Both/And
My daughter-in-law’s mother is a great cook and pies are her specialty. She lives near our children in New York and I make it a point to ask her to make her famous pies every time we visit our children. She has not disappointed us yet. She usually brings a selection of these masterpieces when we have a family dinner at our children’s home. It is hard to wait through dinner for the dessert. The delicious smell has already filled the room. When she brings out her selection of Apple, Pumpkin, Lemon Morang, Strawberry-Rhubarb, etc., our mouths are watering. Then she asks: “Jim, which one do you want?” All I can say is: “Yes.” Why choose when you can have a taste of them all.
So often we get locked into an “either/or” mentality, rather than a “both/and”.When we feel we must choose, then comes the question, “Which is better?” Paul, the apostle, had to correct this attitude in the Corinthian church. They were dividing themselves according the leaders they felt most connected to. Some said: “I am of Paul,” Others said: “I am of Apollos”, etc. Paul told them to stop dividing themselves on “either/or”, but be rather be “both/and”. They were part of one Body. All the ministers were important and they could have them all.
I have heard believers argue about which is better: fruit or gifts. The fruits argue for character and quality, whereas the gifts argue for anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote that we were to pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, (I Cor. 14.1). Why choose? It is both/and. Others argue about which is better: big churches or small churches. The bigs look at the great harvest of souls and the impact they can have on the city, whereas the smalls talk about fellowship and quality of character. Why choose? It is both/and. The disciples tried to hinder the children from coming to Jesus. They thought He was to only minister to adults not children. Jesus rebuked them and said it was both/and.
Some argue in favor of the Old Testament and others want to only follow the New Testament, but really, it is both/and. The entire Bible is God’s revelation to man. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being diligent in obeying the law by tithing even the mint, dill and cumin, but they had forgotten about the other important aspects of the law in regard to justice, mercy and faithfulness. He told them to do the later without forgetting the former. In other words, they were to do both/and. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law. He summed all the law in just ONE law; the law of LOVE.
The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil started the whole “either/or” mentality. Everyone determining for himself what is best for him. The tree of life is ONE will; the will of God. When we choose God’s will over our will, we have abundant life. It is a life where we can “have our cake and eat it too.” It is a “both/and” kind of life.
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Cor. 3.1-9; 12.14; 14.1; Mat. 5.17; 23.23; Luke 18.16