Hermeneutics: Handling Scripture

Accurate Hermeneutics: Interpreting The Bible Correctly (Part 2)

Folks look at scripture in many ways.

Folks look at scripture in many ways.

I was asked recently about how to correctly interpret the Bible.  This is a legitimate question which has repercussions on one’s salvation, when one thinks about it.  If one does not correctly interpret God’s Word, then one will end up disobeying God on a host of different matters.  Disobeying the laws of God is the biblical definition of sin (1 John 3:4), and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), specifically the spiritual, eternal death of hell (Rev. 21:8).  Our Lord does not want any of us to experience that (2 Pet. 3:9), which is why Christians are commanded to accurately handle God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:15), a command which implies by its very existence that it is possible that one could inaccurately handle God’s Word.  Thus, correct interpretation of the Bible is a necessity.

One way to inaccurately handle the word of truth – having a post-modernistic, relative view of truth rather than recognizing that truth is absolute – was discussed in the previous article.  Yet, even if one recognizes that truth is absolute and looks at the Bible with that mindset, it is still possible to misinterpret Scripture.  For example, one could look at parts of the Bible to be absolutely true while failing to realize that the entirety of Scripture is truth (Ps. 119:160).  This fallacy of thought has led sincere people to dismiss some parts of the Bible as myth and other parts of the Bible as not applicable to us today.  However, the Bible says that every word of God is “tested” (Prov. 30:5).  This means not only that every word in Scripture has proven to be true (John 17:17), but that every word also has a reason to be in Scripture…namely, to provide us with the way to eternal life and godliness and the means to be involved in every work that God deems to be good (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Therefore, one is well on their way to correctly interpreting the Bible when they recognize that first that every word from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 is factually, doctrinally, and historically true, and also that every word from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 is there to help them in some way grow closer to God and eternal life.  Thus, they will accept the biblical account of creation and the biblical record of miracles of God performed by men to be historical fact.  They will accept the commands and principles of God found in Scripture to be applicable to them and to all men of all cultures and times.  If they conclude that there is a law or principle found in Scripture that does not apply to them personally, it will be only because God’s Word specifically said so (cf. Heb. 8:7-13; 1 Cor. 11:13-16).  If they believe that a certain part of Scripture is figurative rather than literal in its language, it will be solely due to evidence found in Scripture rather than their own musings and theories (cf. Rev. 1:1‘s “signified”).  Finally, if they read that a certain verse commands them to do a certain thing in order to be saved while other verses command additional things in order to be saved, they will accept the fact that they need to obey all of those passages rather than just one or a few of them (Ps. 119:160; cf. John 3:16; Mark 16:16; 2 Cor. 7:9-10; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Lord willing, future articles will give specific examples to illustrate how the hermeneutical principles expounded in today’s post are true.

 

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Hermeneutics: Interpret Accurately

Accurate Hermeneutics Interpreting the Bible Part 1

Can man properly interpret scripture?

Can man properly interpret scripture?

I received an excellent question in the comments for last week’s article, Can We Understand the Bible Alike?  The commenter asked, “What is your solution to properly interpreting the Bible? Do you take a literal interpretation, or a more intricate one, etc.?”  This is a very important inquiry, because how one interprets the Bible – more specifically, whether one does so correctly – determines whether one is going to actually obey the commands and principles laid out in the Bible.  That, in turn, has a direct bearing on whether one will be saved (Matt. 7:21-23; Heb. 5:9).  Therefore, if God permits me I would like to take the next few posts on my blog to show both from scripture and from logic how to correctly interpret the Bible.

