A Dangerous Imitation

I shared the wisdom that an older woman gave to me in my last blog, which helped me realize that God speaks personally to His people through His word.  She warned me against following the “inner monologue,” and encouraged me to ask God for a verse instead.  Although, some verses quickly come to mind, or stand out when reading the bible, it’s important to know what it means.  Jill was very deliberate in highlighting that truth, but how do we do that? 

Context

I had a pastor tell me once that if you take the bible “text” out of “context” you are left with a “con.”  It’s a cute little phrase, but I’m starting to believe that it’s very true, and very destructive if neglected.  The reason is because even Satan quoted the bible in an attempt to trick Jesus into doing something evil.  Jesus obviously cannot be tricked, but humans can.  In fact, I’ve been tricked.

The biggest trick that Satan played on me involved my relationship with God.  I think I memorized only a couple verses when I was younger, and my favorite was “everything is permissible…” 

I don’t know how well you know your bible, but that’s not a verse; it’s only part of a verse.  I used those words apart from their original context in order to justify my rebellion and sin.  I remember getting to the point where I believed that God didn’t care about my actions, so I didn’t either.  I thank God for helping me realize my error, and I’ll explain why later.  First, I want to look at the verse in context in order to show where I went wrong.

The verse I am referring to is 1 Corinthians 10:23

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

Just by looking at the whole verse, it’s pretty clear that Paul (the writer of 1 Corinthians) didn’t intend for people in the 21^st century to use his words as an excuse to sin.  Deep down, I knew that, and I also knew that some of the choices I made in college weren’t beneficial or constructive.  Even though doctors, parents, even some of my friends told me that my choices where stupid and harmful, I kept saying, “everything’s permissible.”

I wonder if things would have been different if I read the verse in context of the whole chapter, book, culture, or bible as a whole…

I ask that question, because chapter 10 of 1 Corinthians begins with Paul’s explanation that God’s people in the past suffered consequences for their sins as a warning for us in the future.  God wanted to prevent His people from craving evil.  Paul continues by urging believers to refrain from sexual immorality, and idolatry.  In fact, it’s not until the end of the chapter that Paul teaches Christians that God allows them to eat meat.  That’s right, meat.  Paul wasn’t saying that it’s okay to sin; Paul was telling Christians that they can eat meat if they want!  That’s a big difference than the way I used the verse, but it raises a new question:

Why would Paul need to teach people in Corinth (hence the name “1 Corinthians”) that it’s permissible to eat meat anyways?    

To answer that question, we need to increase our knowledge of the verse’s context…

So far I’ve demonstrated that you need to know the WHOLE verse, and read it in context of the WHOLE chapter of the bible in order to truly understand what it means; but there is more.  I believe people should also know the WHOLE book of the bible and the WHOLE culture in which the book of the bible was originally written.  This will help people see the relevance of the bible in today’s culture, and it will prevent the bible from being misapplied.

So, why did Paul instruct his readers that they could eat meat?  Because Paul needed to help new Christians learn how to live in a way that honored God.  The non-believers in Corinth worshiped a lot of different “gods,” and sometimes sacrificed meat to honor these idols.  The non-believers then invited Christians to their homes and served meat which had been sacrificed.  The Corinthian Christians were confused, because the bible is clear that believers should only worship the true God, although they wondered what to do if a non-believer offered them idol meat for diner.  Paul is telling Christians that they can eat the meat (everything is permissible) unless the non-believers think the Christians are worshiping the false “gods” with them (not beneficial).    

We notice two things by looking at this passage in context to the chapter and the culture.  First, God doesn’t want His people to sin, because sin destroys life and the beauty of creation.  Secondly, God doesn’t want Christians to worship idols, nor put themselves in positions where non-believers assume we are worshiping them.

I can’t believe the difference it makes to understand God.  It’s so much more helpful.

Although it’s great to have God’s word written down for us, we still need to increase our knowledge of the context.  Without understanding the true meaning, we become susceptible to harming ourselves and others.  In my next blog, I hope to write the missing context which I think I’m most prone to neglecting.  

The Voice of God

While I was training at YWAM, a teacher told us that when we hear a string of good thoughts, it's God speaking.  I never really asked what he meant, but I began contemplating it.  Does God still literally speak to people, and if so, what does He sound like?  I began seeking answers for those questions, and eventually the answers began revealing themselves.

About a month after I came back from training, I started attending a church called Elmbrook.  One day, an older woman stood on stage and told amazing stories of times when she listened to God.  Listened to God!?  Did God actually speak to her?  Her sermon didn't answer that question, so I requested an appointment to meet.

A week later, Jill and I met at a coffee shop, and I told her that I wanted to find out what God's voice sounded like.  "Is He in the inner monologue I hear when I talk to myself, Jill?"  She chucked and told me that people from all over the world have asked her how to hear God's voice, but she warned that her answer might not impress me: she was right.

She began with the typical, "God speaks through the bible" answer, and then began to caution about the inner monologue.  I was disappointed, but Jill explained that it's hard to know which thoughts are from God, and it's easy to be led astray if you're wrong.  Although I wanted to quit listening, she was persistent in her explanation.  She said that she first asks God to bring a bible verse into her head, and then makes sure she understands it.  That seemed simple enough to me, but for some reason she kept restating her point.

