Too much interpretation? (Do not read unless you are prepared for an honest – and long - ranting session that is sure to offend some.)
Just how much interpretation of the bible is too much? I think thorough study of the bible is imperative to a Christian’s walk, but I also believe some people get carried away. When words that aren’t actually written are being interpreted as “reading between the lines” I think this gets dangerous. Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God.”
I’ve been around a lot of people who add meaning to the scripture that’s not there and then, instead of simply stating that they are merely theorizing (which is okay) they now proclaim this to be truth! It especially gets dangerous when someone says, “God told me so.” Then why isn’t God revealing the same thing to everyone? Are you saying you are more important than everyone else who reads their bible? Why not be honest and say it’s an idea you had instead of bordering on being offensive by putting words in the Creator of the Universe’s mouth? Not that God doesn’t reveal special and private things to some, but just be careful what you say came from God and not just came from your gut! Don’t twist your fleshly ideas to make God conform to you. And don’t forget that Stan is the Father of Lies and loves to confuse Christians.
In case anyone is wondering what has prompted my soap box issue, it’s b/c I was reading a friend of a friend’s blog, and she was insisting that the bible commands women are to stay home whether they have children or not, and that women can only be called to the ministry if their husband is called! I was not going to be disrespectful and argue w/ a teenager (who is a stranger to me), but this made me very angry and very sad! In essence, she is saying that I am unbiblical b/c I’m not staying home to tend to my house, even though I have to work since I am single. And so are other women who either have to or choose to work outside the home. Also, who is anyone to say God doesn’t call women to be single or to the ministry? I pity her for thinking that women are inferior to men. No one can truly be happy if they believe themselves inferior to anyone. Besides God calls each person on an individual basis. My sister is blessed to be called to be home w/ her children. I, however, have been called to be single so I can be there to comfort the lonely people in my life. Does that mean that God loves me any less b/c he has not called me to motherhood? Or is angry w/ me b/c I don’t stay home? And why must women be 1 thing or the other. Every human is multi-facted and can be many things at once.
This brings me back to the whole “command” issue. The bible was inspired by God, yes, but was written by human hands, and therefore, is based on human suggestions. We know their words are based on Godly morality issues so that we might live a pure life pleasing to God based on the actual commands God gave to Moses. Unless the bible specificially uses the words “command,” most words are a human’s thoughts and opinions. Or if God or Jesus were actually speaking and the words are quotes from the Almighty’s lips. When Paul sates in 1 Corinthians 7 that it is good for a man not to marry, he is merely expressing his thoughts, not saying God is making this a command. Paul was always very clear in stating “I, not the Lord,” am saying… or “The Lord, not I." He is not saying marriage is wrong any more than the thought in 1 Corinthians 11:15 that says long hair is a woman’s glory means that women are commanded to not cut their hair. I could go on and on.
It makes me sad that people can’t just read the bible and enjoy the fullness as written rather than tear it apart word by word. (And, yes, I believe “as written” means in the original Hebrew for the actual translation, but I don’t believe a different version destroys the message.) It wasn’t meant to be cryptic so that only the scholars could understand the “true” meaning. The bible says God is no respecter of persons, which mean the bible was meant for us all to read and understand, and that no man is better than any other man or woman! And, yes, it’s just my OPINON, and I would not be so arrogant to state my thoughts as facts! (Not that I think that little girl was being arrogant, I just wish she didn’t see her views as fact. It makes me think she must think that God does not love women as much as He loves men and it makes me sad.)
I think the whole purpose of the bible was to encourage us as well as being a guide to what is right and wrong. As long as we are doers and not just hearers of the word, and live a pure and holy life, I think that is much more important than trying to tear apart every word in the bible to create new meaning from it. As the bible says, it is important to study God’s words, but the wisest man ever to live states in Ecclesiastes 12:12-13, “Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” That verse perfectly wraps up everything I am trying to say.
If I offend any, it was not my intention, but this is my blog to voice my views and I will always do so. Feel free to disagree or agree in the comment section, fort I believe in respecting others’ opinions and ideas, even when I don’t agree.
posted by Julie @ 2:00 PM
1 Comments:
Okay, here's my take on the issue! :)
When I share my ideas about the Word of God I try to be humble and I try to use clarifying comments like:
"Here's an idea..."
"Here is where we/I feel the Lord is leading us/me."
"Here is what I THINK this means... based on my understanding" (always backed up with scripture, not just my opinion only... and IF I do give just an opinion I make sure it is noted as such!)
"Here are the confirmations God has given us that we are headed the right direction on this..."
As we draw closer to God and fear Him he promises that we can gain:
1. more knowledge (the WHAT)
2. more wisdom (the HOW)
3. more understanding (the WHY)
according to Proverbs.
Of course, we will never know fully (face to face) but as seeing through a glass darkly until we meet Him in glory, but as we grow we progress in our spiritual learning just a child matures physically. I know you know all of this, but I am just sorting out my ideas about all of this!
Thanks for indulging my pondering!
