Years ago when Jimi Hendrix asked “have you ever been experienced?” I’m
still not sure what he was talking about. I have had experiences, but maybe not
what he was talking about or offering. But a few experiences I have had while
inexperienced may help. 100 years ago when I was a Boy Scout, a career
Tenderfoot, I was told to find a left handed smoke shifter. As were the other
newbies, only to come back empty handed. After straight faced Scoutmasters,
store clerks, and other scouts couldn’t help, it was finally revealed there was
no such thing, and the joke was on you, to be passed on to the next group of
newbies. If asked about a left handed smoke shifter experience, I can answer “I
have.” Have I ever seen one, “no.”
Guys new to the bench racing group, long before they are recognized as a
hang along, are asked about their muffler bearings, or their exhaust nebulizer.
Like the smoke shifter crowd, the laughs are plenty because there are no such
things, but such is the rite of passage into the group. But as we age, we
hopefully gain knowledge along with our experience. Which may not always be the
case. For example...in another life I once sold American Motors Cars and Jeeps,
long before the SUV sickness took over. My friend Mike was one of the more
creative salesman, and one time a man waiting for his car in service,
encountered Mike in the showroom. Looking under a Jeep, he asked “what is that
blue thing?” And Mike went on to explain it was a Bertel Overdrive, unique to
Jeeps. And then asked the man if he was having his serviced, as it was critical
it was serviced properly and only by Jeep mechanics. Not knowing, he asked his
advisor, who wasn’t sure, who asked the service manager, who didn’t know, who
asked the parts man who had never heard of one, and then called Jeep in Toledo
at their home office. And they didn’t know, but they knew that blue thing was
the Quadra Trac and all Jeeps had one. Had these guys ever been experienced?
Now they can say “I have.”
As a new Christian I believed every word from the pulpit. I had a strong
hunger to learn scripture, to know all about God, and to know Jesus. I was
being fed and digesting it all when the church I attended changed pastors. Now
being a new pastor has to be tough, and he needed to make a strong initial
impression, and I can remember his first Sunday vividly. After the applause and
a warm welcome, he said “please turn your Bibles to Hezekiah 3:16, that will be
our study today.” The noise of pages turning was almost deafening, as the full
sanctuary looked for Hezekiah, and soon it began to quiet down. And puzzled
looks filled the room. No one could find the book of Hezekiah because there is
no book in the Bible called Hezekiah. It was a test to see where we were at
with God, but some took it personal, how dare this new guy insult us? To me it
was a lesson on truth and checking out what came from the pulpit. Just because
it is said doesn’t make it true. Learning curves run from left handed smoke
shifters to Bertel overdrives, and can include helpful steps on two stroke valve
adjustment, but when it comes to the things of God, it is always best to go to
the source, the Word, just as 1 John 4 advises, to test the spirit. Just
because it sounds good doesn’t mean it is, and too many are led astray by
scripture twisted to suit a purpose or to excuse their sin. So in the words of
Jesus, “be wary lest you stray.”
Over the years I have been fooled myself, and seen others fooled by claims
that sound true. Pastors taking a denominational stand going against scripture,
church leaders claiming to be God or the only voice that God speaks to, or even
the messiah himself. We are warned that even Satan can disguise himself as an
angel of light, and can mislead the elect, Christians. We are to be as wise as
serpents, yet as gentle as lambs, to test the spirit, to trust God, because all
men are liars, some unwittingly, some to deceive. Something to consider when
you open your wallet or purse to give. God’s view on giving is different, as
the Corinthians knew....
Be a cheerful giver, we live under grace, not the tithing law, and if you
only give your tithe but complain about it, there is no blessing. We are to
give as the spirit shows us, and it is written the rich never had too much, nor
the poor too little. True giving shows where our heart is with Jesus, the widow
who gave her two mites, all she had, an example of Jesus giving all he had.
Remember he owned no property, and didn’t even have a place to lie his head, yet
he had all he needed from his Father. Can we say the same, do we give
hilariously, as scripture instructs, or do we hang onto it to increase our FICO
score? To impress our friends or to boost our portfolio? Or do we give freely
of hat we have, our time and money? Our skills and talents? Read Acts 2:42,
maybe show it to your pastor. God supplies all your needs through his riches
and glory, not the church. But he can use the church, but only if the church is
willing. Ask any non-Christian about the church and they will tell you the
church is only after their money. That I have experienced. Don’t confuse the
church with Jesus!
So be a giver, led by the spirit, and when asked if you know it is more
blessed to give than receive, can you answer “I have been experienced.” Do you
grudgingly pay your tithe, God doesn’t need it. Do you do without to pay it?
Read 2 Corinthians 8, you may be surprised. I have never heard that chapter
taught from a pulpit. Don’t depend on the church for the things of God that are
available to you in Christ. Scripture tells us we will never see the faithful
without bread, or their children being hungry. But it does say “if you won’t
work, you won’t eat,” won’t not don’t. Check it out, don’t trust me....
Oh and the tips on adjusting the valves on a two stroke motor, there aren’t
any. The engine is much different than a four stroke. Money is not the root of
all evil, only the love of it. Don’t fall for the apple Eve ate, it doesn’t say
that. It might have been a grape. From the vine, which Jesus tells us to be
part of. To live in him, he is the vine dresser. And God helps more than those
who cannot help themselves. Pick up your Bible and read it for yourself.
Experience Jesus for yourself. And if asked “have you ever been experienced?”
you can answer “I know Jesus personally.” I only hope Jimi did.
Now turn your Bibles to page....and no peeking at the guy next to you. He
just might be on another page....as I search the Web to find examples, only to
find I must turnoff my ad blocker or subscribe. Beware.....you cannot teach
experience, but you can have great ones. I hope your Christian experience
includes Jesus, it’s hell without him. Not an experience I would want to
have....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com