Sorry Mark, I was actually addressing what I said generally. I can see how it came across as directed at you specifically. I hope everyone will read it and provide their thoughts.
You're right though and we do the best we can with what we have. In what I'm saying I don't mean to go down a hole of analysis paralysis and never reach out to anyone. I do believe that just because we do the best we can, doesn't necessarily mean that it is enough. For example, the law of enemies being thorns in our sides isn't predicated on our knowledge of them being enemies. We aren't afforded grace because of ignorance. On the contrary, a lack of a love of truth causes delusion. We are only afforded grace when we confess our sins.
I read this article recently which encapsulates part of the essence of what I'm trying to say:
http://startingstrength.com/training/a- ... cise-termsI'll give a quick summary for anyone who doesn't want to read it or doesn't have the time: The title is "A Defense of Precise Terms" and the subtitle is "Getting Beyond Superficial Knowledge". The article talks about how the book
Starting Strength, a beginner's guide to strength training, is painfully detailed to the point where most feel like that are in school and can't make themselves read through it. It is wonderfully summarized in the final paragraph.
There are precise biomechanical and physiological terms to be used in your weight training. If you take the time to master them, you’ll know why you do things the way you do. You will find a surprising applicability in other areas for the anatomical terminology you’ve learned. The knowledge you gain from digging in to understand some unfamiliar concepts will powerfully inoculate you against a plethora of charlatans and shysters beclowning the fitness landscape.
I personally have read the book and can attest to how such detailed knowledge has helped me in the gym. I often have people approaching me asking me if I'm on steroids and wonder how much numbers are so high (if only they knew in relation to the potential of someone my height, my numbers are relatively low). Even qualified personal trainers copy my techniques in the gym I go to and I have on more than one occasion warded off their unwelcome advice with sound theory. It's all thanks to the specific knowledge presented in
Starting Strength.
These same principles can be applied to Bill's teaching on theology. I remember him mentioning on more than one occasion that some people complain at the level of detail which he goes into. It is the kind of specific knowledge which is needed when we have to give reason for the hope that is within us to others. I'll take the above quote and just change a few words:
There are precise theological concepts to be used in your study. If you take the time to master them, you’ll know why you do things the way you do. You will find a surprising applicability in other areas for the theological concepts you’ve learned. The knowledge you gain from digging in to understand some unfamiliar concepts will powerfully inoculate you against a plethora of charlatans and shysters beclowning Christianity.
What is needed is an attitude of a professional:
Whatever you’re going to do in life, approach it as a professional. A professional has more than a cursory grasp of the details of his profession. A professional has taken the time to learn the precise language associated with the skilled practice of his profession.
In the absence of this knowledge, do we rationalize that by doing the best we can, we are excused of failure? If the law does not excuse ignorance, then we ought to strive for perfection. Just as in spite of our sin we strive for perfection, so too should our attitude be toward wheat and tares. It seems that people hang on to their superficial knowledge and rationalize it to be adequate even though it isn't. Because the challenge of achieving this knowledge, or the challenge of identifying all mongrels perfectly, seems impossible, we simply give up. As mentioned in my previous post, I don't think Scripture supports this attitude of a satisficing outcome.
If we consider logically that judging people by their fruits or spirit necessarily means that we will make mistakes, then we must acknowledge that it isn't good enough. We do our best, but our best isn't good enough. How could we assume that a Biblical principle set forth to equip us to keep a certain law isn't adequate in helping us fully keep that law? Instead what we do is gather what information we can to keep that law as best we can, which is what we have done. But it shouldn't end there!
I fully realize that this is a completely different kettle of fish on the internet and also with a prison ministry as opposed to when you can actually see someone. Again though, it shouldn't be an excuse to be lax in applying the law. To Mark specifically: I have the utmost respect for your ministry and don't mean to disparage it in the slightest. In fact, I don't mean to disparage anyone's honest efforts, but I do mean to call the situation what it is.
Honestly I'm surprised at the resistance to this idea. What harm would it do to ask God to improve our efficacy at identifying tares? What harm would it do to acquire specific knowledge in order to do so, or to ask God to provide this spiritually? At the very worst we would receive nothing and at the very best, God would provide. I always say this same thing to people I discuss CI with, "At the very least, even if you don't believe what I say, earnestly ask God in your own prayers for the truth." In the same way, I think we should all ask God for this knowledge, skill, power or whatever you want to call it. In the same vein, I was speaking to a someone who had just learned of CI and was having trouble with having to deal with mongrels in the work place. I said something along the lines of, "However you choose to deal with the situation, just never rationalize that your tolerance of mongrels is acceptable. You must fight that cognitive dissonance which makes you want to rationalize it as fine." I urge everyone to think the same way. It is a daily struggle to acknowledge where we are lacking and not to see ourselves as perfect. The story of Daniel confessing his sins before having an audience with God's angel always comes to mind (I'll quote the main part, but I encourage anyone reading this to read the whole chapter):
Daniel 9:21-23 wrote:And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
I'll end this wall of text with a not often quoted parable:
Luke 18:9-14 wrote:And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.