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Everything You Know about 1 Corinthians 13 Is Wrong

Demian Farnworth — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:04:18 +0000

You can’t find a more popular portion of the Bible than 1 Corinthians 13.

It’s the bubbly “love” chapter, clamping down on the biblical meaning of love.

Or so you think.

First Corinthians 13 at first blush is perfect for weddings. Hallmark cards. Little plaques above your kitchen sink [where ours hangs].

Who wouldn’t love the simplicity of “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude”?

It carries a certain charm–an almost mystical hold on us when it comes to love.

I once found this chapter in an anthology of love poems, alongside the likes of Lord Byron and Kahlil Gibran. Unusual bedfellows if I ever saw any.

Never the Purpose of 1 Corinthians 13

I know during one of my crankier moments in life [that extended from birth to MAYBE just a couple of weeks ago] I memorized this chapter in hopes that it would manage to make me a more kinder, gentler man.

It didn’t work.

Why? Well, it was never intended to be a charter on sweetness. Or seventeen habits of highly-sentimental people.

Paul intended it to be a lot dirtier than that.

Just think were the chapter is embedded…in between two very tough chapters on spiritual gifts.

But you’re still being very narrowed minded if you leave it at that. You must step back even further.

Think about Who Paul Was Writing To

First Corinthians 12-14 are couched in a letter to who? The Corinthians. A self-absorbed, smug, stingy set of church members.

That means while writing his letter hunched over, pen in hand and brow furled bent on setting the Corinthians straight, Paul didn’t sit back and say, “I feel like writing a splendid little reverie on love. Barnabas, did you hear that? I’m going to write a love poem!”

No.

He intended chapter 13 to serve much like God intended the ten commandments to serve: a schoolmaster who drives the disobedient to Christ.

Think about this: Paul is saying, “You think you know what love is? You don’t have a clue what love is. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful….”

In other words, 1 Corinthians 13 is a reprimand. Not an elegant poem that gives us the warm and fuzzies.

A Good Sermon on 1 Corinthians 13

Alistair Begg makes this point in a wonderful series on 1 Corinthians 13. He explains that taken in isolation, 1 Corinthians 13 is often abused, as I noted above.

But once you understand Paul’s original meaning and purpose behind the chapter, you’ll appreciate the chapter so much more.

In the end, 1 Corinthians 13 is a statement against the popular notion [that still holds today] that love is out of our control.

Paul declares that godly love is manly and willful:

It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

It takes guts to endure all things.

What to Do Next

But Paul’s point in the end is that we will never measure up to the standard laid out in 1 Corinthians 13. There is only one person who did such a thing. Jesus Christ.

And what that means is that we will always struggle with this love–a love that never ends–until we humbly submit to the only living person who ever fully and completely fulfilled the law of love–Jesus Christ.

Does this mean you throw out that plaque hanging over your kitchen sink? No. It means you look at it and remember that you will never measure up to that standard until you bow down to the very lord of love–Jesus Christ.

What the Song of Solomon Really Means

Demian Farnworth — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:40:36 +0000

The sexually-charged language of Song of Songs [or Song of Solomon] makes it a provocative read…

But one wonders if it actually makes a major theological contribution to Judaism or Christianity.

In fact, one wonders why it’s even in the Old Testament…why it’s even in the canon at all.

I mean, what was the original author or editor hoping to communicate to his reader?

And what about the fact that there’s no mention of God. Isn’t that problematic?

Well, no. Not really. Not after you see that this short, but potent celebration of intimacy between husband and wife sheds light on our own relationship with God. It’s a good lesson to learn.

Common Approaches to Song of Songs

Some pastors would have you think Songs is a manual to a smokin’ hot marriage…

While others would want you to see it as a allegorical narrative of God’s relationship with the Israelites.

Still others suggest it’s a typological story–one in which the groom plays Christ and the bride plays the church.

These three interpretative strategies are the literal, allegorical and typological approaches.

The allegorical grew out of the embarrassment over the erotic details found in the text [the very same details the sex-crazed literalists exemplified]. Take the explicit mention of two breasts in Songs 4:5 for example:

Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle,
that graze among the lilies.

