Pattern recognition is one of the most enduring and powerful abilities of the human brain. It helps artists sense composition, athletes follow a play, musicians pick out a theme, novelists advance a plot, programmers construct their code, and even conspiracy theorists concoct their theories.
I recently heard a scientist studying planets outside our solar system discuss the amazing pattern recognition capability of the thousands of human volunteers that pour over data from NASA. These men and women have discovered dozens of planets that were missed by computers because there is something about our brain that sees things even our smartest machines miss.
This is no accident. We were created, after all, to be patterned – image bearers. God designed us to be able to study Him through His Word and through Creation until we become increasingly conformed to His pattern. In our fallen state, we don’t quit our patterning instinct, we only redirect it – patterning ourselves after the idols we make of ourselves, others, or the world.
On Sunday we looked at the patterns of redemptive ritual that God laid as the first stones in the law. But these rituals, and all that God intends to come from them, are inevitably bound for the rubbish heap of dead liturgy – endured, then despised, then discarded – unless behind the pattern of ritual is a pattern of words.
It is a pattern of sound words that gives meaning to our rituals. Communion without comprehension is a light snack. Baptism without belief is short bath. The cross is either a token of sentimentality or a monument of theology depending on whether or not your heart swims in patterns of Gospel truth.
Paul, in training up his true child in the faith, Timothy, repeatedly exhorted him to cling to a sound pattern of words.
In 1 Timothy 4:6, Paul reminded Timothy of the importance of teaching truth no matter how counter-cultural it might be.
6In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
Later in 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Paul instructs Timothy about the clever teachers who can’t be bothered to learn their theology, but seek to impress with philosophical grandeur.
3If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
In Paul’s final letter written before his death, he again turns to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12-13 and, speaking of his current sufferings, says:
12For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 13Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
How well have we absorbed the patterns of truth left to us in God’s Word and handed down to us throughout the history of the church?
Quick – what does it mean to be justified by faith? What is godliness, and how is it pursued? What Gospel truths are essential to salvation? What is the difference between the glory of God and giving God glory? What is the role of the Law, and how does it apply to believers today?
If our response to these questions is, “I don’t know,” then what is the truth upon which our faith is based?
If our answers begin with, “Well, to me…,” or “I think that…,” then how long will it be until a trial or a temptation sweeps aside our subjective musings and reveals how shallow our foundations are?
If our answers assert, “Thus saith the Lord,” or “We can summarize the teaching of Scripture in this way…,” then we are well-patterned believers.
Theology is not just for nerds. Definitions are not just for pastors. Scripture memorization is not just for missionaries.
If we want our lives to become like our Savior Jesus Christ, then these things are for all of us.
So let’s be diligent in receiving the patterns given to us by God. And let us be intentional in passing those patterns on to the next generation. For God’s people and God’s church, this is the only pattern for success.