Deck of Cards

In a box somewhere in another room, I currently have a little deck of cards called "Poke`mon."

They are similar to other games such as "Magic : The Gathering" and the more recent "Yu-Gi-Oh." The basic concept is that two people collect and build up their decks of these cards, each with little statistics, "abilities" and such on it, assigned to the "Character," or "Monster," etc., that the card depicts.

Then they get together, and they play their decks against one another. One person plays a card, then another against that, and they "do battle" against one another until one person's deck beats the other. It's about winning the war not the battles, and when they are done fighting, they walk away with the same decks to play other people.

What does this have to do with Christianity?

Absolutely nothing.

And yet, so many Christians treat their "beliefs" like a deck of cards.

Despite popular practice, "Bible" and "Debate" should never be in the same room, let alone the same sentence. Why? Because a debate is a discussion of viewpoints - of opinions. It is two people discussing their thoughts, with one purpose in mind : To make their point and move on.

Yet what does scripture tell us its own purpose is?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

Does the word "Argue" appear in there? Do the words debate or even discuss appear in Paul's word to Timothy? No. Scriptures purpose is not to play as a deck of cards. It is not meant to be a mere topic, and treating it as such is degrading not only to the inspired words themselves, but insulting to Yah who gave them.

He has given us this book to tell us what plans he has for our life, why he has them, and what their benefits are. He did not give it to us to make conversation more interesting. Christ is life, if we see another in error regarding his beliefs, do we curse them for dying?

If you see a man drowning, do you yell at him for slipping into the water? Do you not think that if you throw him a rope, he will obviously not walk on the ice again?

These are near kin to those who find it a *joy* to debate the word, to have a "spirited" (Though most assuredly not Holy Spirited) discussion, a pastime to argue the word and play their deck against another. To these the Proverbs speak, "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife," and, "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling."(Proverbs 28:25, 20:3)

What *does* scripture say on the topic of debating the word? Well, Paul tells Titus this in one of his shorter epistles.

"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."(Titus 3:9)

Unprofitable and vain. Could any words more truly apply, to what happens so often in homes, on telephones, on streets and in churches, between two professed followers of Christ, merely playing their decks against one another?

How are they vain? Vanity is the child of pride, and there is no more fitting application of this concept, than a professed follower of Christ talking to someone as if inferior or lesser because they do not already have the knowledge they themselves have. There is no greater vanity than a "Christian" speaking to another in a condescending manner. There is no greater pride than a "man of God" looking to one they should see as a lost sheep, with an air of contempt and a look or tone that implies "Uh, yeah, you didn't *know* that?" directed at them.

Unprofitable. The vain "Christian's" deck of cards is no different in its overall purpose than those listed above. It is about winning the war, not the battle. Points will be dismissed, precious truths that should have been picked up left lying in the dirt, sometimes purposely overlooked, because it would mean for a second showing weakness to the "enemy," as this is what this mindset leads to: Seeing your brother as the Enemy. Hating him without a cause. Murder. Faltering in speech would risk losing the battle, and possibly the war with it, in their mind.

Thus they have no faith in their 'beliefs' as true, any more than they are willing to admit the others 'beliefs' are. They have not searched the scripture thoroughly, for if they had, they would have the heart with a desire for truth in all places. Those precious points that could have given a great blessing and firmness in the truth if studied, would not have been left strewn about as debris.

They fear not being able to answer a question. They may not say it, but in their hearts.. they are afraid to be wrong. They are prideful, because it would mean that their opinion (No longer should this be in any wise called a belief) was shown wrong. They have not humility, so they do not search the scriptures to see if they are right or wrong in what they believe already. They answer from the mind and not the mind of Christ. Well does Solomon speak of them, even in his own time, with the words, "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him." (Proverbs 29:20)

They disregard the words, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding," and have no faith in the promise, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." nor the charge to "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

These do not have the testimony of Christ, for his loving plea is for his children to "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29,30)

What is Christ's plan for us regarding his word? "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thesslonians 5:21)

Too many disregard the last part of that sentence, or else they repeat it but do not apply it to their own hearts. So many play their deck of cards, and when they are in apparent danger of losing they take that very same card back into their deck and play another. Thus they have no desire for truth. They do not prove all things, for if they did, they would let their words stay in the light long as possible, till the sure word of the Lord either consumes them or plants them firmly in his foundation.

They do not hold fast to that which is good, because seldom do they, even when out of the searching eye of the one they are debating, search the scriptures to see if these things are so. They are afraid. They do not have the perfect love that casteth out fear, because they do not love the one with whom they are speaking. If they did, they would regard them as their wounded brother, and not an enemy. They would lovingly seek to enlighten, not destroy their beliefs.

And, this humble nature not being only apparent but inherent, they would diligently search out all things that cause questions in their mind, in an earnest desire for knowledge of the truth. This because they would have true wisdom, the wisdom from above, that is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17)

Belief is not synonymous with opinion. They are a world apart. An opinion is a viewpoint, a belief is a heartfelt truth. No conversation should go along the lines of, "Do you believe this?" 'Yes' "Do you do it?" 'No, but I believe I should.'

No true belief can be a mere card from a deck, because each one must be firmly based in truth, in the word. If it is not, it is either an opinion, or a delusion. There should be not one in this world that says "I believe we may live without sin through Christ's power," who does not have a glorious, praise filled shout of "Yes!" to reply with to the question, "And do you live without sin?"

There should be not one who comforts another with the words "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord,"(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) who weeps at the funeral of a beloved righteous one for personal grief. Let them weep for what they could have done for the world, the souls that could have been brought to Christ through their hands, but not for personal loss. Such shows the line between their belief, and their opinion.

Let the truth of Yah be engraved in the minds and hearts and hands of every person who truly seeks the light, and not on a deck of cards in their pockets.

If you are posed with a statement or question that makes you question your belief, search it out. Do not hide your nakedness as did Adam and Eve in Eden, upon realizing it. They did not seek the true pure raiments of wisdom from Yah, they instead became afraid and hid themselves, quickly fastening together leaves, their own wisdom, to hide their nakedness. Shame comes only with pride. Be humble and search the truth out wherever it may lie and from whoever it may come. Do not fear being wrong; Glory in being wrong, for it is one step closer to the fullness of the truth of Yah you have come, when you learn what is right.

Be firmly settled in the truth. Be firmly settled in what you believe, but not beyond being "easy to be intreated." Lean to the wisdom of Yah, not of yourself. A teachable spirit makes the best teacher; If you seek to teach, seek to learn. Lay your deck of cards at the feet of Christ to be burned to nothing.. And in their place, the words of truth will be engraved in your soul, that they would not be opinion... They will be life.

May Yah be with and bless you richly.

- Luke