submit to the authority of Scripture by allowing the living words to judge the thoughts of my mind and the intent of my heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Also, I must enter into each theological dialogue willing to listen and willing to have my mind challenged, and even changed. This kind of honest dialogue is often difficult because it reveals our sinfulness. But, it is necessary if we are going to allow the gospel to reconcile us to God and to each other. The most difficult repentance is to repent of theological error. Sometimes I must be willing to surrender my need to be right in order to be righteous.
