The first way is to read it and apply it to the world at people "out there". It is easy enough of course; Sylvia Plath used a phrase in one of her short stories of using "Bible verses like bullets" and that is certainly something that, over the history of the Church, it has shown itself quite willing to do - let alone ourselves as individuals. There is always someone or something out there, violating God's Word.
The second way is to apply it to ourselves.
Applying Scripture to ourselves is not the fun way to do things of course: nothing less encouraging that to open up Scripture in the morning and immediately be confronted with yesterday's sins, or to realize mid-day that that grudge you have been carrying all morning was just as much of a sin as anything Christ called out in the Pharisees.
But here is the odd thing, at least for me: the more I concentrate on applying Scripture to myself, the less I become concerned with applying it to other people. Perhaps it simply reflects the fact that - for me - pride is me always looking out to others on how they have missed the mark and humility is me looking inward on where I have missed the mark.
I cannot control or "work on" others. But I can certainly do both of those things on myself.
Very, very true TB. A good example of pride versus humility in action. How often do we think, "So-an-so ought to hear that sermon" or read that book. But as Dan often says, "I've got enough to worry about with myself."
ReplyDeleteLeigh, the standard joke is, of course, one spouse poking the other during the teaching of Ephesians 5 and the responsibilities of husbands and wives.
DeleteTo Dan's point, we all have enough to work on with ourselves before we need to look next to ourselves or across the aisle.
Indeed well stated TB, working on self is a life-long task....that self-control can be a big hill to climb at times.
ReplyDeleteNylon12, the only thing I have learned about self control after all these years is how little I have of it.
DeleteMost Christians are scripturally Illiterate. They've "lived" on maybe a starvation diet of once-a-week Sunday verse of the week and commentary.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, the scripture like a double edged sword would cut deeper into their lives. Maybe Matthew 7 might come to mind:
…4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
And so many more that show the humble in Spirit are closer to Jesus's life and words.
Michael, I have met people - good Christians - for whom finding a Scripture reading plan that works for them is part of the challenge of brining it into their lives. For myself, I have been able to complete the Bible in a Year program for many years going, but that does not work for a fair amount of people.
DeleteTrue, part of it is discipline. But part of it is finding a way that that they can meaningfully read Scripture such that it impacts their lives. I do not know that we as the Church have done as good a job as we might have (really, maybe ever, with a few exceptions).
If it's Important to them (like it was for YOU) they will FIND time and self discipline to do it.
DeleteIt's called Discipleship for a reason. Discipline is a root word in the term.
I have to admit the Begats was tedious, still are. Most of them seem redundant when Jesus said in Matthew 3:
…8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.…
And Romans 11 speaking about grafting into the family of God.
Later you grow into needing your daily bread, the feeding of God to your spirit and it becomes something you miss when you "forget" or get too busy (FOR GOD?).
I was kind of amazed when I rediscovered how enjoyable it was to do a chapter of Proverbs every day as well as my regular readings. Seems Proverbs has something to say about my daily life.
Proverbs 30 for example the prayer of Agar and
5“Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Rejoice that we have the Word. It's not a burden but a support for life.
"If it's Important to them (like it was for YOU) they will FIND time and self discipline to do it."
DeleteMichael, I fear I have failed to either write the thought I had or failed to respond properly. Please refer to my above point "using Bible verses like bullets".
Giving people a hammer with neither instructions nor guidance and tell them this is the tool they need will either cause them to see everything as a nail or throw the hammer away as useless.
"So Philip ran up to him (the Eunuch from Ethiopia) and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said 'Do you understand what you are reading?'
And he (the Eunuch) said 'How can I, unless someone guides me.'" - Acts 8:30-31
So doing something important is a bullet.
DeleteSigh, and we ponder why folks just wander along.
That is a mischaracterization of what I said about using Biblical verses as bullets.
DeleteI personally know of men and women who, presented with a single version only of how to read Scripture, would have walked away from Scripture and eventually the church (or have done so), because they are not wired that way. For me, I would prefer to see Heaven crowded, no matter whether they did a Year in the Bible or got through the New Testament only on their own.
Perhaps I am no longer the writer for your tastes.
Thank you TB for this clear and concise reminder of how we are to follow our Lord.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome Al - and I need this reminder more than most.
DeleteMichael is spot on. I picture the Word of God back-flushing our minds and souls. "Washing of the water of the Word" so to speak. Our hypocrite detectors and fairness differentiators are dialed in as kids. But being clean so we can be good surgical assistants is not so easy. Pouring the Word into our minds, meditating on it, and following the Spirit's direction as a result is the call to all. "It's me, it's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer."
ReplyDeleteSTxAR, Scripture remains that perfect mirror of God. The more we look into it, the more we find our own imperfections and sin.
DeleteExternal versus internal. Why did Christ ask us to worship not as an external show? It's not about fixing the world, it's about fixing yourself.
ReplyDeleteExactly, John. He hit the Pharisees pretty hard for their externals and told the woman at the well that God was looking for worshippers in Spirit and in Truth.
DeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe and God bless.
Thank you Linda. I hope you are doing well and had a good Thanksgiving.
DeleteWe were blessed to be together and have a quiet day, TB. We are doing well, thank you.
DeleteMerry Christmas!
That is great that you were able to be together, Linda!
DeleteI guess I find it much easier to compare scripture to others than myself because I often struggle with how to compare it to myself. I've typed and deleted a half dozen explanations of this previous sentence but end up with a jumble of words that don't make a lot of sense, which in a way, proves my trouble.
ReplyDeleteEd, I get what you are saying.
DeleteSometimes the application of Scripture to me in my specific situation can be hard. I have to resolve the situation (typically) by looking for the principles that are there. Principles are generally easier for me to apply in many cases.