Misunderstanding Scripture: What’s the Point?

September 10, 2010 Len Joson Leave a comment

Learning effective communication skills is always a plus. Being misunderstood is a common thing and it’s amazingly and especially true when it comes to biblical and doctrinal discussions. Doctrinal misunderstanding can develop into heated arguments and sometimes worse things can happen. It can show people’s character in the midst of a heated discussion.

Is there a way to better understand what the Bible is saying? Yes, there is a simple way. In understanding Scripture, it is always important to understand the main point of a passage or text under discussion. Always ask, “What’s the point?” That is very important in biblical interpretation as well as in our daily conversations. Getting the point will help remove a lot of misunderstanding and confusion.

Misinterpreting Scripture

Without realizing it, many of us misinterpret Scripture. We think that our views about the Bible are exactly God’s views. We think we have the mind of God and that our interpretation of the Bible is the only accurate one. This is fine as long as our views are really what God is truly saying in the Bible.

But oftentimes, we think that our perception, our understanding, our interpretation, our view on the matter, is the only correct interpretation of the Bible. We think that our view is what God is really saying in the Bible and all the others are wrong. And this is where we might be wrong sometimes — or oftentimes.

Hermeneutics

It is good to study something about biblical interpretation. The scholarly world calls it, Hermeneutics. It can intimidate some simple folks like us but Hermeneutics simply means the study of biblical interpretation. It is good to know that there are some basic principles to understand and consider when interpreting the Bible. Lacking this “tool”—without this knowledge and skill on how to properly interpret Scripture—some people come up with their own heretical ideas and “out-of-this-world” doctrines leading them to wrong beliefs and practices.

The Bible is a book composed of many books with different contexts, different authors, different literary backgrounds—poem, song, history, letter, etc. It also has different historical backgrounds, different cultural backgrounds, different eras spanning over a thousand years, written in several languages and grammatical construction, different purposes why a book was written, different audiences to whom the literature was written, and more!

Eisegesis

Reading into the Bible what is not there—your personal opinions, thoughts and ideas—interpreting the Bible without considering its various contexts is the reason why we have all kinds of conflicting religions and ideologies.

Exegesis

Reading the Bible based on what is really in the Bible considering all its various contexts (literary, historical, grammatical, cultural, geographical, etc.) is the right approach to understanding what God’s will really is in the Bible. Learning about Hermeneutics can be a great tool and help in our study of the Bible. There’s no harm in using this tool especially for would-be pastors, teachers, biblical interpreters and theologians.

Jesus Interprets Scripture

And the most important context that we should put into our every interpretation of Scripture is this: Jesus Christ. All our interpretation should have a center on Jesus Christ. He is the criterion and the basis for all our interpretation of Scripture. Jesus Christ should be our “lens.” We interpret Scripture in the light of who Jesus Christ really is. This is always the correct way to interpret Scripture. Jesus said all Scripture points to him and is all about him. Jesus Christ who is the Living Word interprets for us the Written Word, the Bible. All our biblical interpretation should center on Jesus Christ not on ourselves and our own experience. Our Bible interpretations should be Christ-centered and not man-centered.

Thankfully, the Lord Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). He will not leave us to grope in the dark as to what the Lord’s will really is. He will in his own good time, correct our misunderstanding, correct our erroneous views. Now that I’m a bit older, I have found it wiser to be more tolerant about other people’s views and to follow the traditional advice regarding one’s theological stand: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. But at all times charity (love).”

And so, what’s the point? Don’t forget to always ask that question when reading Scripture. It will help you understand the Bible better—hopefully.

Life & Love, Who is God?

The Problem is Spiritual – A Heart Problem

September 7, 2010 Len Joson 2 Comments

Have you heard about the speech of Gen. Douglas MacArthur? I came across this speech some 38 years ago when I was still a teenager. This was his speech before the US Congress sometime in 1951. I was not even born yet. Of course I learned that not everybody liked him and he had his own faults and weaknesses. But I was really amazed that at the end of his career as a military man, as a great general who was most knowledgeable in the art of war, has was able to see clearly the solution to man’s great problem.

After World War I, the League of Nations was created to avoid another devastating world war. It failed. After Word War II, the United Nations was created. Again, in the hope that another world war would be avoided. But is it succeeding in its mission to unite the nations? I pray it does! But as it is right now, it seems to be a place of conflicting vested interests among nations and individuals. Lord help us from ourselves!

Here’s a portion of MacArthur’s speech:

“Men since the beginning of time have sought peace. Various methods through the ages have been attempted to devise an international process to prevent or settle disputes between nations. From the very start workable methods were found in so far as individual citizens were concerned, but the mechanics of an instrumentality of larger international scope have never been successful. Military alliances, balances of power, Leagues of Nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. The utter destructiveness of war now blocks out this alternative. We have had our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door.

“The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature, and all material and cultural developments of the past 2000 years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.“

I’m still amazed up to now that this great general had great wisdom to see that man’s problems are “theological”—that is, “spiritual” in nature and “it must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.”

