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I want to be careful, but I see a concern on the horizon (if not already standing on our door step). Roughly 600 commentaries are due out sometime in the near future. D. A. Carson in the introduction of his commentary on John states, "Anyone who dares to write yet another commentary on the Gospel of John must give ample reason for doing so." Apparently 17 more scholars have found that justification. But there is no reason to pick on these commentators; most of the New Testament books have around 15 commentaries in the works. And if we don't have it figured out by the time the 21 forthcoming commentaries are printed on Isaiah, we should probably call it quits on hoping to get some light on that area of the Bible.
With all of this fury of words, we must ask if have we seen any more power (1 Corinthians 4:20)? Who among us can say with an honest heart we know what it is to "strive according to His power which mightily works within us?" Have we seen more power in preaching such as was found in Edwards, Whitefield, Wesley, or Rowlands? Have we seen more power for Christlike living such as was found in Hudson Taylor, George Muller, Pastor Hsi, or Samuel Rutherford? Are we learning about Christ or learning from Christ (Matthew 11:29)? Is our passion to know about Him or to know Him (Philippians 3:10)? Are we courting knowledge or chasing a Person?
We had better beware - The seeker sensitive movement is not the only group that stands in imminent danger of amusing themselves to death. We can be just as amused by intellectual rigor, logical precision, and argumentation. Nothing is more fascinating than seeing the structure of Genesis unfold before your eyes. And may it unfold to us all! But at the unfolding of this glorious book, may we tear off running to the nearest secluded place to seek "Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45).
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