Isaiah 48:4 English Standard Version (ESV) Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass,

When I was in the army we had brass belt buckles and officers like to see them shine. We would be told to use Brasso to make them shine. It was ornamental and had no practical purpose. In Vietnam we wore blackened belt buckles. Anything that reflected light was useless and dangerous to one’s safety.

Now why did that come to mind? It is a matter of experience and we do not all share the same experiences. What does it matter if I think of brass as being ornamental? It only holds meaning to me and is of little or no use to anyone else. We might classify this as opinion. Opinions are not doctrine.

Other versions use the word bronze. Bronze reminds me of the vessels of service in the wilderness tabernacle as described in Exodus 26. Nothing ornamental there. It had practical applications.

The forehead in Eastern religions represents the location of the third and all Seeing Eye. Some wear a red dot in that location, not very ornate, definitely not brass by design. Why did I think of that? Does it matter? Is it relevant? The connection may only exist in my mind but others might “get it”. Agreement on thinking once again does not identify doctrine. We do so love to have others agree with us.

When does symbolism matter and when is it something to let fall by the wayside?

Memory is a tricky thing. While the Spirit brings things to us by remembrances, so does the flesh. Spiritual insight is vastly different than our ability to reason. Not everything we see in scriptures has to be significant to everyone. This one issue of my thinking about brass is a good example of what doesn’t really matter.

I am free to think but must be careful about how I share my thoughts.

Proverbs 10:24 English Standard Version (ESV) What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

Romans 7:18 English Standard Version (ESV) For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

The desire to be right does not make us right.

Paul points to our abilities to do right but in order to do right one must first know what is right. Only God is perfect in knowledge and performance. We are human, made of flesh and while we may not have the inclination to sin we still have the capacity to sin. Being wrong is not a sin but can lead to certain kinds of sin. 1 Corinthians 13 says love does not insist on having its own way. We can be very insistent on being right. That affects how we treat each other.

What is of such value within this life we live that we must be insistent on being right? What can we allow to differ in opinion because the relationships is more important than having our own way? There are some absolutes and there are things that are just not worth discussing. Which are the ones that we should be unyielding in believing? Which ones do not matter?

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth for He is the one who communicates pure truth.

Here is one truth that leads us to perhaps a better understanding. Are you still in the same church you were raised in as a child? Did you begin in a major denomination or a non-denomination? The truth is this, the teaching of doctrine varies slightly from one denomination to another but the basic unwavering absolutes remain the same.