Some Christian interpreters argued the two breasts were the two testaments–spiritually nourishing the church…

Another view suggested the breasts reflected the dual command to love God and neighbor…

And a third view believed the breasts represented Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim. [Keep your comments to yourself.]

Another good example of allegorical interpretation born out of timid temperaments is the the sachet of myrrh lodged between the two breasts. Some early scholars said it was Christ who spans the two testaments.

Then there’s the graphic, boyish-giggle-inducing walnut grove: ”I came down to the walnut grove / to see the blossoms of the valley,” said the woman.

If you blushed, then you know why some early church fathers went to interpretive extremes to suggest alternative meanings, like the hard outer layer of the walnut is the Mosaic Law–and the nutritious center is Jesus Christ.

But this is fellatio, folks. Plain and simple.

To be honest, you wonder what’s more embarrassing: the topic of oral sex or a scholar’s theological interpretation of that act. Let’s keep digging.

The Problem with Allegorical Interpretations

The problem with interpreting Songs allegorically is that the text simply doesn’t hint at a deeper meaning.

I mean why take the breasts to be the OT and NT? Two mountains? Two commands of God?

The text simply doesn’t support any of those arguments.

But if Songs is NOT an allegorical love story between God and his people or Christians and Jesus–then what is it?

We found part of our answer in the discovery of unique ancient Near-Eastern documents found in the 19th century.

What these specific documents taught us is that Songs is from the exact same genre–love poems. More precisely, matrimonial love poems.

That makes Songs a collection of matrimonial love poems. Songs sung at weddings.

Scholars are divided on how many actual love poems make up Songs. But that’s not really important. What’s important is uncovering the theological contribution Songs makes to the canon…

And this is where it gets good.

The Essential Meaning Behind Songs

The text itself gives us many clues. And whether there are three or thirty poems, the Song’s primary importance relates to love and, no surprise here, sexuality–something near-and-dear to our humanity.

See, what Songs defines is a love that is mutual, exclusive, total and beautiful. And in many ways Songs is an expansion of Genesis 2:24:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

In frank but beautiful language, this tiny little book praises mutual, intense love, culminating in this robust, evocative statement:

Set me as a seal upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

jealousy is fierce as the grave.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

the very flame of the Lord.

What we see here is an expression of love that transcends this earth and is deeply emotional–as God intended between husband and wife.

What God-Ordained Marriage Looks Like

Contrast this with the ephemeral, capricious and shallow character of contemporary love and you see God’s vision for marriage involves a volitional, muscular emotion that has a singular and solitary intent to honor the object of it’s affections.

And this is exactly the way God wanted it when he created man and woman in Eden. When you comprehend that the allusions to the garden in Songs are allusions to Eden, then the meaning behind Songs becomes immediately apparent…

The implication is that before sin, man and woman stood bare, unashamed, in front of each other. Now, we sense an intimacy since lost.

Song of Songs then is about the redemption of sexuality. A return to the God-ordained concept of marriage, a concept illustrated throughout Scripture to help us understand the relationship between God and his people.

In the OT, marriage is used negatively to shed light on Israel’s betrayal and unfaithfulness. In the NT, marriage is compared to our union with Christ–a union climaxing [no pun intended] at the end of time with a wedding feast.

Here on earth we get to enjoy the splendid privilege of experiencing the union of man and woman as one flesh, a profound mystery Paul said refers to the union between Christ and his church.

In other words, the better our marriages–the more they reflect the glory of God. And I think that’s pretty sexy. You?

Why You Should Master the Old Testament

Demian Farnworth — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:56:26 +0000

If you think the Old Testament is a boring book and not worth your time or attention, let me give you one very good reason why you should master it: Jesus did.

In fact, he coped with Satan’s desert temptations by quoting from Deuteronomy…

He also used the Old Testament to teach his disciples and ridicule his critics…

He confirmed historical events like the destruction of Sodom, the murder of Abel and the calling of Moses–events found in the OT.

Jesus even confirmed the often-rejected OT accounts: the creation of Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood and the three days Jonah spend in a whale’s belly.

