The word to collate
means: to gather together information from different sources in order to study
it carefully; or to arrange (sheets of paper) in the correct order. It is a process kind of word. So it was
fascinating to me recently when in one of my draft books a comment about the
Bible book of Colossians, accidently was spell checked to be the Book of “Collations.” It reminds me of some of the so-called
spirituality that is arising nowadays. It often is a syncretic combination of
faiths that comes out as some new religion.
Peter, speaking
of the times said, “There will be false prophets among the people, just as there will be
false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
even denying the sovereign Lord” (2 Peter 2:1). Numerous NT passages
warn of false teachers who are already present or yet to come. We read in 2
Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when men will gather around them a great number
of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their
ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Well we have
certainly come to such a time when not only tolerance for whatever someone
believes is OK, but that each person should receive all as equal for there is
thought to be no real or absolute truth. This relativism denies that founding
principles of the United States as based on Scripture and Christians
principles. Ignorance of history has
allowed for a misinterpretation of many time-honored beliefs.
The result of
this syncretism is a weakening of our moral and ethical standards in the
country. Of course behavioral decay goes with this trend. Quotes from the Book of Collations would read
something like, “whatever works for you” or “whatever feels good do it.” Misinterpretation
of the Constitution and related documents on freedom of religion has been
reinterpreted to mean “freedom from religion.” This tragic direction has been
taken by the Supreme Court of American as well with its landmark decision of
“separating church and state” and most recently allowing marriage to be between
two persons. It does not seem to matter that 47 times in the Bible, which is
the document that describes marriage, says it is between a man and a woman. Marriage
is a religious state created by God, not the State.
So it seems that
this Book of Collation has brought some collateral damage to foundations
writings and beliefs. I personally will continue to use a Bible Concordance to
find Scripture to help me understand when key principles are at stake.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.