A Rule of Thumb is not an absolute absolute absolutely for absolutely everyone. :)
However, a rule of thumb is a general truth and I believe the general truth is that HOME IS the correct priority for a woman who has been called to marriage and is under the umbrella of her husband's protection.
When a women is called to singleness then the rule of thumb for marriage OBVIOUSLY would not be applicable. A whole different rule of thumb is in play.
Do I think women are inferior? Absolutely NOT!
You said that no one can be happy if they feel they are inferior. I AGREE wholeheartedly. I do not think submission (in the Godly sense of submission) to a spouse is necessary always tied to feelings of inferiority and in the case of a person called to marriage is the correct path.
I also believe that a person who feels they are SUPERIOR is in danger. Sometimes, men feel this way and they are in error most definitely!
We ALL (men, women and children) are called to ministry by:
1. Doing ALL to the glory of God.
2. Serving one another in Christ-like love in order to draw others into a place of glorifying God and thus fulfilling THEIR purpose. This comes in MANY different forms!
Marriage and Singleness are BOTH beautiful gifts. Not counting during my childhood, but during my adulthood I did have a few years of singleness and at first disliked it, but came to appreciate it before I became married. If God had called me to singleness I hope that I would have learned to love and trust God's plan for me and my life as I see you are doing! It is a beautiful thing to see how you have learned to surrender to God's perfect planning! I LOVE that about YOU!
Both gifts: Marriage and Singleness bring specific blessings and specific hardships. Neither path is the better path. The path God has selected for each individual is the right path for that individual and in trusting HIS plan... therin lies the TRUE betterment of a person!
With all of that said, and hopefully clearly understood I DO believe that in this world of impure sexuality, secular humanism, relativism, feminism, hedonism and all of those other ISMS.... it is right and good to prepare young ladies (and young men) for a life of service to GOD instead of service to self gratification whether single or married. I tell my children all the time, "IF you get married... God will want you to serve your spouse, not look to your spouse just to make YOU feel good. IF God calls you to singleness you will have wonderful opportunities to minister in service to a different group of people in a different way." I do encourage them, however, that if God does call them to a life of marriage, that I hope they (my girls) will make home their first priority and the boys will provide well for their wife to be able to make home the priority.
When at all possible, I feel this is the best option. There will CERTAINLY be many people who cannot do this. This is another rule of thumb thing... not necessarily a sin issue. We live in an imperfect and sinful world. We are all fallen and we cannot always live in the way God intended, but I strongly agree with those who think God intended married women's main ministry to be to their home life.
(not their only exclusive ministry necessarily, but the first and foremost.)
Is God's Word cryptic. NO! But it is layered and multi-faceted as you said! The deeper we fear and awe and respect God and seek His face... the more we trust His Will and His Way and surrender to His customized path for US... the more we will grow and mature in the Knowledge (what), Wisdom (how) and Understanding (why) that He has promised us in His Word!!!!
The Book of Acts clearly gives God's good gifts to men AND WOMEN. In Chronicles, the body of believers was men and WOMEN, the church was built up of men and WOMEN (and children, by the way, who were not just "babysat" in children's ministries, but were included in true worship, but that is an issue for another day!)
God does give a married woman a head of household to protect and provide for her, to love and honor her, to enable her to be who SHE is meant to be in Christ.
God also gives a married man a wife to respect him and honor him and encourage and believe him into the proper place to be who HE is meant to be in Christ.
When, the two are NOT in total agreement on an issue, the husband as the head of the home (acc. to God's word) he gets the "deciding vote." And unless it is a sin issue, the wife is to "submit" to this deciding vote.
My husband rarely "pulls rank" on me and when he does I obey him. (although that took a long time for me to be able to do!)
Let me REPEAT that if it were a sin issue though... I would NOT obey him!
Lastly, let me say, I think I know the young girl who wrote the blog entry you referred to. She is from a very good, godly family. She is competent and well-trained. She does NOt feel inferior, but she is being trained for the likelihood of married life as well as being given skills to provide financially for herself if given the gift of singleness. (Her family has a home business, which she helps run and does so adeptly!)
She is using her blog to learn and grow and sort. She is a very YOUNG lady... a bit older than Kaitlyn... and I know I was much more idealistic at her age and the layers I referred to earlier, were just barely beginning to unfold in my spiritual understanding.
God will probably use this young girl's zeal to mature her in His time. She will have disillusionments, hurts and confusions all too soon. In the meantime, I pray that God will help her learn the biggest lesson of all... WHEREVER God leads us... to TRUST and OBEY HIM and HIM ALONE.... our salvation is ultimately ONLY, 100 per cent, unequivocally IN HIM!!!!
I love learning together with YOU, my sister. Thanks for letting me share some of my ideas too. I hope none of it has offended you or been mistakenly understood. If so, please ask me. Please clarify my meanings with questions.
I love you! And I DO truly think that singleness is a wonderful opportunity as much as marriage is a wonderful opportunity.
Post a Comment
<< Home