with Bob Condly
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April 2016

GODISNOWHERE

(http://i.vimeocdn.com/video/499161948_1280x720.jpg)
(http://i.vimeocdn.com/video/499161948_1280x720.jpg)

(This is the second post in an occasional series on interpreting the Bible. The first installment is located here.)

What do you think the title of this blog post means? If you stare at it, you can detect a phrase: “God is nowhere.” But “God is now here” also works, doesn’t it? Which one is correct and how do you choose?

(By the way, I realize I’m using a Christmas image in April, but it looks good!)

I suspect that many people feel just as stumped when it comes to the meaning of the Bible. They read verses or chapters but struggle to make sense out of them. They hear sermons but wonder whether the explanations are true.

When I was working on my doctorate at Marquette University, I studied the writings of Bernard Lonergan, a Jesuit philosopher and theologian. He proposed that a fourfold process by which human beings come to know anything: experiencing, understanding, judging, and deciding. Combining these activities results in knowledge.

His theory of cognition may sound esoteric, but it has a practical impact on your spiritual life. It can help you to study the Bible. In fact, the following portion of Scripture demonstrates this structure:

“As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men” (Acts 17:10-12).

Before delving into this passage, let’s set the stage. The apostles Paul and Silas had preached the gospel to the residents of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). When many believed their message, the religious folks got so riled up that the apostles had to flee the city (Acts 17:5-9).

Paul and Silas then traveled to the nearby city of Berea and, as before, shared the good news of Jesus with that community.

Experiencing

According to verses 10 and 11, the apostles entered the synagogue and preached “the message.” You could say that the audience “experienced” the gospel; that is, they heard what Paul and Silas had to say about Christ.

If you want to learn about the Bible, you will have to experience it. Read it, listen to it, sing it out loud if you want to, but give your soul something to ponder. Don’t deprive yourself!

Understanding

The Bereans “received the message with great eagerness” (vs. 11). Did they comprehend what Paul and Silas communicated?

How likely is it that the Bereans would be riveted by something that sailed over their heads? Wouldn’t they have complained or, if that failed, just walked away?

Since the residents took in the gospel with gusto, they must have understood it.

As you read God’s Word, you’ll encounter difficult sayings, unfamiliar historical references, and challenging admonitions. Before you react to these, make sure you’ve grasped the points being made. God’s Spirit will help you to understand the main ideas of His Word.

Judging

Did the Bereans agree with Paul’s assertions? You can understand a belief, a concept, or a proposal without buying into it.

After hearing the gospel and interpreting what it meant for them, the Bereans had to evaluate it. Was Paul telling the truth about the mission of Jesus? Was their interpretation of his sermons right? How would the Bereans figure it out?

They had to ask questions about the Bible. They needed to research the Word to verify or refute the claims of the gospel. And that’s just what they did; the curious ones “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (vs. 11). They compared Scripture with Scripture. They took what what was familiar from the Bible to judge this novel message.

And Paul’s preaching passed their tests. The Scriptures support the gospel – Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world!

So go ahead and examine what you hear and what you read. Bounce your theories off other people and get their feedback. This won’t offend God; to the contrary, His Word can handle it! It’s how you confirm biblical truth and protect yourself from errors, mistakes, and heresies.

Deciding

Now what? The Bereans had debated the gospel and determined that Paul’s message was correct. How should they respond to it? What demand did it make on them?

Faith! The gospel calls for faith in Jesus Christ. “As a result, many of them believed” (vs. 12). The Bereans learned, but they also acted. They not only discovered the possibility of salvation in Christ;  they also received that gift.

Once you’ve weighed your options about a Bible passage and settled on a conclusion, what do you do with it? What demand does that teaching make on your life? Is the Lord telling you to love others? If so, then your thoughts, feelings, and words about love aren’t enough; you’ll have to back them up with action.

This is how one studies the Bible:

  • Experience: take in the Word
  • Understand: wrestle with its meaning
  • Judge: weigh your ideas about the text
  • Decide: act on what you’ve learned

Follow this pattern and you’ll grow as a disciple of Jesus; you’ll learn to think like He does. Your spiritual knowledge will go from this (GODISNOWHERE) to this (God is now here)!

Your Turn

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(http://www.zoeingram.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/blank-canvas.jpg)

“Mom, I’m bored! What can I do?”

“I’m assigning you the new sales campaign. You’ll need to present it to the board next week. Now, they’re hard to please, so make sure it’s a real winner!”

“Hi, I’m going on vacation, so can you teach my Sunday School class? No, we don’t use any curriculum; you can talk to the children about whatever Bible story you want. I’m sure you’ll do great; the kids’ll love you!”

Now what? How do you deal with the responsibility to innovate? How do you handle the pressure to generate novel solutions to daunting problems? When your kids are bored, what do you tell them? When your job requires you to draw up a marketing plan from scratch, where do you start? The Bible has so many stories; which one should you choose to teach to a bunch of kids?

A clean page or blank screen intimidates me. You want to create something that’s meaningful, but where do you begin?

The Bible opens with the account of God’s creative activity. That’s good news. But now it’s your turn. Does that make you nervous? How can God help?

He created time; an empty canvas designed to be filled in. By what? Your labor. God creates; so should you.

Let His Word guide you.

Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Accept the Present

“This is the day”

Today. Now. Not looking wistfully at the past; not deferring to the future. To create, start now. Do the most difficult thing – show up! Just by taking that simple step, you’ve already conquered most of your excuses.

Go Ahead

“The Lord has made”

God’s already done His work. Your opportunity lies before you. No need to hesitate. The canvas is set up; the sheet of paper rests on your desk. Nervous? Maybe, but open your eyes and take in all His provisions that surround you. You’re more prepared than you may feel.

Work Together

“We”

Oh, the icon of the solitary genius! But creativity requires teamwork. Bounce your ideas off others. Question them and insist that they question you. Good ideas can withstand the scrutiny. And other people can help make your good ideas great.

Focus on the Future

“Will”

Does this contradict the emphasis on the present moment? Not really. It takes time to put on the page what hides within your soul. And you may not even know what you think; what you’d like to communicate. That’s okay; you’re moving now, and this means progress. You’ll get to your destination; probably sooner than you realize!

Believe the Best

“Rejoice and be glad”

Optimism, hope, a positive attitude. And why not? Divine power, made perfect in weakness, puts a smile on your face. No problem is bigger than God! Celebrate your creative breakthrough before it’s accomplished.

Face Your Fears

“In it”

Don’t drop your pen. Stick with the drawing board. Keep your computer on a little while longer. Don’t let emptiness dishearten you. The blank sheet isn’t your problem; it’s the way forward!

Jesus lived this way. He called unstable Simon a Rock. He insisted that a deceased girl was merely napping and He raised her from the dead. He challenged Philip to pay the bill to feed thousands. His disciple wavered, but Christ came through!

Why does Jesus do this? Because God calls things that are not as though they were!

Follow Jesus and He will summon you to create, initiate, invent. Bring something into the world that doesn’t yet exist but should. People need Christ; they need Him expressed through your God-given ingenuity.

Don’t let an empty canvas threaten you. It’s the Lord’s gift to you, an opportunity for you to change your corner of the world for the better. Take up the challenge. It’s your turn.

with Bob Condly

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