Category: Scripture Index

  • Harbor Mouse

    Scripture can never mean what it wan’t intended

    Mouse shaped rock in harbor Blaine Washington

    I snapped this photo of a rock in the harbor at Blaine,  Washington. It is nothing spectacular; when I looked at it, I looked like a mouse to me.

    Of course, I know it isn’t a real mouse, but looking at it reminded me that things are not always as they appear.

    Just because something sounds biblical or has a Bible verse attached doesn’t make it true. I’m not saying the Bible is untrue. I believe the entire Bible is God-inspired and entirely trustworthy.

    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

    People can misuse Scripture intentionally to mislead. They can also misunderstand what the Scriptures teach and unknowingly teach error. I’m certain we have all done that on occasion to one degree or another.

    We’ve given someone a “word of encouragement” that doesn’t mean what we think it does. We interpret a passage to support what we want it to mean, rather than what it teaches. We “claim a promise” that isn’t a promise to us or even a promise at all.

    A common example is “Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.”     We claim this “promise” from God when our children go astray. This quote is a proverb (Proverbs 22:6), not a promise. A proverb is a general truism, not a guarantee.

    When a child or loved one strays, we must pray for them. We know God is loving, merciful, sovereign, and answers prayers. Still, we don’t know His plan or His timing. God can, and often does, restore those who have wandered away.

    Scripture can never mean what it was not intended to mean. We can jump through all sorts of hermeneutical hoops to make it seem to mean something else, but it’s still only going to mean what God intended.

    His Word is trustworthy. God never lies, nor does He fail to keep His promises. We need to read and study the Word in context and be sure to understand what it meant to the original audience. The Scriptures were written for us, not to us.

    Trust in His Word and His character. He loves enough to send His Son to die on our Behalf and His Spirit to indwell us.

    Hold fast to the truth.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Water Rats and hard hearts

    I stood on the lakeshore watching a muskrat contentedly swim along, either oblivious to or ignoring me. As he swam by, a nonsense children’s song from my childhood flashed through my mind. “Fat, fat, you water rat. Moby Dick your mother was a whale.”

    It didn’t mean anything; it was simply fun to sing. Piffles, that is nonsense rhymes and songs often make me smile, perhaps it’s my inner child.

    Curious about the origins of the song, I did some searching online, and it seems to have its roots in a street song from the early 1900s.

    As the song echoed in my brain, I was reminded of an account from Scripture.

    Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear let him hear.“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. Matthew 11:11-19 ESV

    Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees for their hard hearts. They have made up their minds about John and Jesus, and no amount of proof will satisfy them. Like petulant children, they did not dance with joy or mourn.

    Sometimes, as Christians, we can act that way about the church or our local assembly in particular. I’m sure we all know people who complain about everything on a Sunday morning.

    For them, there is always something wrong with the preacher, the sermon, the music, the brand of coffee. No one greeted them at the door, or perhaps someone did. It’s the wrong Bible translation. The congregants are too formal or irreverent. The programs aren’t what they should be. I’m sure you have heard all these and more.

    Now, to be sure, not everything is perfect in any local assembly. Everyone can have a grumpy, off day.

    These constant complainers, who are never satisfied, have a heart problem. They can be frustrating and cause divisions in the church.

    Such people need our prayers. We also need to pray for our own hearts, that we love these unhappy people and not let their lack of joy rob us of ours.

    We have the ultimate reason for joy in Jesus. Let’s not squander it on petty inconveniences or with cold, hard hearts.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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