folly

On the one hand, it’s folly to say that Christ is not sufficient, that I need anything else. That the finished work of Christ (John 19:30) somehow didn’t “finish” things. 

Any “Jesus plus” gospel is a false gospel. All that is necessary for salvation is to call upon the name of Jesus. To add anything to it as necessary is to deny the salvation of the thief on the cross who Jesus Himself said, “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

And yet, if we live and breathe and move one moment past that initial repentance and enfolding into the family of God, our lives will look different. Not free from suffering. Not sinless perfection. But different. After all, a “tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33).

On the other hand, it’s folly to say that I cannot (or even should not) learn from the wisdom of others. In the now and not yet before we see Jesus face-to-face and get to know fully as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12), we see dimly. We have blind spots. We have habits and patterns that we have learned apart from Christ. Our perspective is skewed. If we live a moment past calling on the name of Jesus, we benefit from the body. After all, we are many members all fit together so we can do our job (Ephesians 4:16).

There is still only one mediator between God and man and that is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Yet there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 15:22). Counselors to give you varied perspective and insight to empower you to make a wiser decision, to more faithfully embody the life of Jesus in that moment. To better hear His voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

We all have experiences that we glean wisdom from. We all have gifts. We all have skills. We all have unique relationships that help form us. We all have different mentors and teachers. We all have different educations and exposures. We all have hurts and have been harmed. We all have loves and have been helped. Even though our hearts are so very much the same at the core, each of our stories really truly is unique. And each voice has something to bear. Something to hold. Something to champion. Something to highlight. That. is. needed.

And conversely, we all have blind spots. We all have need. Desperate need.

Is Jesus enough? Absolutely!! He withholds no good thing (Psalm 84:11). And ultimately He is that good thing! He owes us nothing. And yet He offers us everything! We will one day reign with Him. Together, side-by-side. 

So why would we not walk side-by-side now? Why would I snub my nose at the wisdom someone has gained along the way so I can more fully embody the presence of Christ?

Yes, Jesus is enough. But doesn’t He use others? Doesn’t He use His body? Isn’t He big enough and great enough that literally all truth is His truth? There is no truth that can come apart from Him. And if all truth is God’s truth, then there will most definitely be people who do not know Him who will also be able to help highlight and share truth that I can learn from. 

Together, we are less blind. Together, we are more whole.

It’s folly to say Jesus is not enough. It’s also folly to say I could never glean from another, that He can never use another.