Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Out of Context


There's phenomenon out there where some religious "scholars" / believers create posts, tweets, even memes about how someone else uses a verse out of context of its original meaning.  And I get that we need to know context of scripture.But - wasn't all scripture originally written for a different group of people in a different time? 

One example of this: Posts, tweets and memes of how people have applied Jeremiah 29:11 "incorrectly" - making it personal - trying to apply it to their lives and how God cares for them.  Making sure to impress that Jeremiah 29:11 isn't personal to you - that it wasn't written about God's plans for you. 

However, other verses don't get this same treatment.  For example: What is the true context around Philippians 4:13 (being content in anything vs. being able to do anything?). 

And I know, I'm probably over-thinking this (though many will believe I am "under" thinking this).

However, this is what keeps running through my head:

2 Timothy 3:16 - 17.

" All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

I guess I'm just not going to bash someone about their use of a bible verse when it may be the only bible verse they ever read.  Maybe it's that one verse that will lead them to look further into the bible.

The posts, tweets, and memes do not seem conducive to creating an opportunity for personal conversation that leads to a real discussion of scripture.