TOO GROWN?

TOO GROWN?

In my youth, the resonating voice of ‘Big Mama’ was a larger-than-life presence in African-American neighborhoods.  “Boy,” she would sometimes boom powerfully, “you are getting way too big for your britches…too grown!”  We knew immediately, instinctively and experientially, exactly what Big Mama meant and the dire consequences of any failure to comply.  The hour had come for us to settle down, to start acting like the ladies-and-gentlemen-in-waiting we were exhorted and expected to be.

Big Mama’s booming diatribes remind us of a signature admonition of Jesus Christ, who is fundamentally capable of summoning us to reflection, responsibility and a renewed recognition of our better selves: 

Matthew 18:2-4 (NKJV)

² Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 

³ And said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

‘Exactly what is it about a child,’ one might query, ‘that causes The Master to place such high value on their intrinsic nature and disposition?’  Several things come to mind.

First of all, children always reflect the innocence of pure wonder.  They really SEE the world and its inhabitants to be as alluring and awesome as any bedtime tale that ever crossed the threshold of their hearing and imagination.  When glimpsed through the wide-eyed gaze of a young child, how bright and beautiful are the blue jays, the cardinals, the rabbits, the turtles, the sunflowers and the daffodils!  May we adults never become so grown that we lose our ability to soak in a sunset or stare in awe at a rainbow.

Secondly, children are quick to renew and restore.  Five minutes after the fiercest argument they find it entirely easy to embrace, to accept and to turn again toward love.  Grudges are a decidedly adult phenomenon, the combative fiefdom of grown-ups who, quite sadly, have learned to remember things that are better forgotten and forgiven.

Thirdly, children are typically honest.  Although they are certainly capable of enacting deception, the first tendency of a child is to be authentic.  That is, children smile when they feel happy; they frown or cry when they feel sad.  There is usually no put on face or fake façade with children.  They are who they are.

Finally, children are constantly in need of genuine intimacy and bona fide spirituality.  Their families are nests of security, safe havens and wombs for personal growth and development.  Their faith tends to blossom organically and spontaneously, as an inborn and divinely seeded reality.  Nevertheless, children need to be carefully nurtured, i.e. to be constantly cared for and lovingly touched, both by the caring hands of God and the compassionate hands of His people.

No wonder Jesus Christ held children in such high esteem! 

Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14, NKJV)   So today, I promise OUR FATHER that I will try with all that is within me to become as a little child.  I will pause to observe His creation, and I will reflect upon it (and Him) with great gratitude and joy.  I will strive to always forgive, just as I am forgiven.  I will be honest, first with myself, and also with others.  I will diligently sustain my spiritual connectivity with The Creator and the fellow-children who inhabit this planet.  Conscientiously and systematically applied, these four decisions position and prepare me to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Will you join me in this spiritual quest?  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

DISAPPOINTMENT IS A TEACHER

DISAPPOINTMENT IS A TEACHER

Last evening, I came across a short anecdote that caused me to reflect on the up-and-down nature of the human condition and our best response to it.

A husband got into a bit of trouble on his wedding anniversary.  The morning before the anniversary, his wife beamed a bright smile at him and announced, “Tomorrow there will be something in the driveway for me that goes from zero to one hundred in just two seconds.”

The next morning the wife went outside and found a beautiful box in the driveway.  She opened it and discovered a pink bathroom scale.  She was not at all amused.

Disappointments do happen.

Throughout this journey called life, all of us experience and learn to navigate disappointments.  Those smile-evaporating experiences could be encountered anywhere…virtually everywhere.

Since disappointment is an inevitable component of life, why not make up your mind to learn from it?  Instead of becoming despondent or depressed, why not petition GOD for the practical wisdom needed to transform your life’s lemons into lemonade?

