The Orthodox Heretic: The Orthodox Heretic

This tale is set in a town where the people are very fervent followers of God. They settled every decision with reading of Scripture and prayer. One night a young man from a neighboring town sought shelter at the local church. The caretaker took him in, fed him and gave him new clothes to wear. He then learned that this young man was on the run from the authorities because he had been critical of the government and the church. When the priest learned of this he gathered the other leaders of the town to begin to discuss what should be done about the matter. They decided that he should be turned over to the authorities in case they might incur some sort of wrath for harboring the young man. But the caretaker refused to do so. He even told the town leaders that he would turn himself in if they gave up the young man. The town loved the caretaker and did not want to see this happen. So the leaders began to pray and search through the Scriptures to try and find an answer that might sway the caretaker's mind. They came to him and said that the Scriptures tell us to follow the authority of the land and so they should give up the young man. He replied that it also tell us to take care of those in need. The leaders began to pray and ask that God would somehow change the caretakers mind. They asked God to show up and speak just like he did to men in the Old Testament. So God came and told the caretaker exactly what the leaders said. The caretaker replied that if that were the case then he would refuse the command of God. He knew what God had already commanded him and what God had written and that when he looked at this young man he was reminded of these things. So in order to remain faithful he would have to refuse. God looked at the leaders and explained that if they couldn't change his mind, then neither could he. God smiled and then left knowing that the matter had been solved.

Rollins explains that this is adapted from an old Jewish legend in which God is grieved that people claim to know God, yet don't follow what God has said to do. God wishes that they would do what he said and claim to not know him. This points us to consider whether knowing God is really about gaining knowledge or from actually living out the Word of God. I'm finding more and more that Rollins is bringing up good things for us to think about, but they are going to require a major paradigm shift in order to live them out. May we have the courage to allow God to reshape our paradigm.