A Heart Problem

The solution to our country’s problems is not better laws, better law enforcement, better economic management, better politics or a better government. I mean, yes, these are all good and there are a lot of much needed reforms that need to be implemented but the main and core problem is really spiritual in nature and should also be addressed and given top priority if we are to succeed.

The problem is really in man’s character — a problem of the heart, the inner man — which needs a lot of re-aligning, rethinking and changing to conform one’s thoughts, words and deeds to that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And it begins with me.

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 The Message)

Place Your Life Before God

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 The Message)

Life & Love, Who is God?

Book Review: Surprised by Joy (C. S. Lewis)

July 2, 2010 Len Joson 1 Comment

Book review by Veejay Joson

What C.S. Lewis and I have in common is our love for reading good books and the wonderment it brings to our active imaginations. Through him I was introduced to two other great Christian writers, G.K. Chesterton and George MacDonald. But what C.S. Lewis does best where books are concerned is write them. He has written countless of books on Christian Apologetics, but his book “Surprised by Joy” differs from all of them. It chronicles a biographical journey of C.S. Lewis’ love for books from childhood to adulthood, and how through this love for them he was swayed to the seductive beckoning of Atheism and eventually his conversion to Theism.

C. S. Lewis’ Conversion

Like many other Christians I personally know, Lewis’ gradual conversion to Christianity was nothing exceptional, life-altering or even awe-inspiring. His was a slow and quiet rise from the very rigid intellectual snobbery of all things lowbrow (an attitude he had acquired from childhood and had been reinforced during his academic years) to a much surprising discovery of the quiet, remarkably no-nonsense and similarly logical truths offered by Theism (a term he referred to prior to his full-time conversion to the Christian faith).

The title is based from William Wordsworth’s poem of the same title and has nothing to do with his wife Joy Gresham. The book in a nutshell is Lewis’ pursuit of “Joy” since he was a boy, which seemed ever so elusive and fleeting that he can often only find in reading “good” books. But thanks to his unwavering love for them, he came upon the writings of Chesterton and MacDonald, both of whom he considers to have been very influential to his conversion into Christianity.

Who is God?

Understanding the Parables

May 5, 2010 Len Joson Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered why there are so many conflicting views among pastors, Bible students and theologians? Why can’t they seem to all agree with what the Bible really says? Don’t be too sure you have the correct understanding! Why not take a second look?

Importance of Watching the Whole Movie

You need to watch the whole movie in order to appreciate what the whole story is all about. You don’t interpret the Bible without first getting the whole point of the story—“the movie”—from Genesis to Revelation. You don’t stop at midpoint and attempt to explain the movie. In essence, that was how I understood Robert F. Capon, author of the book, Kingdom, Grace, Judgment in an interview done by Pastor Tim Brassell. It captivated my imagination! He said that for some 2,000 years, most of Christianity has misinterpreted many of Jesus’ parables. I was intrigued by his explanation but I thought he made sense! I was excited to learn more!

Book on Parables by Robert F. Capon

In August 2007, a pastor friend of mine brought me and another pastor friend to a bookstore somewhere in California. We saw Capon’s book, Kingdom, Grace, Judgment: Paradox, Outrage, and Vindication in the Parables of Jesus but there was only one copy! So my other pastor friend bought that one copy. I felt bad but thankfully, a few months later, another pastor friend gave me a copy of the book for free!

Read this Thick Book!

So I began reading the book. Capon greatly enhanced my understanding of Jesus’ parables! Although I’m no avid bookworm, but this one is different. Although I hate thick books, but I begun to read it! I wanted to know what Jesus really taught through the parables he gave. Capon’s interpretation is not the traditional view we often hear. You have to read the book to get what I mean. This is good news!

What a great blessing it was that someone gave me a copy of the book for free! I hope somebody would do the same for you and give you a free copy hahaha! But if you can’t wait, go and buy the book. You can also read more “reviews” about the book on this link above. I’m sure you would enjoy reading it. Not only that, it will give you a better understanding of not only the parables but also a better understanding what the good news is really all about!

Life & Love, Photography

One-legged Biker

April 25, 2010 Len Joson Leave a comment

From time to time, there are some people who gives us inspiration to move on when things don’t seem to go our way. One person that stands out in my mind is Nick Vujicic, a man who was born with no limbs—no arms and legs. And yet he continues to inspire a lot of people all over the world through his motivational videos and appearances. He is such an inspiration to many.

I also have another person who inspires me. One day in Davao City, in December 2003, I took some snapshots of an inspiration as I was driving my car. I saw a man who was riding his bike. There was nothing strange with that until I began to notice and looked more closely. The guy had only one leg—a one-legged biker!

It’s been seven years since I took those snapshots but whenever I see these photos, he gives me inspiration when things are down—when I feel low. I don’t even know his name. I don’t even know him. It doesn’t matter. The thing is, he inspires me to move on. May I share this with you all. It just might inspire you as well—“when things go wrong as they sometimes will.”