[Thanks to The BeAttitudes' article Jesus Quoted Old Testament Scripture: How Can Christians Deny It's Validity? for help on the previous portion of this post.]

But there’s another reason why we should master the Old Testament: neglecting it can rob you of a rich understanding of the teachings and narratives found in the New Testament.

Let’s look at the books of Samuel for instance.

The books of Samuel lay the foundation for the all-important doctrine of the Messiah. In particular 2 Samuel 7 tells us how these promises of the Messiah created hope and expectations that New Testament authors understood to be fulfilled by Jesus.

The Lord promised David he would:

Establish the kingdom of one of David’s Descendants
The New Testament identified Jesus as that descendant who brought the kingdom of God to humanity. [Matthew 12:28]

Build a House for God’s Name
The NT writers viewed Jesus as the one who built the ultimate temple of God in three days. [Matthew 26:61]

Sit on a Throne That Would Last Forever
Hebrews declared Jesus had just that. [Hebrews 1:8]

Live as a Son to God
Jesus was the ultimate Son of God. [Matthew 16:16]

Listen: One of the easiest ways to master the Old Testament is to simply get in the habit of reading through it every year.

Another helpful way to learn more about the OT is read a book like Vanhoozer’s book-by-book survey of the Old Testament

You could also use the Seven Births method [this has nothing to do with contraceptives, by the way].

Or if you’re a sucker for a challenge, throw yourself into a fake masters program on the OT.

How ever you do it, the point is to absorb the entire Bible [both Old and New Testament], because there is nothing worse than a biblically illiterate Christian.

A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 5

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:45:06 +0000

Finally, we come to the part of this Christ-centered Bible study series that I have been waiting for.

The C in “T.H.I.N.C.”

Christo-centric

Basically, this means “Christ-Centered.” Hence, the type of Bible study this is.

This is the meat on the bone. The wings to the plane. The juice in the jug.

Not getting this is like wearing shoes without shoe laces. And I have been this person almost all my life.

Thank God for people who have helped me see the beauty of the centrality of Christ in Scripture.

Throughout this study series, I have been developing on Matthew chapter 5.

It has served as a good chapter because of its hard sayings and deep meanings.

And as much as I want to show you how the Beatitudes are Christocentric in that their meaning reflect the person who finds Christ, I will be taking us out of Matthew 5 and into some other parts of Scripture.

Let’s talk about this Christo-centric thing

The traditional approach to reading Scripture is to read it moralistically. But I am going to suggest something different. So please, hold stones until the end.

There are two ways we do this:

1. We are urged into moral behavior or action.

2. We read a moral “meaning” of the text, thus attributing it’s meaning to our person.

What is interesting is that the Gospel message is not one that says you must clean up your act before you come to Christ.

In fact, you can’t. That’s why you and I need the Gospel.

The moral behavior the Bible teaches is good…we just cannot live up to it, because guess what—you and I still struggle with immoral thoughts.

So what do we do when we come across a passage that teaches us moral behavior?

Enter Jesus.

The question you have to ask your self is this: “How does Christ fulfill this text where you cannot?” Let’s look at some examples so I can show you what I mean.

Scriptural Examples

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

This is a moral-action Scripture. It challenges us to a higher standard of morality.

And that is good. But it is not all.

What if we stopped here? We would simply get a moralistic teaching and possibly come out of the experience discouraged.

How in the world are we to “be wise,” or “don’t be foolish” and “understand the will of the Lord”?

Scripture never calls us into any mandate that Jesus did not fulfill.

We can paraphrase the above Scripture as such:

Jesus looked carefully on how he walked, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days were evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Jesus fits the bill on this one, because He is after all the one who fulfills the promises.

When you see it this way, then you see the beauty of Jesus in Scripture, and by that simple fact, you are better able to make connections to the cross.

The next one is the moral “meaning,” or “plot” of the text

For example: David and Goliath. Everyone knows these guys.

Many times (probably too often) I have heard this passage as David being the example to us being able to conquer our giants in life.

