CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING!!!

There are so many verses of Scripture that are vastly misunderstood, because we remove them from the intended context. Sometimes, perhaps even most of the time, it is done innocently—or because that is the way  “it was always taught or preached” to us. However, at a point, we must take responsibility for our own understanding of God’s Word—none of us is exempt from knowing His Word; and none of us has a special claim or entitlement to the wonders of God’s Word once we know Him. His Word is available to every blood-bought believer, in its fullness, ready to be revealed to us, for the asking, if we are willing to give Him our attention.

Having a understanding of His Word doesn’t make anyone special—just willing; and not having the knowledge doesn’t make anyone less able to grasp His Word—just (thus far) unwilling to devote the time and attention to learning His voice through His Word. The only way to get to know God and His voice requires spending time in His Word—that’s how we will recognize when He is speaking or when something is amiss. The preached Word is important, being taught the Word is important, but neither can replace personal time and devotion to studying God’s Word and prayer to God for understanding and wisdom for life application.

Today, we live in a time when men have “itching ears”. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he writes, “For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.” [2 Timothy 4:2-4, Amplified Bible]. He admonishes Timothy in both the first and second letter’s how to live by example, to teach, preach, lead and exhort God’s people in perilous times. The example we have  of the apostles was of men inundating themselves with the things of God—the things that are holy, spiritual, just and pure. As examples before us, they gave themselves to the study of the Scriptures that were given to them (such as they had, at that time) and the furtherance of the Gospel. The Gospel was all.

It must be understood for us, today also, that the study of God’s Word is imperative, because we too, live in perilous times. We live in a day when once again (and perhaps, it never has changed, but maybe it waxed and waned over the centuries) sound doctrine is shunned in favor of a gospel that feels good and pleases the flesh. Today, many of the largest churches in America are churches that have no foundation of truth, but draw people, because the “gospel” that is offered is one that appeals to the gratification of the natural man. Consider Eve’s dilemma in Eden, before the Fall as she was being beguiled by the serpent. He appealed to her natural senses. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t or hadn’t had the comfort and enjoyment of using those senses prior to that temptation, but the enemy came and offered her an “opportunity” to have what she was commanded not to partake of. And we are the same way, God provides all that we need to live a healthy, balanced life, but we are not satisfied—we want the gratification that comes with (attempting to) satisfying our natural man with more and more. The problem and the deception is (and Eve found this out, too) there is no satisfaction—it becomes a vicious cycle, and it comes at a hefty price. We lose our contentment and our peace whenever we chase earthly things, rather than delighting ourselves in God and the things of God.

We have so many things to distract us, today. And based on the growth of technology—and its rapid pace, the distractions will continue to mount. However, we must make a choice between the distractions and God and His Word. Do I believe that technology is evil? By no means! Technology must be utilized by God’s people to saturate the earth with His Word. We can reach more people today, because of technology than was ever humanly possible in the past—and, in milliseconds. Still, nothing can replace time spent before God learning His Word, and His ways.

The more I get to know Him, through His Word, the more I see how sloppy we are about context. Maybe, it doesn’t seem like a big deal—or that it’s just nit-picking; but this is God’s Word. There is nothing in this world that we should be more exacting about than God’s Word. Skipping Words, not taking the time to understand the meaning the writer intended to convey, finding out the background, who the message was for, originally, is of great importance to gain an accurate picture of the truth of God’s holy Word. There are many verses but I will just share a few that are commonly taken out of context, and thus preached, taught and sadly understood incorrectly—simply because we refuse to search the Scriptures, as Jesus said—“for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me”.

Romans 4:17 says, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” This is often preached and taught that we are the ones who call those things which be not as though they were. That’s a problem. For us to do that, we need the knowledge and foresight of God—we can’t begin to see the beginning from the end, and so have no capability to make such a call.

3 John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” This simple greeting from Paul to his brother in the Gospel, Gaius has turned into a whole (prosperity) movement. It is now the proof that God means for every Christian to always be in total health, and wealthy. The truth is, Paul was simply saying, “have a successful and blessed journey” or as the Contemporary English Version puts it:

“From the church leader:

To my dear friend Gaius,

I love you because we follow the truth, dear friend, and I pray that all goes well for you. I hope that you are as strong in body, as I know you are in spirit.” Puts a whole different spin on things, doesn’t it?

Proverbs 18:21a which says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” Now, this isn’t the complete verse, and the previous verse makes it clear what this refers to. Many would have you believe this means that what you speak into the atmosphere is what will happen in your life. Speak positive things and positive things will happen; speak negative things and well, you know…. What most people don’t realize is the origin of that line of thinking—and let me clue you in. It is not the Bible. First, let’s examine the truth of what this verse is about…in context. “Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.  The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”  [Proverbs 18:20, 21, New Living Translation] There are a few translations, that make the point clear, but this one was really to the point. It’s much like James statement in his 1^st chapter, verse 26: “If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).”  We must allow the Holy Spirit to control the “reigns” of our mouths—to guard them, to keep them from all evil communication, so that the “right words bring satisfaction”.  I don’t want the things that I do for God to be a clanging cymbal or loud gong (1 Corinthians 13:1), so I must surrender my tongue to Him, to allow the pure things of my heart to proceed forth from it. Basically, “Watch your mouth!” and, it is in terms of morality and righteousness, not acquiring or losing things.

For the many who believe in the mantra of “speaking things into existence” or into the atmosphere, this teaching has its roots in the New Thought Movement—or as we commonly call it today, The New Age (see E.W. Kenyon, Ralph Waldo Trine, Phineas P. Quimby, Wallace Wattles, Emanuel Swedenborg, to name a few, all teachers of New Thought. Additionally, E.W. Kenyon was a pastor and evangelist who had attended the Emerson School of Oratory in Boston, with Ralph Waldo Trine. The Emerson School was an institution where New Thought philosophy prevailed. According to historian Dale Simmons, “Kenyon is the primary source of the health and wealth gospel of the independent Charismatic movement”. Kenyon is credited with coining the popular phrase, “What I confess, I possess”). The proponents of this teaching regularly use verses of Scripture out of context to support the notion that God desires His children to have the best of everything, here and now, in a fallen world—and that is His plan. In order to access it, requires faith and speaking those things that we desire. Often verses are used like the Gaius’ greeting or 1 John 5:15, without reading 1 John 5:14-16. To do so paints a picture that is not accurate—and the truth is, without context, we can make the Word of God—or any book, say what we want it to say. Any time there is an omission, it ceases to be truth. Bottom line, we have to share all of the Word, not just the portions that suit our fancy.

People must know that it cost something to walk with Jesus—you have to take up your cross, to follow Jesus. We have to understand that we are pilgrims, this is not home—it’s okay not to be comfortable, we ought to be a bit restless, looking for that blessed hope! There is suffering in the life of the believer, but let it be according to the will of God [1 Peter 4:19], so that it has purpose, and God is present with you sustaining you and using it for good [Romans 8:28].

In conclusion, study the Word of God, know the context, so that you can avoid the deception of the adversary—he is a cunning foe, who knows how to appeal to our senses; he has been doing that since the very beginning. Watch, therefore.