We never quit being students

Back in the spring of this year I received a letter from my former classmate of Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Louisiana, from which I graduated in 1972.

It was an informational letter stating that this year marks our 50th anniversary of graduation from high school.

The letter simply wanted to know if I plan to attend an event later this year.

But like most events, it is scheduled for a Saturday evening and that would mean I would have to take the weekend off.

I’m still considering what I will do.

I enjoy being in the pulpit.

It would be good to see some of my old Bastrop Rams football teammates and classmates.

I know that a few have finished their journey of life.

Some lost their lives serving our country in the Vietnam conflict.

As I was thinking about graduation, I thought of what I was once told by a gentleman, that no matter if you graduate high school, college or graduate school, you are always a student.

He said that you should always be learning.

I have found this to be a true statement in life and also as I have studied God’s word

Our denomination has a saying, “Where the Bible speaks; we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.”

It was first spoken by Thomas Campbell in August or September 1809.

In that statement, it is implied by those who believe and accept the principles implied in the motto that the Bible is the Word of God and that it is fully and verbally inspired.

Campbell believed the Bible was infallible in the original manuscripts.

I had a seminary professor tell our class that unless one can find an original copy of the scriptures and then translate them themselves, they had to rely on what were considered good translation.

In class, he could translate “on the fly” both Hebrew and Greek and then explain the “why” he translated it his way.

He would then also give variations to the scripture.

It left all of us shocked and amazed.

Let’s just say I never achieved his level of expertise and I must rely on the available scripture translations we have today.

That the Scriptures are the only authoritative rule for faith and practice and to it all, must appeal for authority for things done and believed in service to God.

Campbell believed the Bible could be understood by all.

Campbell believed men and women can understand it alike.

They did not need anyone to explain it to them as being a part of a test of faith

But how does one approach studying the scriptures?

I have found I can read a passage one week and it speaks to me one way and read it another week and it speaks to me another way.

Many years ago in seminary I was introduced to this simple method.

Rev. Frank Chlastak began work as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff in 2015. He is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served congregations of the Christian Church in Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Missouri.