Updated: Jan 11, 2022 First published in End of the Matter Ministries
In discussing theology, doctrine, and basic beliefs, I am reminded of something I read from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Now I know there are witches in this story and it conveys the idea that there can be good witches, but like Paul, I am trying to use something people have heard of to get an idea across not endorsing a theology.
The gatekeeper is speaking to Dorothy and her companions, "'Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live in the City must wear spectacles night and day. They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.'"
They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.
"He opened the big box, and Dorothy saw that it was filled with spectacles of every size and shape. All of them had green glasses in them. The Guardian of the Gates found a pair that would just fit Dorothy and put them over her eyes. There were two golden bands fastened to them that passed around the back of her head, where they were locked together by a little key that was at the end of a chain the Guardian of the Gates wore around his neck. When they were on, Dorothy could not take them off had she wished, but of course, she did not wish to be blinded by the glare of the Emerald City, so she said nothing."
When they were on, Dorothy could not take them off had she wished
Dorothy and her friends were seeing through green glasses that made them see everything with a green hue. She was cautioned that to remove the glasses and she would go blind. As we grow up and create a world view we are put in this position where our view is locked on, and it would appear to be madness to try and have them removed, when by removing the glasses God's truth can be seen. There are various degrees of teachings when having a world view to see the truth. This is not an easy process. Humbling oneself is never an easy process.
Baum writes after Dorothy leaves Oz and the gatekeeper is sending them on their way, "and now the travelers have their glasses removed. They thanked him and bade him goodbye, and turned toward the West, walking over fields of soft grass dotted here and there with daisies and buttercups. Dorothy still wore the pretty silk dress she had put on in the palace, but now, to her surprise, she found it was no longer green, but pure white. The ribbon around Toto's neck had also lost its green color and was as white as Dorothy's dress."
Sometimes the emerald worldview appears more exciting and elegant than the truth. Powerful people may agree with your view. You have defended the view and convinced yourself that you are happy with the view, but the problem is truth matters. Christ repeatedly challenged the Pharisees with the truth and what was wrong with what they were teaching the people. The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their day, but they wore dark green lenses on how they were brought up in the faith.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their day, but they wore dark green lenses on how they were brought up in the faith.
Most Christians believe that they come from a biblical mindset. There are several thicknesses of green glasses here. The glasses that can not even be seen through are people who do not even read their Bibles. Next, those who might read their Bibles on Saturday, Sunday, or for daily devotions but do not pray for discernment and rely on someone else telling them what to think. The most challenging group are those who read their Bibles but do not even know they have the glasses on, so what they read is off. No one wants to be off. However, look at all the different Christian denominations. Paul spent a lot of his time encouraging Christian unity, and we hold on to our glasses.
1 Thessalonians 5: 21, "but test everything; hold fast what is good."
Pray for discernment and read your Bible! Humbly pray that God removes your green glasses and helps you to see clearly. A command for us all: 1 Thessalonians 5: 21, "but test everything; hold fast what is good" (ESV).
A video I did on the same topic, "Value of Your Perspective"