I was talking with our small groups pastor (Jay) a few days ago and he said something that stuck with me. I won't reveal what we were talking about, because I don't want him to get a bunch of emails from you about why he's right or wrong. I'll just give you the part that stuck:

"I haven't always thought this way, and I definitely didn't grow up thinking this way. But I've changed my view over the years as I've studied the Bible."

Pastor Jay is a sixty-eight-year-old pastor with around forty-five years of experience in vocational ministry. He has a doctorate degree. He's walked with Christ for a long time. He's got a lot figured out.

But he changed his mind. (And what he changed his mind on wasn't a small-potatoes thing either).

When you change your mind, you are inherently saying "I believe I was wrong before." And I think that's become weirdly difficult for us these days. We walk into almost everything already knowing what we think, whether it be politics, sexuality, money, parenting, church, relationships, and even (maybe most likely) the Bible.

Then we gather evidence that agrees with us. Man...after careful study, I was shocked to find out that all my views on this line up perfectly with Jesus' views on it! Wow!

When was the last time you changed your mind
because of something you read in the Bible?

I wonder if we Christians sometimes confuse conviction with stubbornness. That's not our intention. I actually think this starts from a great place: a genuine pursuit of faithfulness. But in our zeal, we may have left behind something essential to the Christian life: deep humility.

What if there is actually no need to choose between unshakeable faith and intellectual humility? It would take more space than I have here to really explain exactly what I mean, but I think the Bible teaches us to live a life characterized by faith in God and an openness to correction when it comes to our very finite understanding of Him and His world.

I'll give you one example to chew on. Think about John 16. In the hours before Jesus' death, He's teaching the disciples about abiding in Him and He promises the Holy Spirit. Then He says this:

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." (John 16:12-13a)

Jesus obviously cares that the disciples grow in understanding, but He also seems perfectly comfortable with the fact that they don't know everything yet. Why? Partly because they aren't ready to know everything yet. And neither are you. Jesus trusts the Holy Spirit to continue leading them (and us) through the learning process.

And here's the thing that makes this such a big deal: that continued growth happens as we remain connected to Jesus (the Vine). So then, our incomplete knowledge isn't a defect that should be immediately corrected by searching out and writing out every theological position we can think of, putting them in a file folder, and never touching them again.

It's our incomplete knowledge that actually keeps us dependent upon Christ.

Let me try to say it even more plainly: Discipleship requires that I come to Jesus prepared to be wrong. I approach the Bible prepared to be corrected. I open the Scriptures prepared to change my mind.

That's what I'm praying happens at New Life during our Redacted series that starts on September 13th. Not that we finish a sermon series or read a book. But that God changes us. Think about it: What could God do with a church that actually gave Him the final word? I genuinely want to find out.

So, as I've mentioned over the last couple of weeks, I'm inviting you to go all-in:

• With the Church: Be here every Sunday. Don't decide ahead of time which topics you need. Don't let a late Saturday game keep you away. Prioritize the gathering the best you can.
• In Community: Get in a group if you're not already. Show up to every meeting during the series once you are. This is where the real work happens.
• By Yourself: Read one chapter each week in Redacted. We already have the books, so make sure each individual grabs one. Don't worry about paying if money's tight. That's already taken care of. Get the audiobook if you hate reading. ;)
• On Mission: Invite your eight neighbors or friends. Because almost everyone you know is wrestling with the tension between the God they want and the God who actually is. Invite cards will be out again this Sunday for you to get.

A mature disciple isn't someone who has nothing left to learn. A mature disciple is someone who has become increasingly teachable. Like Pastor Jay modeled to me the other day.

Let's be that kind of church. Let's give God the final word and see what He does.