Communication?? and words A-Z (part 1)

The best thing about reading our Bibles in context is, it helps a person comprehend life around them better.
The worst thing about reading our Bibles in context is, it helps a person comprehend life around them better.

I want my posts to generally stay with the theme of this blog but at times, I'll stray. I'll be back in verse by vrs soon and the goal to sharing thoughts as I read is, to convey the point that life comes into focus the more we put God's Word back into context.
Problem is, we ain't gonna like what we're seeing in this world and we may wish to stick our heads, back in the sand.
For those who stay with it, the rewards  are worth it.

The problem with contextual, black & white thinkers is, communication.
People say to me "you don't really believe that God stuff do ya?"
Since observation confirms what God's Spirit reveals, why would I not believe God?

The nasty truth is, those of a more liberal mindset concerning social, economic, political & religious issues have created an impenetrable wall  around themselves.
They will say the same of believers, so what's the difference?

Communication, most often, is not an option as a way to  bring opposing sides together. Only fights and even blood shed accompany these attempts.

When I'm faced with a difficult concept to ponder, what helps me is looking for common denominators in opposing views.

Maybe I began doing that because for as long as I can remember, inconsistent reasoning has remained dominant.
Liberals make no sense. They follow no rules, no pattern.
When did people just start saying things, just to say em?
Ok, probably from the beginning.
It's hard to fathom that something like "when does life begin" still baffles the 21rst century mind.

Something happens when words are used between two opposing sides.
Something happens when we put our life's experiences into words.
What I mean is, there are several areas in my own life, I'm trying to improve , but if I were to try and communicate that with anyone (other than my wife), what I'm doing would come out odd sounding or even weird.

Makes me wonder if certain things were meant to be communicated.

Obviously,  the key is in my relationship with my wife.
And that key, btw, is the central driving theme of God's Word in context.
What I mean is, whenever I try to communicate anything outside (whatever that "key" is) it comes out weird.

Consider the many churches that preach sermon after sermon, not in context of God's Word. It sounds good but it comes out weird.

This is a sensitive area for me because over the years, I have alienated myself from many family & friends by trying to address things, not intended to be communicated, simply because there was no context offered along with my words. [ how could there be , in this "everybody's to busy" - "gotta have it now" - FB culture ]
Most people do not care about context.
Most don't care and do not have the time.

Now that I am putting things back into context , I still can't talk to those around me and the only one I can communicate with is the one (my wife) who stayed with me for over 30 years (talk about context :-)

It's not  words that brought things together better.
It was time.
It was the context of the words, context that demands time and effort to see.

And it's the same with the Bible. Pure and (not so) simple.

God has communicated His intentions clearly and precisely, over time. Problem is, we ain't got the time.
Again, my thoughts here are not a condition for salvation , but it sure is a condition when concerning ones sanity in this backwards fallen world.

The point to this blog is to encourage the one who takes the time, to get God's Word back in context. That's a tall order these days because while your getting it back in context, life rolls on. Bills need to be paid and the boss just cut your hours. Life rolls on.




Now when it comes to those areas, not meant to be communicated, there are several common denominators but two that are primary are
1) the denial of what we already know & 2) when an agenda is present.

Whether it's an atheist trying to remove the ten commandments or a preacher dragging someone off the street to save em, those two things persist.
I sometimes wonder, what if the atheist put those commandments in its context (other than his own context with an agenda)  and the preacher did the same with gang style witnessing.
I suspect the atheist wouldn't care and the preacher would be too busy tending his flock.
I'm not holding my breath for that too happen.
But context does matter

Being good at keeping things in context keeps a person asking questions as to what they believe.
In other words, if someone researches something, and finds an answer, they would then research that answer.
And so on and so on , till you've exhausted all avenues.
Can ya see yet, why believing what we want to believe is so much easier.


Try doing that with, let's say, our nation, America. Putting this back into context. That will take time. That's why I look for and watch videos or documentaries. Researching this country  will take forever and even then you wouldn't complete it, but when you do, you will learn things.
This will take you too a place that is just as frightening to us, as context is.

And that place is : becoming aware of things.

That is a scary place to be, for sure. I can not think of a scarier place to be.
Informed.
An informed person can't blame their upbringing.
An informed person can't rely on experiences.
And those two things are only the tip of the iceberg.

Being aware makes you accountable.
Just for a moment, as a Christian, think of all the things , about the Bible,  the only answer you could give is "I don't know."

Putting the Bible in context , as well as other issues is tough.
Don't believe me? Try researching your favorite political candidate or preacher or celebrity icon or music.
What do you really know concerning the things you like?

Anyway, You know what you'll find? (when u research things, putting them in context)  All things lead back to God.
And now you know why context is not important to people.

But changing the game plan is. That's how you avoid context. Create something new and make IT the context we run our lives thru.
That or just ignore the obvious.

There are several reasons one might change the context of God's Word. The two main ones I see most often is 1) their being offended at the exclusiveness of the Bible's (true) context and 2) they seek to make the Bible more relevant to our culture.

Like I said, things not meant to be communicated (by this I mean issues out of context) either has one denying what they know or one with an agenda.
Opinions drive these conversations and it requires patience and respect and even love, between those doing the communicating.

For example, when a conversation concerning politics arises between opposing views, I appreciate these discussions on an objective level.
There's so much more, than people think, when liking or disliking a candidate or party.
I guess it's because of the way I think, that I like to start at the beginning of opinions, as best one can.

For instance, my opinions begin at what I think humanity is capable of achieving.
Since many I know give mankind more credit than I think their due, our views differ.

Lots more could be said there and God's Word in context is not silent on economic & social issues, but the point is,

for longer than I care to admit, I've started or entered conversation without knowing all the facts. Those conversations rarely go well.

This could be why I am now so big on context. But as I have found, even that can get a person in trouble.

When it comes to the Bible, I try hard to avoid those with agendas  as I go thru God's Word with careful Exegesis minded teacher. I've found a handful I can trust which thankfully, includes our pastor.


By changing the game plan, to avoid context, is tricky business. It's God's world and His plan.

Btw, simply saying "that's your opinion" no longer cuts it when considering context.

Christians just can't handle the "that's your opinion" card when it's thrown.

I fell for it also, till I saw it was just a way to avoid checking things out, by placing what's not mine, on me.

Here's something to consider.
Never once, in all of human history ,h as there been a credibly argument against God, as He is reveals Himself in the complete context of His Word.
If Christian and non Christians knew what it said, they'd know that God has addressed whatever the concern might be.
I don't think anything else can claim that.

OK, got a little side tracked there.
Anyway, changing the game plan  involves changing words, or at least causing the hearer of your words to "think" they mean something other than there meaning.

Now we're in tricky land, (by changing words),  which leads to delusional world.

My learning of what hermeneutics was helped me in this area.
The twisting of words is no small matter, especially when there God's Words.

My brain does flip flops whenever I consider what we've done to the English language.
The other day, when I was thinking about this, I thought to myself "man, I could go from A to Z finding words we've devalued & deconstructed to strip these words of there meaning, and I thought, hey, that's a good idea.

I'll include em in a post.

tryreadNit!