But is that the goal of that event? I don’t think so.

If we look at this Christocentrically, then I think we can see the beauty of Christ in it.

David was a “type” of Christ. He is the one who killed the giant so that all others could live.

Jesus killed the Giant, Jesus defeated the army for God. In other words, Jesus is the hero–not me!

This puts man in the center, not Jesus.

Another example would be in Daniel 4. Daniel is imprisoned and was told that the King was going to kill his magicians because they could not interpret his dream.

Daniel, however, in the special knowledge of God interprets the dream and Nebuchadnezzar’s. Thus, God gives Daniel the message, and Daniel reveals to Nebuchadnezzar’s what the dream means.

My traditional reading of this would be to interpret the passage into meaning that if I seek out God just like Daniel, then I could “interpret” dreams, too.

But actually, that just makes us the heroes of that account. Which is wrong.

What happens when we put Jesus into the meaning of this message? He becomes beautiful, we can respond in worship, and we don’t have to be the hero.

You see, we were all the magicians who were actively working against God, and Jesus stepped in be the mediator between God and man. And just like what happened with Daniel when all the magicians were saved as a result, so too are God’s people saved from execution because of Jesus working on their behalf.

Yet Another Example

What about when we are charged to not provoke our children to anger?

Well, Jesus did not provoke us to anger, but instead was patient and long-suffering in our return to Him.

Therefore, if we understand and remember what Jesus has done for us, we too will be patient and long-suffering toward our children.

This is Christocentric in a nut-shell.

If you REALLY want to learn about this method, hunt down Tim Keller’s lecture series “Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World” on Monergism.com. Get it and listen to it–it’s free.

Remember

You are not the hero of the story, no matter the story.

And what ever morality that Scripture is calling you into, it is not doing so without first in mind that Jesus has fulfilled that very call.

So tell me, have you ever though that YOU were the David in the story?

A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 4

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:31:07 +0000

So now we come to our fourth installment of this Bible Study Series.

It’s been an excellent experience for me, as I have thoroughly enjoyed writing it.

Thanks to all of you for tagging along and contributing by your readership and thoughtful comments.

My ultimate purpose in this series is to glorify God in Christ by encouraging those who read to engage the Scriptures that testify to Him, and spurring them into a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus.

You are the ones who make works such as this worth the while.

Now, On to Business!

In case you’re new, we have been using the acronym T.H.I.N.C. as a our study aid.

T=Trust
H=Halting
I=Immediate Context

And now we enter the part I suspect many of you have been eagerly waiting for: The N in “T.H.I.N.C.”

Navigation

This is the part of our Scripture reading where we ask the simple, yet challenging question: “So, what?”

What does what I just read have anything to do with me?

Today I read over Matthew chapter 5 again. It’s filled with arrows that point to a beautiful truth, which causes me to at once cling to its beauty, and at the same time pricks my heart with conviction.

Chapters such as Matthew 5, 6, and 7 seem to always do this sort of thing when we read them.

They serve as a spiritual barometer to our devotion to Jesus. They never get worn out. Ever.

That is exactly what Scripture is supposed to do.

And when we read it with a willingness to be changed by it, we benefit from its instruction.

But first we must understand where Scripture is leading us in order to receive its benefits, which are not always enjoyable.

Scripture Navigation as a Two-Fold Process.

First, the writers of Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke a particular word to a particular people, for a particular reason.

This is the quality of timeliness.

Since, though, it is divinely inspired, its message is also profitable for us today. This is the quality of timelessness.

Timeliness first, them timelessness—if possible. The key is to find out what the person who penned the words was saying to the people he was writing to for what purpose.

Now, how does that purpose relate to a present-day reality and personally to you? Sometimes this is simple to figure out, other times it requires focused prayer.

Scripture Navigation as an Example

Let’s take a look at our Matthew 5 passage—the one I left off with last time.

Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

First impression: Um, Jesus . . . that’s why I need YOU! Let’s walk through the T. H. I. N. C. process real quick:

1. Trust Jesus is saying something good here.
2. Halt! Take a look, re-read, and be patient.
3. What’s the Immediate Context? Here’s the context:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

Let’s Break It Down, A, B, C:

A. The immediate context: “love your neighbor . . . love your enemies . . .” Why? “. . . so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

Question: Is there a son of our Father in heaven who has done this that we may observe this command? (c’mon people, you know this!)

B. Why would this be a characteristic of our heavenly Father? “For he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good . . . rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Question: How does a son of our Father in heaven fit into this? Because like their Father, children of God show no partiality. (see also John 4:7-9)

C. Why is it important to not show partiality? “For if you love those who love you, what reward to do you have . . . . what more are you doing than others?”

Question: Why would I want to do more than “others”? Because the “others” refers to people who practice evil or are outside a relationship with God (i.e. vv.46-47, “tax collectors,” “Gentiles”).

It looks as though in the immediate context Jesus is addressing a real issue: that the Jews of that day were very selfish with greeting each other, and condescending toward such oppressive “tax collectors” and pagan “Gentiles”.

Thus, Jesus tells them that their self-righteousness makes them like nothing more than the people they are condescending toward.

What do the Jews take away? “Be perfect.” Why? Because perfection in this context is in the action of love and the equality of men.

Where Does This Navigate You, the Reader?

Just as God sent blessings on you when you were far from Him, so you too ought to bless others in spite of their spiritual condition.

That is why this perfection is in the context of love, because love covers what our critical eyes cannot.

Love covers a multitude of sins.

The question you must ask yourself now is this: “Where in my life am I not loving others as Jesus said to in this verse?”

Do you know? Maybe you need to pray about it. Maybe it’s obvious to you? Only you can know.

Are you willing to share?

Are you willing to share where you need to humble yourself and love those who seem unlovable in your eyes?

To begin, I’ll share mine: There is a person I met recently (not here) that is very egotistical and arrogant. He’s difficult to love, and he’s very rude. To top it off, he’s a Christian, which makes me all the more frustrated with him. He seems hyper-religious, which really turns me off. So, I’ve been trying to make conversation with him. It’s tough, but I’m making progress.

Okay, your turn. Leave a comment.

A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 3

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:14:45 +0000

**Guest article by Jonathan Woodward at Sorting Beans.**

Four weeks ago we launched a 5-part series on how to study the Bible.

This is a Christ-centered approach where we use the acronym T. H. I. N. C. as a study aid.

Part one was T for “Trust”—that’s where we begin—and part two was H for “Halting”—when Scripture causes us to put on the brakes.

What’s next?

Immediate Context. The I in “T.H.I.N.C.”

Immediate Context

Reading Scripture is not a solo activity. There are two things I mean when I say this.

1. You are physically not alone. When you trust the words of God and ask the Holy Spirit to help you read and understand, He will come and help you.

You are not alone.

2. The passages you are currently reading are not alone either. They are surrounded by other words…that are surrounded by other words…that are surrounded by other words.

And this matters. Don’t neglect it.

If you do, you risk uncharitable results. Scripture is meant to be read in the practice of exegesis, not eisegesis.

Exegesis is the embracing of a Scripture-derived theology. Eisegesis is man-centered theology.

Let’s take a look at the passage I mention in the previous entry of this study series.

“I have come to fulfill the law.” Matthew 5:17

What is the immediate context of this passage?

It is in the context of similes. Matthew 5 is full of illustrations to point to a significant truth.

For instance, just before this passage Jesus says that we are the light of the world. Does that mean we glow as a light bulb?

No. It means the Gospel in us causes us to radiate its message of hope to the world.

Therefore, we need to look at it with careful eyes.

Just after he says he came to fulfill the law, he says,

“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19

Remember, we must look carefully at what Jesus is saying.

Is he teaching that we must teach the law, insinuating a works-based salvation?

By no means! When Jesus says that, He is referring to Himself.

Jesus is going to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven because He alone is the one who not only taught that the law must be fulfilled, but also fulfilled that very teaching in order that we might partake in His perfection and be His witnesses.

This is the only way this makes sense because the very next verse (v.20) Jesus says,

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

What shall we say about this?