Ask for a verse, and know what it means.  


She explained that it's because you can be ineffective whether you misunderstand God by a mile or an inch.  She advised me to I learn the bible as best I could, even taking seminary if possible.  I thought her advice was simple, but it took me 3 months to realize that she was providing me with new and important information.  

I say 3 months, because at about that time I ran into a young man who was unemployed and in need of assistance.  He said his family wouldn't help him, and I didn't really know him, so I asked a pastor for advice.  The pastor suggested that I maintain wisdom in the manner I offer help, because it's easy to enable someone who has bad motives.  The pastor's advice was helpful, but knew I couldn't judge the young man's motives.  Instead, I asked God for wisdom, and I believe that's when God spoke to me.


I was reminded of James 2:14-16 which says:


What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Looking back, I realized that three things happened.  First, James 2:14-16 came to mind when I asked God for help.  Next, I continued with my day and decided to pray about it later, but felt like the verse was hijacking my brain when I thought of this young man's situation.  Finally, the verse eventually just started coming into my mind randomly.  I felt plagued by the verse, so that's when I figured it was God reminding me to help him.   In essence, Jill's advice worked:  


Ask for a verse, and trust God to provide.  


So does God still speak to His people?  Yes, I believe He spoke to me personally in that situation.  What did it sound like?  Like a verse from the bible.  Am I disappointed?  Absolutely not!


Although He spoke through the bible, it was a lot more personal than I originally thought.  God's word is alive, active and useful in your time of need.  The bible isn't just a list of rules and strategies to be successful in life, nor is it just a story with parables and lessons.  The bible is a way for God to personally speak into our situation...if we understand Him.  Which brings up Jill's second piece of advise:


Know What It Means!


I think that's something I going to address in my next blog, but for the meantime, I encourage you to understand the bible to the best of your ability.  Life is so much more fun when you can put your faith in a God who actively speaks to your situation.

It's Worth The Trouble!

I went for a walk with a friend one day, and while we were talking about our girlfriends, he said, "you know Josh, giving a woman a ring these days is like telling her you want to break up."  I laughed, but realized he was pointing out a discouraging and widely held belief in our culture; divorce rates are at an all-time high.  In fact, many people say that over 50% of all marriages in America will end in divorce, which is really discouraging considering that I'm getting married in 2 months.  

I honestly don't know whether that statistic is true, but I find it hard to believe that anyone makes a commitment before their family and friends, and then breaks it on a whim.  In fact, I think the couple's hope is stolen by difficult circumstances which cause suffering.  Suffering?! Is marriage worth suffering?

I decided that the best way to answer that question was to ask an older man who has stayed loyal through a very tough situation.

Jerry's wife has battled with depression for most of their marriage, and now she has acquired Alzheimer's in her old age.  I consider this man to be my mentor because he has been a constant encouragement and example of faithfulness.  As I was reading through the book of romans, I came to the romans 5:3 where Paul urges us to rejoice in the midst suffering.  Although I knew it was possible to find contentment while suffering, I began to wondered whether it was possible to actually rejoice in it.  I think of contentment as saying, "I can deal with this, because I know I will survive."  Rejoicing on the other hand, is thanking God during the hardship in your life.  How is it possible to be thankful during pain and suffering?  I thought my mentor could shine some light on the subject.

The next time I saw Jerry, I said to him, "Jerry, I understand that you can find contentment in the midst of trials and suffering, but is it possible to be joyful during those sufferings?  Is it possible for you to thank God for allowing your wife's disease to place hardship upon you?"  I was amazed at how quickly he responded.  "Oh, absolutely Josh.  Yes, you can definitely be joyful."  He then went on to explain two reasons why it's possible to give thanks even while suffering.  The first is that suffering produces a stronger character, which has many benefits on it's own.
  

In Romans 5:4-5 Paul says that tribulation (suffering) brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.  What does it mean to have a proven character?  I think it means we become like Jesus by following the Spirit of God.  I say that, because James 1:2-4 mentions that trials (tribulation/suffering) bring about maturity, and Jesus was the greatest example of spiritual maturity.  I also know that Romans 8 explains that the children of God are led by the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus.  So what's the result of being led by the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus?

Well, the leading of the Spirit brings life and peace, and Galations 5 lists the "fruits of the Spirit" which are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

In essence, Jerry was telling me that his hardships helped him experience greater measures of love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  He was also stating that God is powerful enough to bring good from a bad situation as promised in Romans 8:28 "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to his purpose." 

The other reason why Jerry said he found joy in the midst of his suffering is because he knew it was temporary.  Again, this goes back to Romans 5.  In Romans 5, Paul says that suffering eventually produces hope, and this is a hope for eternal life with God.  One day we will all die, but those who put their hope in Jesus (even when it requires suffering and persecution) will live with God for eternity.  Our temporary sufferings will nothing compared to that eternity of peace, love and joy.  


So, that brings me back to my initial question: is marriage worth suffering?  Who am I to answer that question; I've never been married.  But what I do know is this: if there is suffering involved, so be it.  God said that if suffering comes, He will bring His children through it with a stronger character and a hope for the future.  How great is that?!