Have I Been Reading And Responding to The Word Of God Correctly?

This Biblical Interpretation lesson is a soul awakening experience. What make me say so? Being a Christian since 1998, I have been reading my Bible book by book and verses after verses religiously. It is a way to be close to God and hoping for GOD’s life transforming logos (the Word of God) to speak into my life. All these years of devotion time, I came to God with all kind of emotions, needs and prayers. I always find that every verse ministered to me in the way that I needed it most. I used it to share and speak into someone lives.  But is it really the right way to interpret God’s word?

Historical Context and Contemporary Context

"We do not create the meaning. Rather, we seek to discover the meaning that has been placed there by the author"(Grasping God's Word by J. Scott Duvall Pg195). But most of us inevitably read our bible verses with our emotion and always with presupposition. One must know that bible is not for readers to read just for the sake of information and become knowledgeable. I’ll briefly share steps that I have picked up on how we should study & apply God’s Word.

Our first approach is to read the text without interpreting it. Just read though it by coming to the text empty and not to expect any immediate understanding.

The Bible was written centuries a part but how do we derive meaning and implication so that we can develop application being in this contemporary world yet does not go out of context. In a simplified way, these are step taken so that we will minimise error in interpreting the Word of God. "Exegesis is the spadework for interpretation."(Biblical Interpretation by w. Randolph Tate Pg11). The term exegesis is to reading through the text with the understanding of what was the original message that the author intended for his targeted original audience.  We need understand the world behind the text by studying the historical context include knowing the author, original recipient of the letter, occasion, purpose of writing, and the specific historical context. Then, we must read into what is the general principle that is brought across through this message. To help us grasp the Words in the Bible, we need to know the world within the text. It does include the understanding of genre, word study, grammar, sentence structure and time factors as well. Every setting does carry the actual purpose and meaning. Each literature comes in different genres and to share a few main genres; law, prophecy, poetry and the narrative of gospels as well as epistles. Coupled with the study of world around the text by knowing in intended purpose of the book, the chapter and related contended around the verses. After all the above, we will know the universal message that God intended to bring to the audience or the recipients through this author

From here, we proceed to Hermeneutics; a process where how the general principle is telling to the contemporary world. What is this universal message from God written by the hand of the author meant for us; people of 21th century; the world in front the text.

Homiletic is how to apply and respond to the message by the hearer or reader of all nation, tribe & race; the world in front the text. It should result in fruit bearing or progression with the leading of Holy Spirit.

Here to share how Bible verses were used before my BI lesson. Some time back, I had an unpleasant encounter that reduced me to a corner of my room crying. At that point of time, though feeling helpless but the deep in me I know the love for God remains inside me. I still continue reading the Word of God with my tears flowing nonstop. These verses caught my eyes;

Luke 19:41-44 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

I instantly responded to it with a prayer “In the name of Jesus, satan, return the peace Jesus has given to me” And that point, I felt victorious. I have treated “peace” as a property; an item that Jesus given to me but taken by satan. I wanted it to return to me. At this point, if I were to share with people around me the word “peace” before this lesson, I have got the message wrong across to the hearer. But after the BI class, it changed my understanding of the word “peace”.  With the good news that Jesus; our saviour come for sinners like us that doom for destruction, this word “peace” mean “salvation”, my response too will change. I’ll pray in this manner “Dear Heavenly Father, I give thanks to You. Thank You Jesus for your mercy and grace. Being a child of God, what sorrow and pain do I fear? Nothing will rob me of your unceasing love. All glory to You. I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen!” So, isn’t the salvation I have received put me above all pain and sorrow that the world brought to all of us?

This is just a initial baby step taken to apply what I’ve learned in the class. I strongly believe that such interpretation skill can sharpen over time if I continue applying it. It will be more responsible of me stay within the context when dong our small group study or sharing it with others. Give thanks to God for how Holy Spirit guided us when we are still ignorant and also for sending Bro Han Hui to lead us through using appropriate steps to interpret His Word.