It’s the encouraging lesson found in Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

It’s the heart and soul of my life-verse, which says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

So don’t keep dwelling on your present situation.  Surely life has taught you by now that it is only temporary.  Prepare for tomorrow by trusting the Lord today.  Destiny is calling.  Can’t you hear it?  Your flow is in your future, not in your past.  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

BALANCE AND PERSPECTIVE

BALANCE AND PERSPECTIVE

Every day, believers live with the hope and peace that stems from maintaining balance and perspective.  Jesus Christ admonishes us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, NKJV)  When we make the deliberate decision to live worry-free, we are (at the same time) making the choice to live stress-free.  This does not mean  it will be impossible for negative circumstances or events to knock at our doors.  Rather, it informs us that we have definite choices as to how we will respond.

It reminds me of the story of a poor farmer who lived near a forest in a remote village.  This farmer had a beautiful white horse, the most magnificent stallion.  This farmer’s thoroughbred stallion was in high demand, and many merchants offered huge amounts of money if he would only agree to sell him.

His villager friends became terribly excited at this good news.  “You are so blessed to own such a valuable horse!” they smiled.

The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my horse may be a blessing.  But we cannot say how things will turn out because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”

The villagers did not care for his passive response.

One day the farmer’s horse disappeared.  The villagers banded together and searched everywhere, but could not find the missing stallion.  The villagers criticized the farmer.  “You should have sold that horse when you had the chance,” they insisted.  “It is a terrible curse that your horse has now been stolen.”

The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my horse may be missing.  But we cannot say how things will turn out because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”

Of course, the villagers frowned at his response.  They could not believe that the farmer had lost such a priceless horse and seemed not to be upset about it.

After a few days, to the great surprise of the villagers, the missing stallion galloped home and brought a dozen white horses from the forest with him.  The surprised villagers gathered around the farmer and said, “You are so blessed. You loved that horse so much, and that’s why he brought these horses home with him.”

The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my stallion brought a dozen more horses to me.  But we cannot say whether it is a blessing or not, because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”

By now, the villagers thought the farmer was certifiably crazy.  He had received a dozen free horses, and still he could not see that this was a tremendous blessing.

One day, the farmer’s young son was riding one of the newly arrived horses.  Suddenly, he fell from the horse, breaking both of his legs.  The villagers arrived quickly to console the farmer.  They said, “We are really sorry for you.  It is such a curse that your only son has now been handicapped.”

The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my son may be handicapped, but we cannot say whether it is a curse or a blessing because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”

At that point, the villagers got really angry, and they shouted, “This farmer has no sense at all!”

After a few months, the king of a neighboring country attacked the farmer’s homeland, and his country seemed to be losing the battle.  In an effort to win, the king mandated that all young men join the army and fight against the enemy.  His royal summons excluded handicapped persons.

The villagers were all in terrible grief since their sons were required to join in the battle.  They thought of the possibility that they might never see them again.  So they walked to the farmer’s house and said, “You are a very blessed man.  At least you know that you son will remain alive.”

But the farmer calmly replied, “I am certainly happy my son will not fight in this war, but we cannot say whether it is a curse or a blessing because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”

The wise old farmer gave that same, calm, balanced reply for the rest of his life.

What can we glean from this story?  That it is expedient for every believer to maintain balance and perspective, regardless of prevailing circumstances.  One divine truth that produces hope and peace is simply this: GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT, significantly and substantively, in the lives of His sons and daughters. (Psalm 46:1)  Therefore, we need never surrender to doubt or despair – for we know that JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH is there. (Ezekiel 48:35)  Sisters and brothers, resolve now to cast all your cares upon HIM, and be continually blessed! (I Peter 5:7)

BLESSED ASSURANCES

BLESSED ASSURANCES

Belinda and I have been actively studying and meditating on the biblical book of Romans.  Today, let’s allow one of our favorite passages from the Word to speak for itself:

 Romans 8:1-28 (KJV)

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AMEN!  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

REMEMBERING WITH A SMILE

Today, in the USA, we commemorate MEMORIAL DAY. We pause in sobriety to remember family members, friends, and military personnel who have served our nation via the ultimate sacrifice. In the immediacy of the passing of loved ones (especially in the near-term), our focus rests almost exclusively on the details of their deaths. We reflect on the medical emergencies, the hospital admissions, the tragic accidents, those young lives that seemed to end so prematurely, those seniors whose death might have been expected but was no less painful, and/or all the other factors that led to the eternal transition of those we truly love.