That we must “perform” greater deeds of righteousness than the pharisees?

Of course not! Our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees because the Pharisees had no real righteousness!

Therefore, we must trust in Jesus’ righteousness, and His alone. By this we inherit a righteousness that is beyond that of the Pharisees—one where Christ lives in us, which is one that pleases the Father.

Now that we’ve looked at this in the context of its immediate surroundings, we realize—contrary to what I used to believe—that Christ is not upping the annie on a works-based salvation.

Jesus Points to Himself

If we take this into context of the entire chapter of Matthew 5, we see how Jesus is pointing to Himself through it.

Even when He says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), He is speaking in a particular context, which is wrapped up in Himself.

And now that we understand that reading Scripture properly is reading in the “light” of other Scripture, we understand it’s immediate context is of utmost importance, followed by its immediate context, followed by its immediate context, and so on.

But what do we do with this knowledge?

Glad you asked. That will be covered in the next installment of this Bible study series when we get to the N in “T.H.I.N.C.”!

But for now, what are some passages that you have once interpreted without taking into consideration its immediate context? And how has that changed?

A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study-Part 2

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:17:08 +0000

**Guest article by Jonathan Woodward at Sorting Beans.**

Three weeks ago we launched a 5-part series on how to study the Bible.

This is a Christ-centered approach where we use the acronym T. H. I. N. C. as a study aid.

Part one was T for “Trust.” That’s where we began.

What’s next? Halting. Let me explain.

Halting

No doubt, when we read Scripture—all the while trusting in it—we are bound to be stopped in our tracks.

Sooner or later it will happen.

Why? Because that’s what Scripture does–impedes you, seizes your attention and beseeches your accordance.

That is the point of this post. When you read the Bible, you’re going to find something that is halting.

The question to ask yourself when reading Scripture is “What in this passage seems halting?”—that is, what causes you to stop and think?

Is it something powerful? Is it a difficult concept? Is it a charge? A mandate? Bizarre?

What is causing you to do the head tilt—those difficult passages of the Bible we just cannot live without?

When you begin reading the Bible this may not happen as frequent…mostly because it is something new to you…

But the more you grow in Christ and your understanding of Scripture increases the more you will find these halting moments.

Here’s an example of a halting passage. It comes from the Sermon on the Mount:

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

What in the world does Jesus mean by this? Can we be perfect just as God is perfect? I thought that was the whole reason Jesus came to this planet!

If this is not halting, then I don’t know what is.

It can either be personally halting, or objectively worthy of halting yourself to examine the text.

For instance, earlier in Matthew 5, Jesus says some other really good stuff (which happens a lot, mind you):

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

When I first read this passage, I thought Jesus was talking about how the laws of the Old Testament was now going to be fully followed. But I think quite differently now.

In other words, I thought Jesus was bringing the smack down on puny mortals!

Is this really the case? I’m afraid that you will have to wait for the next post in this series before we go into what we do from here.

Until then, ask yourself these questions when you read Scripture:

What seems to be the topic, or point of this passage?

What is “jumping” out at you in this text?

What is shocking about this passage?

What is bold about this passage?

What is it that seems to be speaking directly to you?

What is making you “put on the brakes”?

The more we read, the more we learn, the more we find halting text. Your job is to not skip over it as though it has no immediate, or even future bearing in your life.

It does.

A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study-Part 1

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:17:47 +0000

**Guest article by Jonathan Woodward at Sorting Beans.**

Last week we launched a 5-part series on how to study the Bible.

The acronym we’re going to use as a study aid is T. H. I. N. C.

So, what’s the first step in studying the Bible?

Trust.

The “T” in T. H. I. N. C.

For us to be able to get from the Bible what is intended for us, we must first trust the ultimate author—God—behind it as well as trusting the very words written by men under the divine inspiration of God.

This is almost as important as the last point, but we must begin here.

I am not saying that if you are not a believer and you want to read the Bible that you cannot do it without trusting.

Rather, I am saying that in order for the believer to really get God’s message to them, he must trust IN the message he is reading.

