Tough stuff (part 1)

I have been doing a "side study" of Ecclesiates.
Yeah, I know,
How does one do a "side study" of a book like that?

Something I like doing (or at least try doing)
Is, conveying what's taking place in my thinking, as I travel thru entire portions of God's Word.

I had not intended to even do this study, and come to think of it, nearly all of God's, revealing Himself to me, came from things I hadn't intended.
So I'm thinking, I'm ok here.

For some reason, I began listening to Jeremy Rhode, vrs by vrs of Ecclesiates, on my way home from work.
That's an hour drive, so it works out nice.

I'm gonna just begin putting down various thought processes here and see where it goes.

I'm only up to chap 7 but I want to begin this post while it's still fresh.

Ecclesiates is an amazing book.

I tend to think (incorrectly) about this book.

 There's Ecclesiates, and then there's the rest of the Bible.
I know that's not right, but I can't help too think, how did this book get there?

After close (and I mean microscopic close) examination of Ecclesiates, it becomes clear, why it's there.

How best to describe this?
Ecclesiates, from a modern-day perspective, would be the writings of an individual AFTER they've been subjected to the Emergent church influences for let's say, decades.

Simply put - nothing makes sense.

Keep in mind, he (Solomon) asked for it, when he asked for wisdom.
He sure got it!
The 'jury is still out' on whether or not, that was the right thing to ask for, but that said, God granted it , as to assist in guiding His chosen people.

Also keep in mind, as WE read God's Word through, God reveals His wisdom, so if when getting to the end of it, nothing in this world makes sense, then you read it correctly.



I'm gonna have to back up in my thinking here because It'll be said "there he goes again, blaming the church."
After awhile, that gets old.

Time to change gears (for a moment)
Since properly understanding is required when discerning different perspectives, I thought I'd address that.

Comparing what we hear and read,  to the Bible,  isn't as difficult as it sounds.
But it is time consuming.

Since the Bible has no contradictions, any that exist are ours.

Something I told my wife today, after listening to chap 7 with this Jeremy Rhode pastor.

It's so clear, that God puts truth & wisdom in various places.
If anyone thinks their gonna get Truth, from ONE place or ONE denomination, I'd hate to inform them, but it ain't gonna happen.

Jeremy Rhode is of the Lutheran Church, confessional  Lutheran.
What I have learned, concerning God's Law & Gospel from pastors as these, is infinitely immeasurable.

Where I differ from these men are in areas of eschatology.
(that's another post :-)

Someone could say "you mean you like pastor Rhode interpretation, when you don't agree with how he reads OT prophets"

I guess there are many who think that all truth is in one denomination.

All I care about, at this point is, that the one doing the teaching, teach IT ALL.

Don't skip things.  An unbalanced perspective is all one can expect when God's intense mercy is not  seen along side God's severe judgements.

I thank God their are still men who preach it all, whether I like what's said or not.

Each one as different than another but all see Jesus and all love the Bible.

Gayln Wiemers focuses on Jesus & a more chronological method.
Vernon McGee focuses on Jesus & Salvation.
Joe Focht and David Guzik  focuses on Jesus & salvation & Christ's kingdom.
Those who are more charismatic focus on Jesus and His power in our lives.

Notice a common denominator there?
All focus on Jesus, first.

Whenever I mention an emergent church, I mean those church's that focus on "you"

How can someone tell if their church is emergent?
That's simple to see.
Just add up, in any hour sermon, how many times "you" are referenced and put that with how many times Jesus is mentioned.

Or, since the church fell all over "the Purpose driven life", dust off your copy and (after reading the first line) read the next 20 pages and highlight references to "you"

You could also  examine your church notes. How many are about you, how many are about Jesus?
Just might surprise ya.

I am going somewhere with this. People who say things like this,  sound funny, to those who live in social media, an let's face it. Even to those who blog. As long as we're being honest, may as well include myself.

I guess I'm also talking this way, in my intro because Ecclesiates is such a vital book, so often misunderstood (not to say I get it) and neglected.

Understanding gets missed, as so many think in labels and denominations, and it's tough to cut thru that mess.

It truly helps when we discover the points of seperation in any ones teaching.
They can range from anything, from how one reads the covenants to how one sees events (past, present, future)

And for anyone who hasn't read the entire Bible, don't even try looking for those points.
Just keep believing everything everyone else tells you, and your life will be totally fine.

If that sounds snarky, good!
I'm allowed to talk like that, because of my nursing a sore foot /leg.
That comes from all the time spent, kicking myself, over all the years thinking I knew a thing or two.

Reading God's Word thru shows us how little we know, and Ecclesiates tops the list of writings, to reveal that

IOW, just when you thought you knew the Bible, along comes Ecclesiates.
(Song of Songs is close on its heels though. Odd how there penned by the same human instrument)

Anyway, I'm about to convey thoughts from a tough book and my sincere prayer is, that these thoughts are not conjured up in my head.

I go out of my way to avoid one perspective, as I compare much of what I hear.
I examine the things I agree with in many ways.

Many times, I'll see clearly, this is in the Bible.
But If I even think I'm receiving opinions from those commentaries that I like, I'll consider it's value but might hesitate to share it.

What's troubling is when I compare what Bible says to what Christians say.
Because of that, I'm forever examining myself.
Many of my thoughts, themselves, are laced with hypocrisy simply due to my own shortcomings.
Something I repent of daily

Yet there's an overwhelming desire to make attempts in sharing all God's revealing, thru a  vrs by vrs approach, to His Word.

Christians can say anything they want without ever having what's said examined.

God's Word has a lot to say about that.
Lord, forgive me if I say, or post anything not according to your Word.

These thoughts  will conclude in my next post.

Tryreadnit!