The What, How and Why about Hospitality

What attracted me to enrol into Biblical Hospitality in Ministry course? To be truthful, it was when I saw that one of the Course Module Requirement “Participate in Two Shared Meals” with your classmate and yet will still be graded. It is the easiest mark scoring assignment for my type of character and therefore, I signed up without much thought. On the other hand, I do not want to short change myself with just eating and stop short of adding new ideas, knowledge and some practical skill when the course ended. So I started my reading, did my pre-course reflection, on-site visiting followed by report writing and was ready a week before the course started. All of us prayed for our lecturer Sis Davina, our classmates and ourselves asking God to add upon us His wisdom, His strength, His love, a teachable and learner’s heart to be added to every classmate. While writing the blog, I just realised that our prayer for one another is also a practise of hospitality too.

From the books written by Henri J.M. Nouwen and Parker J. Palmer where “space” was mentioned. In this class, I am very much into this space where the teacher and students entered into a fearless communication. Sis Davina fearlessly share her weaknesses and I, being a newbie, also fearlessly shared some of my simple thoughts and seek clarification when needed. On the other hand, we stayed within the boundaries where we followed as closely as possible the instructions and rules that were clearly spelled out verbally and on written instructions. Needless to say, in this Hospitality class, all of us are of very different personality but that does not stop us from receiving each other including our struggles, sharing our own viewpoint with openness, respect and care. There is a lot of laughter in this class because a handful of the classmates crack a joke once a while.

I am so blessed to be able to look into how hospitality was practise over a good few centuries within an hour or so by the thoughtful arrangement of Sis Davina. The few centuries that catches my attention most was firstly, the 4^th Century where Hospitality was taught not to be extravagant to the extent of drunkenness so that funds and resources can be wisely used to assist the poor and needy. Secondly, the 16^th Century (John Calvin) where a Christian is seen as a steward of God and whatever they have or own are from God and how true hospitality is been practise. They are bounded to take care and love their fellow brothers and sisters. Not just towards Christians but also to others. They show love and practise hospitality not for selfish ambition but because the image of God is in the stranger/other. Seeking only blessing from God and not to seek gain from human. The third and also last century I would like to share is the 18^th Century where John Wesley restored hospitality at home. This was where small group ministry was recovered with love feast and communions at home were restarted. He also started homes for homeless women, orphanage and also to the needy. What I take home from these three Centuries are:- need not be extravagant when we practise hospitality to an extent where it does not glory God, do good to others out of love and not to have selfish ambition and gain from them because the image of God is in them and not to expect reciprocation from them . We can start hospitality in small step and or practise hospitality within a small group at home. We do not need to wait for a big amount of funds before practising hospitality to strangers or others.

The most practical point that I have picked up is the part is “send on one’s way”. Many a time being in the position as a host, receiving guests (from other countries) into our house we will try to understand their health condition so that we may provide them the need like what a mum would do to their child. Thinking I’ve shown care and love enough. When the last day for the guest to leave for their country, I just see them off or at most sent them to Airport, Bus Terminal. In this lesson, I realised that I have omitted on the point “propempō” with meant to send with good wishes. Now, I know that it is our duty to see that the guest is provided with what he needed to take him to reach his next destination. It ranges from Ticket for Air flight, Ferry or other means of transport, food and any other needs like medication if necessary as well as a prayer for journey mercy and blessing.

What is most challenging to me is not the point where we are to be hospitable to strangers and others, neither is the fear of unpleasant unforeseen circumstances arises that will hold me back from being hospitable. My biggest concern is what will bring harm to my immediate family members or disagreement that may lead to argument and dispute. Therefore without full agreement, blessing and support from everyone, I will not extend my assistance to strangers/others. In time of crisis, we can put our thought and ideas together to resolve it as a team. The bottom line is I WILL NOT scarify the harmony and safety of my family for a stranger. The only solution I can think of is to serve it as a team where “hospitality is a risky business” is a concern.

Bible has clearly revealed to us, God being the host and we being the guests on earth. Being a stranger to this land, it is impossible that we will never need to depend on others. I “may be” to an extend gracious in giving or blessing others, but will I still be graciously receiving assistance or support when I am down and out? Will my pride and ego become an obstacle when being host by someone when in need? Are not both the host and guest a created of God? Throughout our life, we have been a beneficiary of His love, grace and mercy. Now I have learned that whoever hosts me in time of my need is sent by Him. Just give thanks the Him and the host. All glory to God and may all host be blessed abundantly.

Thank you Sis Dav and cheers to all readers of this blog.