To begin with, it must be asked whether it is actually possible to correctly interpret the Bible.  After all, some believe that truth is relative rather than absolute.  This notion is easily proven to be very much mistaken when one thinks about it with an open and honest mind (cf. Luke 8:15).  To the person who confidently asserts, “There is no absolute truth,” responding with the simple inquiry, “Are you absolutely sure about that?” shows the inconsistency and error of such a proposition.  Nevertheless, many still believe this foolish notion.  A popular rock band from my youth wrote a song which opined, “This is not a black and white world/To be alive, I say that the colors must swirl/And I believe that maybe today/We will all get to appreciate/The beauty of gray.”  This post-modernistic idea – the beauty of gray, there are no black and whites, there is no absolute truth – is very popular in our society, and for good reason.  After all, if there is no such thing as absolute truth then there is no such thing as an absolute standard of what is right and what is wrong.  (If not, why not?)  Therefore, who are you to tell me that I am wrong for doing whatever it is I want to do?

Hypothetically, I could commit adultery with your spouse, murder your child, steal your money, and burn down your house, and you probably would have a problem with that.  Fine, that’s YOUR definition of truth.  MY definition of truth is that it’s okay for me to do those things.  Since truth is relative, that means we’re both right.  And since I am right, I will continue to commit adultery with your spouse, murder your children, steal your money, and harm your property…and who are you to tell me I’m wrong to do so?  Such a mindset is not only ludicrous on its face but also extremely dangerous, because following this line of thought to its logical end would result in chaos (cf. Judg. 21:25).

Additionally, having this post-modernistic mindset would make it impossible for one to correctly interpret the Bible, because to a post-modernistic mind every word in the Bible would be subjective, open to multiple interpretations of which all would be valid.  For example, you believe that John 3:16 teaches that God gave his Son because he loved the world?  Fine, that’s YOUR interpretation.  MY interpretation of John 3:16 is that God gave his Son because he did NOT love the world.  Since truth is relative, we’re both right and who are you to tell me that I’m wrong?  Again, a simple reading of the passage under consideration shows very clearly…to the person who already knows about and accepts the existence of absolute truth…that the above, post-modernistic way of thinking is absurd on its face.  The passage very clearly states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…”  Believe that statement to be absolutely true, and you will clearly see the error of anyone who would interpret it in any other way.

Therefore, the existence of the post-modernistic mindset does not mean that it is impossible for anyone to correctly interpret the Bible.  On the contrary, those who recognize the existence of absolute truth in this world will find it easier to correctly interpret God’s Word, because God’s Word IS truth (John 17:17).  When one who already knows and accepts the fact that absolute truth exists and then comes to know and accept the fact that God’s Word is truth, then one has achieved the first step towards correctly interpreting the Bible.

 

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Strength and Courage

Be Strong and of Good Courage

Have you cultivated courage?

Have you cultivated courage?

As Moses neared the end of his life, he told the children of Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, because God is with you.” Then he said the same thing to Joshua, who would be his successor as the leader of God’s people. “Be strong and of good courage, because God is with you.”

When God spoke to Joshua after Moses’ death, the Almighty repeated the same thought three times to his new mouthpiece: “Be strong and of good courage.” God made a promise to Joshua and to the children of Israel, that if they were strong and courageous, He would take care of them and they would prosper.

Certainly, it took a great deal of strength and courage to accomplish what the Lord commanded, but knowing that God was on their side, Israel took possession of the land that was promised to them. At the end of his life, Joshua again encouraged the people to continue with these attitudes of strength and courage in the Lord.

Sadly, Israel turned from God several times. Throughout the book of Judges we read of several occasions that the people disobeyed God and needed to be restored. God would raise up a leader to bring them back, and they would be faithful for a while before failing away again. The cycle repeats over and over, not only in the book of Judges, but throughout the Old Testament.

This still happens today in the church. There are some people that will disappear for weeks or months, then will come back for a little while, then leave again. What can we do when we notice this happening? Have you called your missing brethren to encourage them to return? Have you asked what you can do to help them? Sometimes, showing that you are concerned is encouragement in itself.

We must develop strength and courage in order to lead others to Christ, and to bring others back to God. The words that were spoken to Joshua still apply to us today: “Be strong and of good courage.”

As Christians, where do we find our strength? The apostle Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Peter writes, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Our strength comes not from ourselves, but from God the Father and Christ Jesus.

