“The Target” [Reflections on Robert Law's Book, The Tests of Life - A Study Of The First Epistle Of John Edinburgh, T&T Clark, 1909, Chapter 2]

What was it awkey bird flew ’round
Like target painted on the ground?
Law figures it to “Gnostic” be –
Thought-system of antiquity.

It seems one hundred years or so
Flowed on since Jesus birth there, though
First thirty-three were lived out well
In Palestine’s wee bit of hell.

Apostles carried on within
The Jewish fold, then tiptoed in
The larger thought-space Europe held
A story Book of Acts then tells –

As well as letters which remain,
Through which of Europe’s life we gain
A glimpse (as First John gives) – for we
Can Gnostic thought as challenge see.

It seems about that time the West
Was crumbling from when it was best
Of class; it’s a remnants mixed in with
A mystic Eastern garbled mix.

This “Gnostic” thought to resulted in
A potpourri, which would begin
To sweep into up starting “church”;
Collision course brought out the worst –

As Gnostics were quite arrogant;
Held “Higher knowledge” (gnosis) meant
They were the wisest of them all –
No love was lost for folks if “small”.

Their thought held that creation was
A mess, so not of God, because
God to perfect was, above the mess,
Just into perfect righteousness.

Big problem – how ’bout Christ, God’s son?
Could he with human life be one?
“No way! He was a phantom-type
Just looked like us – church wasn’t right.”

Some said, “We’re of the rotten earth,
So soul needs rescue from the worst”;
Salvation then, meant clean escape
Right now – best that folks did not wait.

So how to view one’s messed up flesh?
Some said just push it down, unless
You want to be dragged back into hell –
Ascetic life suits people well.

While other group said, “Hey! No way!
Let flesh be flesh – at carnal play,
While soul gets on with spirit-life
Let two split up – no need to fight.”

So, “devil”, in this mode of thought,
Became to some much like a “god”;
All this incensed dear John a lot;
First John’s result of his clear thought.

John’s Gospel was more “Statement” made;
In Letter, three great tests he laid
As way to sort this garbled mess
From love, belief, and righteousness.

But more than just fight Gnostic thought,
Give tests to think on how folks walked,
John overflowed the river’s banks
With gems of insight, giving thanks –

For Jesus’ gift of life, and truth,
Of way to walk in joy’s pursuit;
John floods each page with precious truth
To lighten up one’s daily route.

Thanks Lord for this.

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