A limited view through a knot-hole:
Some of you may not know what a knot-hole is. It begins when a branch sprouts from the main trunk of a tree. When the tree is cut down and cut into boards, some of the boards will have been marked by a knot where the branch had been growing.
After a few years the wood around the knot will dry and shrink, causing the knot itself to fall out. Thus we have a hole in the board and that hole is referred to as a knot-hole.
When we were youngsters, a few of us would go down to the local ball-park to watch a baseball game. The city I lived in had a AAA baseball team called the Red Wings.
There were times when a few well known players would come down from major league teams to play in the minors. This was done in order for a player to build strength from an injury they had acquired, or to sharpen up declining skills against lesser players.
So baseball in our town was well received and supported. I forget what the price of admission was, about $.25 cents. But whatever the price, it was more than we had.
The idea was to find one of these knot-holes, hope a guard didn’t come around, then put your eye to the knot-hole in order to view a very limited portion of the field and players.
Depending on how you look at it, the middle to late twentieth century in my estimation was the beginning of the end of good solid conservative Bible teaching in America.
The tree was beginning to sprout new branches. The logs would soon be cut into boards, the wood would dry and the knot-holes would pop out.
New Bibles were springing up everywhere. Publishers were licking their chops thinking of the profits to be made selling new versions of rewritten Bibles.
The Mormons were beginning to flourish and the Jehovah witness had their beginning about this time. The Pentecostals were in their infancy, the Catholic Church was beginning to decline, protestant churches were flourishing and the drum beat went on.
America had entered into its last days concerning fundamental Christian doctrine. Young rich kids were sent off to liberal collages in England and other parts of Europe. When finished they would return home, enter collages around the country as teachers and professors. In this way they spread their radical form of Christianity, and the memberships began to grow.
Baseball developed into a major sport for the public to be entertained with. So also was Christianity growing into a major theater of entertainment! In 1891, baseball rid itself of a cumbersome 12 team format that was hurting competition, attendance and financial matters.
Christianity on the other hand was adopting into its bosom new denominations daily, so much so that those keeping the books quite counting.
When America entered World War One, baseball began to decline. On the other hand religion began to flourish more than ever. You know how that goes, when people are tested, churches fill up and everyone begins to pray to their god, remember 911.
Through the depression and World War Two, the same occurred. After the war families remained close as did childhood friends.
The great Ted Williams had returned to baseball after serving 4 years in the military as did many others. A few of his baseball records still stand.
In Christianity, evangelist like Billy Graham began to rise from the ashes of the Second World War. The days of horse and buggies were over. The automobile was about to make its indelible mark on American society.
People were now able to buy gas and put new tires on automobiles. They were taking to the road in mass. Radio flourished as did Hollywood and that new invention called Television.
T.V. was about to make its premier entrance into the American home. And what an entrance it was. Evangelist began to look at these new means of communication to sell their wares.
Fast food restaurants and motels could be seen springing up and dotting the country landscapes, conceived for the use of hungry and weary travelers. Churches were also being built at a record level. The Christian menu was expanded as were the fast food portions given to their membership.
Let’s get back to the baseball park and our knot-holes.
Like I said, very little of the field and the players could be seen because our view was restricted. I remember one time I was standing by my knot-hole. I heard the crack of the bat and the local crowd began to roar. I became excited and let out a piercing shout!
Much to my surprise and to my dismay, it was not our team who hit the homer, but the other team. The crowd was not cheering, but had let out a loud groan of disappointment; we lost the game.
These events had past me by. Not paying attention to the players on the field, or the game itself, therefore my understanding of the facts became clouded. Because of this I began cheering for the wrong team. I had not been looking through my knot-hole, nor was I paying attention. Even if I were, I was not sure who the players were unless I saw the color of their uniforms.
Now the same situation has developed outside the tall fences of our local and national churches. The full picture of what is happening inside has been obscured by our limited vision and knowledge. In many cases Christians’ have taken their eye from their knot-hole, not having the remotest idea of what’s going on inside.
We may soon see Jesus Christ put on the most endangered list, for He is knocking on church doors from the outside. These doors have been bolted from within, not opening to truth including these minor league religions the sects and cults.
For those who do gain entrance into main line churches, its fun and games, Hollywood styled entertainment and dancing to the music.
True Christian believers are given a view from far off, this through a small knot-hole in the fence. These are the conditions our Lord Jesus is running into. He cannot gain entrance; He has been kept outside, given only a limited view from a knot-hole in the fence.
And I heard the umpire say, “strike three, your out!”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com