Our Knowledge of God

This is the first of a series of worship talks given at the General Conference, Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., by H. M. Tippett.

Associate Book Editor, Review and Herald

This is the first of a series of worship talks given at the General Conference, Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., by H. M. Tippett.

LET us consider God, the all-knowing One, the Omnis­cient Creator, who knows our downsittings and upris­ings, our goings out and our comings in, the One who numbers the very hairs of our head and who understands our thoughts afar off.

This morning for our contemplation I wish to think with you about our knowl­edge of Him. Zophar, one of Job's coun­selors, propounded the question: "Canst thou by searching find out God?"

The rhetorical question suggests a nega­tive answer, and Job acknowledged in the twenty-third chapter that although God called him a perfect man and full of wis­dom, he was unable to understand God's ways. And he uttered the cry of the human heart in every age: "Oh that I knew where I might find him!" (verse 3).

As I grow older I am continually struck with the arrogance of human knowledge, the idolatry of intellect, the enthronement of science and its findings as man's best hope for human advancement.

Dr. Wernher Von Braun, whom I have quoted before, says that idolatry of our own achievements has been the greatest ob­stacle to human progress.

And objective science has tried to probe into man's mind to find those releases from tension and inhibitions that baffle his ad­vancement. Hardly a week goes by that I don't find on my desk notices of courses that purport to unlock the secret of life's mysteries, that will "discover the god" in me, and give hope for realization of all those desires that have been denied me.

These, of course, are but the echo of Satan's lie in Eden: "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

I haven't time to read the references, but the messenger of the Lord says that the knowledge of God is lost by idolatry— whether it be of material resources, of methods, of scholarship, of prestige, or of tradition.

She says that the knowledge of God is also lost by disobedience, by pursuing knowledge for its own sake, by philosophic reasoning, by speculation, by adulation of men.

How then may we know God? These are the counsels of the Lord's servant: By faith in His revealed Word, by conformation of the life to His will, by contemplation of His works, by communion with His Spirit, by following the example of Christ. Fur­thermore, she says that all knowledge is in vain unless it is used to God's honor.

We have had an example of the futility of scholarship in discovering truth in the book on Adventism written by Mr. Martin. It makes us sad to think that a man could spend seven years studying our message and our movement and our written works and still contest the distinctive features of our belief that set us apart as a people. What an object lesson the book is to the truth that spiritual things are spiritually dis­cerned.

Prof. Lester Harris, of Washington Mis­sionary College [now Columbia Union College], a year or so ago lectured on the possibility of survival in the wilderness by eating the edible herbs by the way. But he reminds us we would need to have knowl­edge of what herbs to eat. Apparently they didn't have any expert botanist in the school of the prophets, for during the time of famine as they went out to seek herbs for the pot, they chose some that looked edible but were not, and they became ill.

It is only spiritual things that are spir­itually discerned, and unfortunately for the sons of the prophets edible herbs did not come in that category. They could only be botanically discerned. And it was not until at the dinner table they discovered their error and cried, "There is death in the pot." So you see, scientific knowledge has its place, even in the work of God. But un­less science and scholarship are mixed with faith, we may find human knowledge a snare.

Piety can be no substitute for knowledge, nor can science be substituted for faith. Piety can't be substituted for common sense or for study in preparation of sermons. There is such a thing as an intelligent wor­ship of God. And the more one knows Him the sharper is his intellectual discernment. I am apprehensive of what seems to be a new trend in our theological scholarship, which in some cases steals from our faith the comfort we used to have in certain Bible texts.

How we have loved that statement of Paul's—"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." We are told that that doesn't mean what we have thought it meant, for in the context from which it is taken it refers to something different from our eternal home.

But I have faith enough to believe that many of the wonderful statements of the Bible still speak to the heart of devotion even when they stand alone, Greek and He­brew scholarship notwithstanding, and I do not wish to disparage either one.

But tomorrow, the Lord willing, I'd like to tell you of how the Word of God has comforted me with texts all out of keeping with their context.

"If our love were but more simple, We should take Him at His word; And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord."

—F. W. Faber

 


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

Associate Book Editor, Review and Herald

May 1962

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

Pointers for Preachers

Power, Effectual Prayer, De-emphasizing Statistics

The Minister's Wife and Her God: 1

Before the minister's wife is anything else—before she is her husband's compan­ion, her children's mother, her church's helper, the world's missionary—she is a child and servant of God, answerable to Him for her words and actions, dependent on Him for righteousness and grace.

Outsiders

The word outsiders should be eliminated from the vocabulary of ministers and laymen.

"Within the Shadow of Our Doors"

It is well said that New York City is as cosmopol­itan as it is possible to be. Here one finds representatives of practically all the citizens of the world. Indeed, it is a real challenge, for it is a mission field in itself.

The Office and Ministry of the Angel Gabriel: Part 1

The Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy frequently mention angels and their ministration on behalf of "them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heb. 1:14). Only rarely, however, are the names of these celestial beings given. As a matter of fact, in so far as the inspired sources of information are con­cerned, only three are mentioned by name. They are, Michael, Lucifer, and Gabriel.

The Baptismal Class

How can the preparation for baptism best be done?

A Physician and Minister Team for Church Revivals

One of the most interesting programs that it has been our privilege to work in has taken place in the Atlantic Union—a church revival in which a physician and a minister unite in bringing the message night by night. This has proved very effec­tive in awakening our people to the wonder­ful privilege of living a life wholly dedi­cated to God.

True Greatness

Certainly John the Baptist, during his extended and vigorous ministry, revealed that supreme greatness of a worth-while and noble life.

Hymn Singing as Part of Our Worship

We recently heard from an old friend who is steeped in hymnology, Pastor J. Harker.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up

Recent issues

See All
Advertisement - SermonView - WideSkyscraper (160x600)