Some losses are so sudden, so tragic, so monumental, that they shake us to our very core, for instance a parent’s loss of a child. Nevertheless, with the passage of time, profound grief may yet morph into joyful memories of sunnier days and shared life experiences.

Today, as you reflect on the legacy of your loved ones, remember life’s tiny and unanticipated moments of joy: those mutual smiles broadly shared when good news knocked at your door, those modest, unplanned, non-holiday gifts, treasured so much since they sprang spontaneously from the heart, those occasions of merriment and full-throated laughter after sharing a humorous story or an awesome success.

Remember with joy those intimate hours in the fellowship of breaking bread together, the powerful togetherness of shared worship experiences, those worn-out-yet-comfortable 'house clothes' you did not necessarily like yet s/he seemed to cling to and dearly love, those unforgettable milestones that make up every life, the family trips and vacations, the pure joy of traveling through time together, the occasional tears and the ever-present triumphs, the vast array of good days or bad, those discussions, decisions, and even the disagreements that make our time on earth a rich and rounded experience.

It all adds up to something significantly special and simply miraculous: this marvelous human adventure that we call LIFE. And it is so much greater, grander and glorious since you shared it with people that you truly love. So remember…treasure every single moment of it…with joy and with a smile. Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part IV)

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part IV) “All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD.” (II Timothy 3:16)  God’s Word discloses the Mind of God, i.e. His past, present and future plans for us.  Accurate interpretation of Scripture requires a consistent effort and a complete openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, it involves “HERMENEUTICS,” which is the science of interpretation of the Scriptures.  Today, we conclude our presentation of ten principles of biblical hermeneutics, which serve to facilitate a clearer comprehension of the Scriptures.  hermeneutic Principle #6: The One Interpretation Principle This is a difficult principle for many.  It is simply this: Every verse of Scripture has only one authentic interpretation, although a particular verse may have many applications. The correct interpretation is the one which mirrors the original intent of the God-inspired author. HERMENEUTIC Principle #7: The Harmony of Scripture Principle No Scripture may be interpreted in a manner that contradicts other parts of the Bible.  The inerrancy and harmony of Scripture is the product of a perfect God whose purpose is to reveal Himself (clearly and correctly) to us.  The proper application of hermeneutical principles will resolve any and all apparent conflicts. hermeneutic Principle #8: The Genre Principle Genre is a literary term which describes the various categories of Biblical literature.  Proper interpretation takes the literary category of any given passage into account.  That is, are we now reading poetry or prose?  Are we now reading history or prophecy?  This is vitally important because it leads us to the author’s original intent, which gives us a more accurate understanding and interpretation of the text.   hermeneutic Principle #9: The Grammatical Principle The Bible was originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.  While we have several reliable English translations of the Bible, it is important to note that all translations involve a certain amount of interpretation on the part of the translator.  Therefore, serious Bible study examines the word meanings, grammar and syntax of the original languages, which helps us to gain a proper understanding of Scriptures.  This does not mean that every Bible reader must learn Hebrew or Greek.  Actually, there are a number of great study tools that are available to help us gain a deeper understanding of important and difficult passages, e.g. language lexicons, Bible dictionaries and Bible commentaries. hermeneutic Principle #10:  The Historical Background Principle The Bible books were composed within specific cultures at particular points in human history.  While Bible truths are universal in their application, they cannot be fully known unless we consider the culture and history of the author and the audience.

As we close out our discussion on biblical interpretation, it is beneficial to note that there are four major types of hermeneutics: literal, moral, allegorical, and anagogical.

Literal interpretation seeks to understanding the plain (most basic) meaning of the words and their historical context.  The reader takes the literal meaning to correspond with the intention of the authors.

moral interpretation seeks to draw ethical lessons from the biblical text.   