And what of the courage? It is in Christ that “we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:12). Just as He promised to be with the children of Israel in their battles against the nations around them, He will be with us as well. That knowledge should motivate us not only be courageous, but content with our portion in life as well. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Are you strong and of good courage?

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Me Generation Humility

Me Generation –  It’s Not All About You… Or Me

Every generation will get a dose of humility at some point.

Every generation will get a dose of humility at some point.

I have looked into the tearful eyes of many parents as they shared the details of their children abandoning Christianity. While I have learned a great deal about why young people leave the Church, one nugget that has stood out  from such conversations is that there is a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual life versus our children possessing a heart that dictates their actions. Thus, I think it is vitally important for parents, teachers, preachers, and elders to get to the heart of the matter. In this column I hope to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love

Generational names are not new. Those individuals who are now waltzing into their golden years have been long termed Baby Boomers. The X-generation watched the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. The latest generation has been labeled by many as the “Me Generation.” (Or maybe better termed the “I-Me” generation.) This generation has grown up embracing the notion that the world literally revolves around their very existence. Now don’t get me wrong—they have had good role models. The Baby Boomers set the precedent on being a “me generation.” The X-generation then filled in any missing gaps by filling their homes with gadgets, electronics, and technology to please their own desires. So now along comes an extremely narcissistic generation that expects their every want and desire to be fulfilled. Is this a healthy outlook on life, and what does the Bible have to say regarding this mentality?

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children—children who are currently growing up in the Me Generation:

While I love you deeply, it never has been, or never will be, all about you. That does not change my love for you, but it does help us put things into perspective. This world has existed for a long time before you and I came into it. And, Lord willing, it will continue on long after we are gone. It’s not all about you. Simply put, it’s all about Him.

This “I-Me” attitude has become an epidemic. During your life, you will meet many people who believe they come first—that the world truly revolves around them. Never lose sight of the fact that the Bible clearly teaches us that every knee will bow to God (Isaiah 45:23) no matter how rich or famous. This same sentiment is applied to Jesus in Philippians 2:9-11. How frightening will it be to look upon Jehovah God on that Great Day having lived a life revolving around yourself?

James admonished, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). The Bible teaches us that one of the six things God hates is a proud look (Proverbs 6:16-17). The inspired writer of Proverb 3:34 proclaimed that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. It’s my prayer that you will grow into humble servants of God. Humility is a trait that must be cultivated in your heart. Always ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing.

No matter how great we believe our accomplishments to be, there will always be someone out there who is wealthier, prettier, smarter, or more successful. There will always be someone who has traveled further, built bigger, or accumulated more. But remember, these are worldly standards of success. If you place all of your happiness and peace in your own self-image or your own accomplishments, then you are ultimately going to live a miserable life.

In Micah 6:8 the question is raised: “And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Is this the message we are sending our children today?

Having tasted every single thing this world had to offer, Solomon reminded us “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). He then concluded by reminding us the whole duty of man was to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Please make sure this I-Me attitude does not infect your heart. Make sure this narcissistic attitude does not enter the Church. Our worship to God is not all about you or your personal desires. It’s about Him. He is the audience of our worship and praise—not man. As you look for a husband or wife, as you raise your children, as you find a congregation to worship with, remember Who the world truly revolves around. For without Him, the world would not revolve at all.

Love,

Dad

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Black Friday

Black(est) Friday

There is one black Friday that was darker than all others.

There is one black Friday that was darker than all others.

“Black Friday.” Everything you see and hear this week seems to revolve around it. Originally the invention of enterprising retailers to achieve even greater sales numbers through seeking to “one up” everyone else by offering the deepest, greatest, and earliest morning discounts for the day after thanksgiving (traditionally the heaviest shopping day of the year anyway), this fanatical shopping craze has caught on like wildfire! Prior to the past few years wherein some car dealerships and retailers have recently diluted the process (while still seeking to attract consumers with the “Black Friday” tag of course) by offering so-called “Black Friday” deals and discounts throughout the hours, days, and even weeks leading up to it, some consumers had been known to actually line up and “camp out” in front of some stores in the past, in order to get in and get the best deals and deepest discounts the earliest. And quite frankly, some of the discounts and savings on some of those items were quite simply unimaginable!

