As the early church developed, lots of issues—practical, theological, relational—came up. We can see how many of those issues were addressed in the New Testament letters. And over time, we might expect that this new way of life, this shift in paradigms, became more and more complex. The truth should have gotten pretty complicated.
But eternal truth, as deep as we could ever imagine, does not need to be complicated. In fact, by the end of the New Testament we see remarkable simplicity. The letters of John, perhaps the latest works in scripture, are profound, but they keep coming back to foundational truths. What it all boils down to, according to John, are love, faith, and walking in the light. No matter where life takes us, no matter how complex it gets, God’s truth is simple enough for a child.
Never forget that. Theological discussions can be fascinating, but there’s a huge difference between the finer points of the gospel and the core. The issues of our age may have grown more complex. The needs of the human heart have not. Jesus came not to grill us in arcane propositions but to ground us in love, end our shame, and empower us with his Spirit. No matter how much you study and learn, no matter what arguments are thrown your way, you will never mature past love and light. Walk in both, and your life can be beautiful in its simplicity.