Allegorical interpretation interprets the Scriptures with a second level of application – beyond the persons, things and events that are explicitly mentioned in the text.   One well known example of this is typology, in which key figures, events and institutions of the Old Testament are seen as types or foreshadows of persons, events and occurrences in the New Testament.

anagogical interpretation is both mystical and prophetic.  This method of interpretation seeks to explain biblical events as they relate to the life to come, i.e. eternity future.  Books such as Daniel and Revelation are most often associated with this method of interpretation.

Nevertheless, the bottom-line for all biblical interpretation is simply this: “All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD.” (II Timothy 3:16)  Therefore, since God’s Word is Spirit-breathed, it must be Spirit-received.  Since there can be no exclusively private revelation or interpretation of the Scriptures, the serious Bible student will search diligently, “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” to discover the intended divine message. (Isaiah 28:10) 

One final word:  Whenever I study the Scriptures, I start with a heartfelt confession and a prayer: “Father, I do not understand all of Your Word, but my heart’s desire is to know more about You.  Please allow the Holy Spirit to teach and guide me as I read.  Increase my understanding and give me revelation knowledge.  Amen.”  Trust me, whenever this prayer is offered from a sincere heart, it will work every single time.  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part III)

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part III)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD.” (II Timothy 3:16)  God’s will is God’s Word.  As such, it discloses the Mind of God, i.e. His past, present and future plans concerning us.  Accurate interpretation of Scripture involves “HERMENEUTICS” [hur-muh-NOO-tiks], which is “the science of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures” (or) “the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.” (Dictionary.com)  Today, we continue our presentation of ten principles of biblical hermeneutics, which facilitate a clearer comprehension of the Scriptures.  Remember: Accurate interpretation requires consistent effort and complete openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

hermeneutic Principle #3: The Contextual Principle 

In our efforts to arrive at the true meaning of Scripture, we must never neglect CONTEXT.  The English word, “text,” is derived from the Latin word for “weave.”  This is an apt description of context.  It is the very fabric in which Scriptural truth is woven and embedded.  There is perfect unity in the Scriptures, but the Word must be rightly divided in order to perceive it properly. (II Timothy 2:15)  For example, Galatians 5:24 says “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”  In the history of the Christian church, this scripture has at times been interpreted erroneously.  Some Christians concluded they should participate in self-flagellation, ritually whipping themselves to attain righteousness.  Obviously, that is utter foolishness and not what God intended.  When this scripture is read in proper context, it is apparent that Paul’s intention was to exhort Christians to live a holy and righteous life.  Context is everything!

hermeneutic Principle #4: The Progressive Revelation Principle

God’s revelation is progressive.  In other words, God did not disclose the entire body of divine truth at any one time to any one person.  This is not to say that some portions of the Holy Writ are incomplete or in error.  Rather, it means that truth was revealed in part, according to God’s plan and purposes.  Consider this: The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.  Since many books of the Old Testament was penned centuries prior to the books of the New Testament, it was virtually impossibly to see ‘The Big Picture’ of divine truth until the final biblical books were composed.  However, we must never discard the Old Covenant because it aids us in comprehending the New Covenant.  To wit, divine revelation is a gradual and ongoing disclosure of the Mind of God, unfolded in a progressive manner for us.  In truth, we could not endure a total download of divine truth.  It would be far more than our finite beings could comprehend or survive.

hermeneutic Principle #5: The Accommodation Principle

God accommodates us by talking to us on our level.  In other words, God speaks to us in a way that we can relate to and understand.  The Bible often uses symbolic language to convey divine truth.  For example, Jesus refers to Almighty God as “our Father.” (Matthew 6:9)  While God certainly relates to His earthly children as a Father, He quite obviously operates on a much higher plain than any earthly father.  For instance, the psalmist David often wrote about the “wings” of God.  Obviously, God does not have literal feathers or wings. (Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:8; 91:4) 