But there is another “Black Friday” – indeed the very “Blackest Friday” of them all; the blackest, bleakest, most unbelievable Friday morning in all of human history – the one that every person on the planet should be far more aware of, far more involved with, and far more grateful for. Like the “Black Friday” we are so accustomed to, it too, began in the early, pre-dawn hours. But that is pretty much where any further similarities come to a screeching and very sudden stop.

On this bleak, black Friday pre-dawn morning, the very sinless, pure, perfect, and only begotten Son of the Living God, would be betrayed, arrested, and as the morning wore on, mocked, rejected, scourged, beaten, spat upon, and crucified. He would pay the ultimate price to purchase you and I back from the power of sin, satan, and death… (See: 1 Peter 1:17-21; Hebrews 2:14-16; and etc.). Within the context of that unimaginably horrific event, He, God in the very flesh, would utter phrases that should melt even the proudest and stoutest of lost sinners’ hearts…

“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:23-28)

 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (Matthew 26:36-38).

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”that is, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46).

Although Jesus had waited for this moment not for a night, or for a week or two, but since from even before the beginning of time (Eph. 1:3, 3:8-12), He did not come to pay a fraction of the original price for new items that should’ve cost far more like we do on “Black Friday,” but instead, just the opposite! He came to pay an infinitely greater price than we can, could, or will ever imagine, for used, broken down, dying and decaying, dirty and sin-stained souls destined for destruction.

They say something is worth only as much as someone is willing to pay for it. I was reminded of this this past summer when an NFL player signed a mega-million dollar contract and received – are you ready for this – an on the spot, twenty million dollar signing bonus! “That’s insane!” some would say… and I agree. Do you realize that many full time preachers of the gospel whose work has eternal implications would have to work somewhere between 375 and 400 years at today’s wages in order to earn the amount of money that that one player received, simply for signing his name to the dotted line? But… someone is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for them (at least to the purchaser who is willing to put forth that kind of investment) – in that case, more millions than you or I can begin to imagine.

But God paid far, far, infinitely more for you and I than that, that fatal, final, black Friday morning of almost two millennia ago. The perfect and pure life-blood of His only begotten Son; that’s what you, yes, you… personally… were worth to Him (Isaiah 53:1-12; Romans 5:1-11).

What do you do with something you’ve stood in line a few hours or so to purchase on “Black Friday,” when you finally get it home and then find out it doesn’t work? Take it back? Throw it out? Surely you discard it in some form or fashion. You bought it for a specific purpose; and when it doesn’t do what you purchased it to do – no matter how much of a price you paid for it, and more often than not, precisely because of the price you paid for it – you wind up returning, exchanging, replacing, or discarding it.

Consider with me for just a moment, the awesome, infinite, and unimaginable price God paid to purchase you back from sin and Satan that original black Friday morning. Then, understand that you were “purchased for a purpose.” And that the purpose for which you were personally purchased by almighty God and the King of this universe, was to serve at His pleasure, speaking His praises, and spreading His promises (See: Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11-14, 3:8; 1 Peter 2:9-10). You were saved to serve and purchased to perform (Romans 2:4-11; Revelation 14:12-13, 20:11-15).

This coming Thursday as you sit down with unsaved family and friends to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday just a few hours prior to this year’s “Black Friday” frenzy, remember: “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and spirit which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Fulfill the purpose you were purchased to perform! Proclaim the message you were saved to spread! Tell them all about that original, incredible, incomparable and infinitely-unforgettable black Friday so many years ago. The one where the very Son of God Himself, paid the ultimate price for a bunch of broken vessels… and be as worthy as you can possibly be, of the immeasurable price and infinite, incarnate investment which God paid for, and poured into, you; as you thus do exactly what He purchased you to. God bless!

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