These thoughts have come over the past couple years and looking into scripture with a need to not take scripture literal without looking at the context of what is going on in scripture and the reason for this is cause of what is happening and why its happening in scripture (aka biblical hermeneutics) and to bring it in modern context. I love many different thoughts about hermeneutics, but for the church to properly fulfill her calling we need to live as the early church did but not live in there context of thought process without properly understanding there context and then bridging the gap into our context. Without this we would most likely be wearing head coverings without a proper understanding of why the church in Corinth was wearing these and why the Apostle Paul was addressing this at all. I do agree with a literal understanding of scripture but it ALWAYS must be in the proper context for the church to fully carry out her mission in the world.
I love the way Charles Spurgeon put it....
"Why are his children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from his lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven? The answer is-they are here that they may “live unto the Lord,” and may bring others to know his love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the “salt of the earth,” to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for him, and as “workers together with him.” Let us see that our life answereth its end. Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to “the praise of the glory of his grace.” Meanwhile we long to be with him, and daily sing-
“My heart is with him on his throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
‘Rise up, and come away.’”
The over arching theme of spurgeons words are that we should share the gospel, be the very way God brings th kingdom to earth; that is why God left us here. Jesus talks about many things we are to be in this world but one of the most prevalent themes of God's people is to be light in a dark world. Jesus himself says "This is the judgment; light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather then the light, for there deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (John 3:19-21). With this implication light and darkness Jesus speaks not only of himself towards his followers that "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12), so being his followers and children (with this light in us) we are to be what Ephesians says, for we "were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in a goodness, righteousness and truth)" (5:8-9).This all makes me think back to when I was a kid. I was always big on building forts, whether in my room or in a near by field; I would build them as much as possible, but I always found it interesting that when I would build them in my room I would always try to cover my window and block out the light. One thing I could never do is fully block out the light no matter what I would do I would always have just a small piercing of light that would ruin everything for me. I was usually so frustrated that I would give up for a few weeks and then start over but the same thing happened every time. This just always happens to be something that is always true; in that light always pierces darkness.
I have always been huge on personal evangelism but it was mainly from the street corner which has been fruitful in some ways, but looking at biblical culture preaching that Peter and Paul did worked for them in there day but know a days doesn't work so well as either people are not a fan of Christians, they see people preach but not live what Christianity is or they don't understand it at all (there could be more but these are a few that I continually hear people talk about and see myself). I say all this cause I am being a big fan and seeing fruit of something I call being "light in a dark place". The bible over and over talks about the world as being dark and lost, but with the contrast of Jesus and his followers being called to be light in a dark place, but not to be over taken by the darkness.
This understanding is just the tip of the ice burg, for us to truly bring this into play we must bring this into our lives. This blog I am not going to get into the practical aspect but my next blog I will touch on things that will help up pierce the darkness with the light of Christ. Granted I am not a practical theologian by nature but more a systematic theologian so bear with me as I work through this.