I must make a charge, though, to the non-believer: if you decide to read the Bible for the sake of exercising your critical eye, you will not be able to understand its intended message (lest you end up as Lee Strobel!).

But I will not make an appeal for the reliability of Scripture; I’ll leave Demian to that task!

All Scripture Reading Starts Here

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you are about to read and Trust in His guidance (John 16:13).

Without the Spirit illuminating the meaning of Scripture for us, we have not the ability to fully understand God’s word (1 John 5:20).

Just as much as we need the Spirit to help us understand, we need Him to empower us with the word of God as we read.

We lack the ability to empower ourselves with the potential that the word of God can have on our lives.

The Spirit of God is necessary for understanding and empowerment. Without the empowerment of the Word of God, we experience no life transformation, and without transformation we remain unchanged.

The Bible ought to change us in some way, both progressively and evidentially.

Trusting Means Believing

How many times have you read over some passage of Scripture and left it thinking on of these thoughts:

“I wonder if that is true?”

“I wonder if that really happened?”

“I wonder if that can REALLY mean anything for me?”

“That worked back then, but it won’t work today”?

This list of doubts can go on and on. Reading Scripture, though, ought to eliminate our doubts.

And if we do have doubts, God can handle them. Take a moment to tell God your doubts, asking Him to help you through them.

There is one door we enter Scripture, and one door we exit: Jesus is the place we start at when reading Scripture, and Jesus is the place we leave our Scripture reading.

What this means is that when we come to the Bible, we are not simply approaching words on paper, we are approaching Jesus our Lord and Savior, and He can handle our doubts.

Lay them down, surrender them, ask Him to help you with them.

A father of a boy child once asked Jesus to heal his son. Before he asked Jesus, he apparently asked the disciples first, and apparently the disciples had some issues with healing the lad.

He brought his son to Jesus and basically said, “. . . if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22b).

Jesus replied, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).

The father responded with passion, “I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24).

The point here is that even though the man believed, he was humble in his approach to Jesus and asked for help in areas he is still lacking faith.

All of us have this dilemma. We all have a faith cavity where we lack belief in some way and in some aspect of our relationship with God. The point is to not despair, but trust with the the faith you do have.

You have to start somewhere, and if your faith is no larger than the size of a mustard seed, God can do amazing things in your sight (Matt. 17:20)!

Get Your Bias Out of the Way

Maybe you’re a Calvinist—to which I’ll say, you’re probably a geek. Get your intellectualism out of the way. Let God be your guide, not your extremely limited intellectualism capabilities. You’re not abandoning your brain, your just letting the Holy Spirit lead it. Don’t loose your availability to sense His presence amidst you.

Maybe you’re a Arminian—you are most likely inclined to have more of an emotional approach to Scripture.

It can be very much, “What’s God want to tell ME?”

Understand, it’s not all about you, and remember this: the wonderful love of God that gets you all mushy inside is the same love that drives His righteous judgment.

Let God speak to you and guide you.

Maybe you’re a Prosperity Faith person—well, you just need to repent.

In the end, approach your Bible study with faith, with trust, just like a child holding the hand of his or her parent. The child trusts where the parent will take it.

In the same manner, trust where God will take you. By this only can you be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Introducing a Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:21:44 +0000

**Guest article by Jonathan Woodward at Sorting Beans.**

I would like to begin by thanking Demian for inviting me to be a guest writer on his website.

I am truly grateful for his generosity.

Letting someone write for you—on YOUR website—is like a preacher allowing someone to fill in on his pulpit ministry . . . potentially dangerous!

Now, on to the new series.

This will be a 5-part blog post series that will discuss an effective approach to Bible study.

Of course, there are many, many ways people study the Bible, and I am quite sure that other Bible study methods are effective.

I introduce this method, however, because it has personally helped me greatly.

It helps me in how I can remember what I read, find Christ in it, find the application, and put it into practice.

Before We Start, There’s Something I Want You to Know

The first thing to understand in this method—though it is the last point we will discuss—is that it is Christocentric.

All that means is that this method I have created is Christ-centered. In other words, this is not a method that will help you find three successful ways to have a financial breakthrough…

Or find secret promises of God just by speaking them into existence.