The Word of God accommodates us.  The Bible was written in human languages that humankind could understand: Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.  The Bible books were also written in particular times, places and situations that we humans can relate to, understand and remember.  The Word of God accommodates us.  Jesus used parables to reveal divine truth.  He did not mean to imply that believers are actually farmers or fishermen.  He used language we could understand; He started where we were to take us where we needed to be.  As an educator, I used a variety of methods to teach students with a multiplicity of learning capacities.  Often, I had to accommodate the learning challenges of my students by presenting the lesson in a simpler or different way so it would be accessible to every student.  The Word of God accommodates us.  When reading or interpreting the Bible, never lose sight of the fact that God is speaking truth with those words, expressions and situations that we, humans, can fully relate to and understand.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part II)

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part II)

We begin with the recognition that “all scripture is given by inspiration of GOD.” (II Timothy 3:16)  That is, God’s will is God’s Word.  It is the divine and final testament of our Creator, disclosing the Mind of God, i.e. His past, present and future plans concerning us.  Accurate interpretation of Scripture always involves “HERMENEUTICS” [hur-muh-NOO-tiks], which may be defined as “the science of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures” (or) “the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.” (Dictionary.com) 

Today, we commence the presentation of ten principles of biblical hermeneutics, which will enable us to glean a greater comprehension of the scriptural record.  It goes without saying that accurate interpretation requires consistent effort and openness to the leading/teaching of the Holy Spirit.

First of all, it is beneficial to define key terms that are useful in understanding biblical hermeneutics.  We will briefly examine four terms: Inspiration, Interpretation, Illumination and Revelation.

Inspiration is the operation of the Holy Spirit that imparts accurate and unified truths from the Mind of God through the hand of man.  Since inspiration is not dictation, the Holy Spirit utilizes the unique life experiences, writing styles, vocabularies and cultures of diverse authors to impart divine truth.

Interpretation is the prayerful application of hermeneutic principles by which the reader arrives at an understanding of the Scriptures that is aligned (as much as humanly possible) with the inspired meaning.

Illumination is the operation of the Holy Spirit which convicts readers of the truth of Scripture and leads us into acceptance of the truth of God's Word.

Revelation is the operation of the Holy Spirit which unveils and discloses divine truths which cannot be discovered through human intellect, reason or interpretation. 

Now, let’s take a look at two of the ten principles of biblical hermeneutics.  We should note the fundamental fact that Scripture serves to interpret itself when the reader is dedicated and prayerful.  That is, these hermeneutic principles are embedded in the Word, itself, since Scriptures skillfully serve to interpret other Scriptures.  This is accomplished by “precept upon precept …line upon line.” (Isaiah 28:13)

hermeneutic Principle #1: The Literal Interpretation Principle 

Since Scriptures emerge from the Mind of God, we must take The Holy Bible at face value, first and foremost.  This is actually a common sense approach.  For example, if I were to leave you a written note detailing instructions for a class assignment, your first instinct would be to read (and believe) that I said and meant exactly what was written.  You would observe this simple practice before looking for any hidden or symbolic meaning in what I had written.   Therefore, the literal meaning of Scripture must come first and must serve as the foundation for any other interpretation.

In seminary, I was exposed to the golden rule of interpretation: ‘When the plain sense of the Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.’  Our first impulse should be to take every word at its primary, literal and usual meaning, unless the facts of the Scripture context (studied alongside related Scripture passages) clearly indicate otherwise.

hermeneutic Principle #2:  The Scripture Interprets Scripture Principle

As we study The Holy Bible, we may be assured of one simple thing.  Since the Word of God emerges from the Mind of God, who is all wise, He would never make the elementary error of communicating important truths through one scripture alone.  Jesus first said it; Paul later confirmed it: “By two or three witnesses…every word may be established.” (Matthew 18:16 – II Corinthians 13:1)  Therefore, all essential Bible doctrines will be clearly explained and confirmed by more than one Scripture. 

