I admit I am no great scholar. I admit I am no great professor. What I am is angry with the way people are using my Maker's words to hurt someone else.
Have you ever seen many of the new facebook names that people are using? Some are really neat like "Jesus Daily" and "Love to Laugh" They are used to make humanity feel better about themseleves. How ever there are some that I have had it with. I have also had it with people sharing horrible messages from them that they "think" are full of wit and wisdom, from Scripture. Today I stand by less is more. I saw a page with the title "God"as the page name. It was making fun of Tim Tebow, and his taking a knee. Someone was actually using scripture to justify making fun of him for his expression of faith, and calling themselves "God"..
A word to the witty and wise. READ YOUR SCRIPTURES IN CONTEXT. As people attempt to pull one or two phrases out of a single line of text, they show just how narrow what they are saying is. I have NO respect for this kind of preaching and teaching. The Bible is not one book. It is in fact many books. It is not written in chronological order, nor is it complete. It is in fact a series of texts designed to provide the basis of the life of the One whom we should follow. The KJV was put together by the Bishops of Canterbury in 1511 to give some cohesion to the teaching of sacred study. What do you suppose people did before that time? Or was 1511 a magical year? If we use any of the words to oppress, mock, or bring ourselves above another, we have gone against what the Bible is trying to teach. I can use the words in the Gospel to prove anything I want, but I am a fool if I don't use the words in proper context. I also need to use historical facts, reason, prayer, and a slew of lenses to be sure that what I am saying is proper.
James, the brother of Christ was wise. You see he suffered from initial jealousy at having to pick up the slack that was left in his older brother's absence. James had to take care of the family, worry about Mary, for we know that Joseph has passed or was too ill sometime before, or Jesus would not have been the male head of household guest at Cana.. (no Jesus was not an only child either).. James was not a believer at first. So when he speaks, he does so out of learning through hard knocks of his own mistakes, and having front row seats to his brother's ministry.
He left some advice that we need to remember From James, Brother of Jesus
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Live Well, Live Wisely
13-16"Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.17-18Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. " - The Message
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In closing,
Please my friends, if you see a scripture used to make a point, read before it, and read after it. Compare versions, and read various definitions when a scholar's Bible tell you there are multiple meanings. Ask yourself, what was it first saying written in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or some other language from days of old? As we already know, words and their meanings change. The only thing in this life that will not, is the love of God for his human family. Before we speak on His behalf, we had better know what it is we are saying, or else we risk the credibility we have as Christians. We also are sinning ourselves, for assuming our selves level with God. We were commanded to Love him, and our neighbor, not use Him to gain our own purpose, or power over our neighbor. So now Mr. Tebow, please keep taking your knee, and thank God for the talent He has given you. Someday you will be too old to take that knee, but by then I am sure your witness will be honed in words enough, your knees won't matter..
Of course, you know I agree with you. A responsible study of scripture requires us to be exigetical, to study the sacred text in light of its contextual origins, trying to understand the words as it was intended to be heard by the first listeners. Coming to understand scripture in this way provides us with, often, vastly different meanings than we may have previously understood. What we thought may have been saying one thing, may say something completely new to us. This is the wonderful mystery of scripture. If we allow the words to grow in us and to take fruit, we cannot use them in a way that hinders any one else's discernment and growth. As we discover more from the sacred writ, we should be excited to see others make their own discoveries, not try to force ours on them!
ReplyDeleteInside of book sleeve? ...That fruit also will help us to grow our Spiritual Fruit Salad. If we can identify those things (fruits) that have deeper meaning, we can eventually share that portion with others..
DeleteI am thankful for mentors who have invested their time in my education of the scripture. While the Temptation of taking those one or two little words are so strong, I have seen genuine appreciation from many people who have not been able to study scripture in depth. When provided with back ground, and that contex of meaning you spoke of, the receiver of that message is more fully able to take a deeper meaning. It is one thing to say love, it is another to say that God Loves You, and here is the reason why, here is what he did for these people. Thank you for sharing! I always hope that you post when you feel the urge, after all, with out your counsel, I wouldn't have had many of my first steps..
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