| EXCHANGE OF IDEAS

 

 

 

One can always look forward to a vibrant Sabbath school discussion at the Northern Caribbean University church in Mandeville, Jamaica. January 31, 2009, was no exception as each class gathered together to discuss lesson 5, “The Inspiration of the Prophets.” The high point came toward the end of the lesson study when D. L. Ebenezer, a professor of the college of business, poignantly summed up 2 Timothy 3:16. Here are a few of his points:

 

► All Scripture is given by inspiration. Not some, not a few selected passages, not what you think is right or wrong, but all of it.

 

► In higher education we critique a lot. We grow up criticizing anything and everything.

 

► We go to the altar and then alter. We go to pray and then we prey.

 

► Moses and Paul were highly qualified, but they had to unlearn everything and follow God all the way. Peter questioned Jesus when asked to cast the nets. Peter did obey, although his faith was somewhat feeble and he cast only one net.

 

► A little learning is a dangerous thing. We think we know it all. We don’t seem to want to be connected to Christ. We want to do it our way.

 

► “Early in mathematics I was taught parallel lines meet at infinity. What is infinity? We don’t know. But we believe this basic principle without questioning it all the time. And we go on in faith learning more and more of math. So must it be with believing the prophetic gift—the Bible and Ellen G. White’s writings. Someday, we will get a clearer picture to most things and we will eventually begin to see things the way God intended them to be.”

 

► Summarizing Walla Walla University’s Alden Thompson’s thoughts on critiquing,* Ebenezer said that we dissect anything and everything until the object we dissect dies and we get contaminated in the process.

 

Through his summation to the lesson, Ebenezer gave us a new perspective on prophetic gifts.