Alva Review-Courier -

Sometimes, listening to people with whom you disagree can be a real pain in the ear. However, from time to time, those pains might just precede a better understanding of things. Perhaps we will get a better grip on what the opposition actually believes, not the beefed up rhetoric of those whose only desire is to discredit the other side, but the strengths and weaknesses of their true beliefs. Then again, we might come to a better understanding of the person who holds such a position. Instead of an ignorant, raving lunatic, we might just discover a thinking, caring, feeling and dedicated human being. Of course, on further investigation, we might just realize we were right all along and they don’t have a leg to stand on. Either way it’s a win-win situation.

I am currently caught up in the study of the New Testament book of Revelation. By caught up, I mean that I am both a student in an online class over the book and a teacher in the final phase of “General Epistles and Revelation” at NWOSU (ride Rangers ride). So far, my teacher – who has taught Biblical studies nearly 50 years – and I agree almost across the board. But to be honest, we’ve both just finished covering the introduction. God gave it to Jesus, who gave it to an angel (or angels) who gave it to John the Apostle, who wrote it down and sent it to the seven churches of Asia Minor. So far, he’s a genius. We’ll see how he does in lesson two.

How often do we step outside our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to take another look at our beliefs? How likely are we to reexamine long-held points of faith? And how often do those investigations result in actual life-change? Certainly we would agree (wouldn’t we) that these matters are of utmost importance.

See you Sunday.