This is CHRIST-centered, not YOU-centered.

What this means is that you will find more in Scripture of how you are unable, and then where Christ is able. Don’t worry, this is a good thing!

So Why Create a ANOTHER Study Method?

Well, for starters, that’s just the kind of personality I am. I enjoy creating things for people to better understand truth and connect with God. I love seeing people grow in Christ.

Also, I have created this out of personal experience.

Too many times I have found myself simply glossing over the pages of Scripture.

Then, I tried to just read as much of it as possible. My purpose was to just “get through” the Bible, as if that was going to give me brownie points with God.

But I learned that “getting through” Scripture—while it is not a bad thing—ought not to be the goal of reading it.

As Hank Hanegraaff said, “The goal is not to get through Scripture, but for Scripture to get through you” (paraphrase).

Here soon I will adopt this as my own saying because I quote it so much!

Eventually Something Changed in How I Read Scripture

When I read, I did so with a new perspective. I began to really think about what I was reading.

Reading Scripture began to become an act of worship, and still is to this day.

Sometimes I have better worship moments than others, but studying the Scriptures has become one of my favored forms of worship.

When we read the Bible, we ought to not only get something meaningful out of it, but we ought to respond to it…and when Christ is centered in the text, then our response becomes worship.

This is what happened to me, and I will share more about this way of reading in the last point of this teaching series.

What This Approach Will Do for You

And I pray it will do just that. If this approach to Bible study will help you worship God through Scripture, and help you understand the text, then I have accomplished my goal.

There will be a link to my website at the end of this series for a free downloadable PDF of the entire set of posts.

This is just to say thanks for going through this series with me, thanks to Demian for allowing me to be a guest writer on his website, and for you to become a better handler of the Word of God.

Ben Affleck on Reading the Bible

Demian Farnworth — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:10:47 +0000

Ben Affleck never read the Bible as a child.

So, as an adult he expected it to be loaded with fire and brimstone…

Ripe with weeping and gnashing teeth.

Naturally this notion was only reinforced as he encountered one angry, hateful person after another who claimed to represent all Christians.

This stereotype held until he actually read the Bible.

In fact, this is what he said about reading the Gospel According to Matthew in an August 2008 Oprah magazine:

“Reading the Bible disabused me of any sense that a hateful person could represent this faith. The book is beautiful and exquisitely written–but it is characterized by one quality that colors every page: love.”

He went on to say that reading the Bible made it harder for him to accept the “damaging and small minded beliefs” that people promote in the name of Christian values.

I wonder if he had Fred Phelps in mind when he said that.

Where I’m Going with This

Often on this blog I here non-believers write the Bible off as a collection of hallucinogenic babbling from the mental fringe.

Indeed in my own experience as a non-believer I made outlandish claims about the perversity of the Bible…without ever reading it…so I’m inclined to believe neither have they.

At least not carefully.

Yet honest people like Richard Dawkins read the OT and shake their head in disbelief at what they deem a volatile, childish tyrant.

What gives? The New Testament gives.

Sinclair Ferguson writes, “You cannot open the pages of the New Testament without realizing that one of the things that makes it so ‘new’, in every way, is that here men and women call God ‘Father.’”

This conviction of intimacy with the creator of the universe lies at the heart of our faith. And it suggest we humbly read the Bible in it’s entirety…

And we understand the OT through the lens of Christ.

Reading Matthew obviously had an impact on Ben Affleck. But I don’t know if Ben Affleck is a true believer.

To be sure, he anticipates the question in the article when he says he considers his religious beliefs private matters.

But he nonetheless is moved by it. Perhaps no more than a deep interest in social justice as indicated by his involvement in genocide recovery.

Your Turn

But what about you: What was your first encounter with the Bible like? With the New Testament? With a particular Gospel?

Did you view it as a majestic piece of literature that can stand on it’s own feet [as I once did during a "Bible as Literature" course]?

Or were you appalled by what you read?

Or did you tear your clothes in grief like Josiah who said, “For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us”?

I look forward to your thoughts.