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| Sower with Setting Sun by Van Gogh |
There is a teaching by Jesus that he calls The Primary Teaching, stating that you must fully understand This teaching to receive any and all other teachings of his. This Truth is known as the "Sower and the Seed", and can be found in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.
As I observe our culture today, I believe that it demands addressing this fundamental teaching. As this teaching uses an agricultural language as its symbology, we may understand the concepts, but have no real relationship with the depth of any part. Because of this aspect, we will place ourselves in the position of each of the major symbols being used.
In this post we will identify with the Sower. After reading the text we understand that the Sower is one who has Truth that must be spread to be effective. What we find is that, although Truth is the same in all situations, there are varying effects from the people in whom the Truth is given. We see that from the Sower's perspective, if we are honest, we can see how OUR ACTIONS and SKILL in conveying Truth can play a huge role in how it is received.
It is not just the Purity of the Message that must be considered, but also the appropriateness of the Method and Intended Recipient. Many people end up fighting battles and arguing with people because they have not considered these elements thoroughly. If one does not discern the condition of another person's heart accurately, he may end up becoming an enemy of one he is trying to befriend. It is imperative for a teacher of any kind to look for a Prepped Mind in their audience, as well as to Cultivate the Proper Context for receiving of Truth.
A Prepped Mind: We must recognize that deeply experiencing Life to any degree will authentically generate questions and subtly bring rise to dissatisfaction with previously held personal "truths". These experiences generate a deep sense of more, a curiosity of what lies beyond our understanding that usually culminates in the surfacing of an existential crisis. These symptoms are some of the foundational building blocks of authentic "listening". This is the prep work that begins within the individual, and cannot be supplied by institutions of any kind.
Cultivation of Proper Context: If one has no authentic care for another person, that is experienced by that person on a subtle level. You could say that they "instinctively know" the difference between friendship and salesmanship. This fact alone leaves no room for the manipulation of reality that our culture uses in social transactions every day. Discernment will tell you whether or not a persons' mind has been prepped to "hear" Truth. There is NEVER any wisdom in argumentation or forced conversations, as it is scientifically proven that anxiety causes confusion and an expressed lack of clarity. There is no substitute for the context of an authentic loving relationship and the genuine enjoyment of each other's company. One of Solomon's Proverbs says, "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle." (Proverbs 18:19).
Unfortunately we have a culture of self-promoted teachers that have no discernment of these qualities, nor do they actually understand the implications of the Truth they speak. It is a rarity to find any discourse, Christian or otherwise, that is grounded in mutual respect and an understanding of these dynamics.
Let this first post serve as a prompt to evaluate the way you do relationships. As it relates to relationships, we are all teachers to some degree. We give and take cues from our surroundings everyday. Even if you think you have nothing to say, try to cultivate your surroundings with Loving-Kindness and Compassion and you will have done more for yourself and others than you could ever imagine!! This is the Essence of True Teaching!
In "The Sower and the Seed Pt.2: The Dynamics of Truth", we will discuss the tri-fold aspects of Truth that must be present in "Knowledge".
Stay Tuned!!