This principle is the heart of topical Bible study.  But there are two important rules to observe.  First of all, the context of the two (or more) Scriptures must always be similar.  In other words, we cannot draw a conclusion about offerings (for instance) based on two Scriptures that reference two totally different matters, even though we are tempted to extract a phrase from each Scripture that ‘seems’ appropriate to use.  In this instance, we are guilty of quoting scriptures out of context, which unfortunately happens quite often in many churches!  The second rule is that the Scripture passage that is clearest (of the two) must always guide our interpretation of the Scripture passage that is more obscure, and not vice versa, however much we favor one of the Scriptures.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part I)

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD (Part I)

According to the Apostle Paul, “all scripture is given by inspiration of GOD.” (II Timothy 3:16)  It is vitally important to note that the SUBSTANCE of scripture is divine since the source of scripture is GOD.  The Apostle Peter confirms this: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of SCRIPTURE is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:20-21)  In this instance, the word “prophecy” means to foretell and to forth-tell, i.e. to disclose the future and also to proclaim God’s present and perfect will for us.

Since the will of God is manifested through His Word, we may accurately state that God’s will is God’s Word.  As His will, the written Word of God is the divine and final testament of OUR Creator, which accurately discloses the Mind of God, i.e. His past, present and future plans concerning us.

That being the case, the HOLY Bible is not only the best selling book in human history, it is the most important book in human history.  Therefore, it is a matter of life and death that we master sound principles of interpreting its life-giving message, thus understanding its important implications for our human existence.

The accurate interpretation of Scripture involves “HERMENEUTICS” [hur-muh-NOO-tiks], which may be defined as “the science of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures” (or) “the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.” (Dictionary.com)  “Exegesis” [ek-sah-GEE-sis] is “the critical interpretation of the biblical text to discover its intended meaning.” (Encyclopedia Britannica)

The underlying miracle of The Holy Bible is simply this: It was written over a TIME Span of 1,500 years by 40 culturally diverse authors, yet it provides a seamless and unified view of the nature of God and His purposes concerning us.  That, in and of itself, is simply amazing!

However, even though The Holy Bible is an awesome phenomenon, there are three primary reasons why people have so much difficulty interpreting the biblical text.  First of all, we are far distant (in time) from the historical events written about in the Bible.  Secondly, our modern-day cultures are quite different from the ones in which the scriptures were originally written.  Thirdly, the biblical texts were originally written in languages that are foreign to most of us.  These three reasons offer clear evidence that we need an objective and systematic method to examine the Scriptures, firstly to glean their original intent and meaning, and secondly to apply them correctly today.  In the absence of this, it becomes rather easy to misappropriate and misapply Scriptures for our own purposes.

Will this be an easy task?  Certainly not!  The Scriptures, themselves, disclose that there are certain mysteries, which will only be completely disclosed in the future presence of God.  Moses, the lawgiver, wrote, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)  Paul, the apostle, wrote, “now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (I Corinthians 13:12)  Even so, the Scriptures present a clear-cut mandate to every believer: “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)

Over the next few days, we will present ten principles of biblical hermeneutics.  These may be used as a substantive starting point, from which all of us can glean greater comprehension of the scriptural record.  Before starting this process, however, we should note that scriptural interpretation is not an exact science.  Admittedly, we come to the Word-table with certain prejudices (prior ‘knowledge’ and ‘beliefs’) that can potentially color our interpretation and our acceptance of divine truth.  As we begin, we must own up to that limitation; and, we must recognize that the human mind can never fully apprehend the things of God. 

Nevertheless, the following premise is mission-critical to our understanding: God’s Word is living! (Hebrews 4:12)  That is, God’s Word is Spirit-breathed, and to truly understand its message, God’s Word must be Spirit-received.  It can never be fully appreciated or apprehended by the natural man, utilizing the natural mind.  Rather, one must be “born again” in order to “SEE” (understand and accept) “the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)  Jesus declared, “To you [all born again believers] it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:10)  So while you are reading the Scriptures, make sure that you have a genuinely intimate relationship with “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!