Devaluing the Human Race
Published on Facebook, June 9, 2010
By Bud Powell
From Augustine via
Daniel Kok
“Augustine was annoyed by those who claimed by seeking direct inspiration in
expounding the Scriptures to dispense with the normal means of human
intellectual life, the writing and the reviewing of books. ‘Everything could
well have been done by an angel, but the standing of the human race would have
been devalued if God had seemed unwilling to let men act as agents of His Word
to men… on top of that, charity itself which binds men together in the tight
knot of unity, would have no means of expressing itself, by pouring out, and as
it were mixing together the souls of men, if human beings could learn nothing
from their fellows.”
I would add that it humbles us to be taught by others. We are called to submit
one to another in the fear of God. I have been greatly edified by the
instruction of godly men over the years, and godly women have added a great
deal to my faith. I have learned the most, perhaps, from those who did not so
much teach the Bible to me, but who let the Bible speak for itself in their
wise counsel and illumination of the very stuff of life. I have the deepest
love, even today, for those godly people, some of whom I didn't even know were
having a profound effect upon me.
By God's grace, the greatest benefit I have received has come from the Bible
itself. It has been my daily companion for all the years of my life, and the
wise and effectual counsel of the godly would have been of no avail if I had
not made the Bible my daily bread and wine. No matter what came into my life,
the Spirit never allowed me to stray from the inscripturated Word, and this is
no small evidence of the mercy of God for me, for it was not my natural
inclination, but He delivered me so often from that natural inclination that I
might hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Psalm 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
