Thus, integrity is a necessary element in all sacred scripture/ biblical interpretation. If we tell someone about what a friend said, we should try to be as accurate as possible. If we are not sure about a certain point, we should say, "In my opinion, or in my view, or simply said, I do not know." Perhaps, this is normally what we do with our friends. "I think this is what he said." So why then, when we interpret Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible, do many of us lose that integrity? Why do we not read the text carefully? Did we read the whole of the Old Testament and the New Testament? Why do we read between the lines, make fanciful interpretations that are more a product of our imagination than reverent study, and then insist that this is the text actually says?
We must always remember, and never forget whose letters we are reading. They have come from the mouth of God Himself, and they demand respect. They demand to speak for themselves. They demand that we be honest and have integrity. We must not put our guesswork on the same level as the words of God. For example, how do we interpret Roman 14 and 1Corinthians 8? [briefly]
If a person's faith is not strong enough, welcome him all the same without starting an argument. People range from those who believe they may eat any sort of meat to those whose faith is so weak that they dare not eat anything except vegetables. Meat-eaters must not despise the scrupulous. On the other hand, the scrupulous must not condemn those who feel free to eat anything they choose, since God has welcomed them.
It is not for you to condemn someone else servant: whether he stands or falls it is his own master business; he will stand, you may be sure, because the Lord has power to make him stand. If one man keeps certain days as holier than others, and another considers all days to be equally holy, each must left free to hold his own opinion. The one who observes special days does so in honor of the Lord. The one who eats meat also does so in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; but then the man who abstains does that too in honor of the Lord, and so he also gives God thanks.
The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life, it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. This is also why you should never pass judgment on a brother or treat him with contempt, as some of you have done. We shall have to stand before the judgment seat of God; as scripture says: But my life - it is the Lord who speaks - every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall praise God. It is to God, therefore, that each of us must give an account of himself.
Far from passing judgment on each other, therefore, you should make up your mind never to be the cause of your brother tripping or failing. Now I am perfectly well aware, of course, and I speak for the Lord Jesus Christ, that no food is unclean in itself; however, if someone thinks that a particular food is unclean, then it is unclean for him. And indeed if your attitude to food is upsetting your brother, then you are hardly being guided by charity. You are certainly not free to eat what you like if that means the downfall of someone for whom Christ died.
In short, you must not compromise your privilege, because the kingdom of God does not mean eating or drinking this or that, it means righteousness and peace and joy brought by the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ in this way you will please God and respected by men. So let us adopt any custom that leads to peace and our mutual improvement: do not wreck God's work over a question of food. Of course all food is clean, but it becomes evil if by eating it you make somebody else fall away. In such cases the best course is to abstain from meat and wine and anything else that would make your brother trip or fall or weaken in any way.
Hold on to your own belief, as between yourself and God - and consider the man fortunate who can make his decision without going against conscience. But anybody who eats in a state of doubt is condemned, because he is not in good faith; and every act done in bad faith is a sin. - Romans 14:1-23 -
Now about food sacrificed to idols. 'We all have knowledge'; yes, that is so, but knowledge gives self-importance - it is love that makes the building grow. A man may imagine he understands something, but still not understand anything in the way that he ought to. But any man who loves God is known by him. Well then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:....... By sinning in this way against your brothers, and injuring their weak consciences, it would be Christ against whom you sinned... - 1Cor. 8:1-13 -
Once we understand the facts and background of the passage, once we have asked what the passage actually is saying and what is its context, then we see that Saint Paul is teaching the principle of voluntarily refraining from a practice which, although it is not wrong in and of itself, or it is acceptable, might be harmful to a fellow Christian. We may also ask: What does the passage mean in today's context?
The vast majority of the New Testament doctrine can be applied directly to 21st century generation. If we love God, regardless of when or where we live, then we must obey His commandments: "If you love me you will keep my commandments." - John 14:15 - We may ask: Which is the first and greatest commandments? "This is the first: the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this: "You must love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." This teaching is true for all times.
Many people today do not believe that the sacred scripture/biblical accounts of miracles are true. For example, even some scholars argue that miracles were a part of 1st century generation and were believed by the people in Jesus' day. But this is the 21st century and people do not believe in miracles in this generation. But these scholars' views on the impossibility of the supernatural are likewise influenced by the materialistic, science-oriented generation in which they live. We must be careful about allowing our own generation to influence our view of Sacred Scripture/ Holy Bible.
Jesus gazed at them. 'For men' he said 'it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.' - Mark 10:27 -
It is absolutely essential to recognize that the purpose and goal of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible study is a godly/eternal life. It is not complete until we put into practice what we have learned. The question to ask at this stage of interpretation is, "How can I apply what I have learned to how I live my life?" The academic and the practical are thus fused into a meaningful approach to the Sacred Scripture's/ Holy Bible's message.
Some people dismiss the academic as boring and trivial. Others reject the application as unnecessary. Both extremes are equally incorrect. The interpreter must walk the tightrope between these approaches. A three-act play is unsatisfying without the final act. The last act, without the first two, does not make sense. Sometimes it is necessary to emphasize the academic when the passage is difficult to understand, or to emphasize the application when the passage's practical relevance is confusing. But one of these approaches should never be used to the exclusion of the other. Thus, it must be interpreted as a whole.
No one can come to me
unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,
and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They will all be taught by God.
and to hear the teaching of the Father,
and learn from it,
is to come to me. - John 6:44-45 -
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
No comments:
Post a Comment