It's no joke / it's serious stuff

I'm taking a slight break from Revelation, truth is, I'm only in chap 5 and what I'm reading is so intense, it takes some time for me to digest but I plan to finish my (not so profound) thoughts on each chap. 

Something got me thinking tonight, about why I'm even doing this blogging. Yes, it's a good outlet to express my joy as well as frustration. 
What's the big deal about all this context stuff anyway. 

Well, if anyone thinks this is a joke, trust me, it isn't. 
I thought I might share some clear and obvious examples of why it's important. 

Has anyone ever heard in a church, that we should "write our vision down"  and then read :

Hab 2:2 — Hab 2:3
The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith
And the Lord answered me:
“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;

it will surely come; it will not delay.

I think the teaching might go something like this :

Let's face it, many have heard this cross our ears in many similar variances of this (somewhat) extreme clip. Yet this is a bad as bad gets. We should run from any individual who speaks this way.
Sadly though , when people hear preachers talk this way they "think" it is Biblical. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I chose this verse because this one's not that tough. If the church goer would simply read chap 1 and then finish chap 2 they would then know that God is getting ready to bring judgement in a harsh way and that Habakkuk is too write down what God tells him. 

But many church goers don't read so they believe this is telling THEM to write THERE vision down simply because somebody standing on a stage said so. 

OK, I'm getting ready to add another link but this one will come with a disclaimer. 

If you like looking at verses this way, if you like thinking it's about you in these scriptures, don't listen to next video. 

Trust me when I say, I know how painful it can be when God opens ones eyes and that's why I say, if your curious as to how things get turned around and listen to next link, please pray first and ask God for direction. 

This link deals courageouly with this text from Habakkuk. 

My prayers are with anyone listening to that link who found it interesting, maybe it was angering, whether in agreement or disagreement, either way it makes one think.  I also understand the one who turned it off after the first minute an a half. 

I have said many times, these things may not be salvation related, or, how one reads scripture doesn't determine whether there saved or not, but it does determine how we discern and view life, view the Bible, view ourselves, and that, in this culture is critical. 

This approach to God's Holy Word is used throughout, that is, too the one accustomed to hop schotching all over the Bible. 

Something to give caution too is when Proverbs is used to make a sermon point. 
Proverbs is unique that much of its wisdom can be found in the stand alone verse. 
That fact alone should trouble the church goer who has ever heard a vision message based on Proverbs 29 :18.
More times than not, only half (that's right, half of complete thought) is used. 

Church goers may wonder what's the big deal if people have visions (or plans) of positive things and so what if they write em down. 
They might say "maybe the Bible didn't mean that, but what's the harm?" 

This next clip shows how far one can travel, from God, when they make themselves the focus. 

It's one thing to read a verse wrong, it's understandable when different applications of scripture get applied. One may or may not like it and it's not the end of the world, we can still remain respectful of one another. 

But when even the Holiest name reserved for God and God alone, gets applied to US, it's time to draw the line, and draw it hard. 

The name I'm referring to is the Supreme title for God - 
" I Am "  

הָיָה

hayah

The author of this book admits he has a different

"take " on this and the interviewer mocks him, as well he should. 

When even God's very name is abused and applied to us it's pretty clear that nothing is off limits to ones imagination. 

Church goers eat this stuff up and any leader who promotes authors such as this should seriously examine their discernment skills. 

The purpose and intent for a post such as this is too :

Encourage  others to consider and examine whatever information they receive, be it mainstream media, pop culture, music, books and yes, even church, by slowing things down, is the purpose to a post such as this. 

Context in any area is no easy thing. 
When we neglect to put things like our nation or social issues in their entire context, we can clearly see the effects it has on a society. 

But when God's Word falls prey to this, losing the ability to rightly discern these days we're in is just one of its unwanted consequences. 

And to think, so much of this could be cleared up if those who never read it, would just.. 

... TryreadNit!