What follows is a simple letter to a questioning grandchild
Dear .....; After we visited today; I had time to ponder your question about the topic we were speaking of: "the end of the world". Because there are a lot of people in Christianity that think they are doing God a favor by predicting the date of the end of the world, and eventually these cause God's name to be reproached, I thought I'd explain some things to you:
At it's root, Christianity requires faith. In addition, the genuine Christian experience is spiritual and ultimately subjective. Since no man stands between God and man (like the Pope), there is a requirement that each individual come to terms with God on a simple one on one basis. Because all relationships with God are ultimately personal, and we all have differing gifts, some people feel they have special insights about different topics.
I should say here, God does speak to us through his word, and I believe he speaks to us in our heart. Like you may hear a very quiet voice that says, 'go put your arms around that little girl who's crying over there, and console her'.
However, sometimes people get very complicated and sophisticated about the Bible. Likewise, some people get very complicated about how God speaks to their heart. Actually, to the believer, living the Christian faith is as natural as laying in your father's lap, or telling your mom how much you appreciate her. Or doing our chores because it's our turn. There's nothing hard about living a life of faith.
There are a couple big words that Bible students like to use, exegesis and eisegesis. Let me explain this way: if I were to tell you, 'go to your library, and get the CS Lewis book, The Silver Chair; because you are used to your dad's scavenger hunts, and you enjoy Harry Potter, you may think, I was sending you a coded message, and you should really be looking for a silver chair! You would be 'reading into' (eisegesis) more than I was saying. But I just wanted you to read the book because it's a good one! Get it?
Exegesis, on the other hand, is reading the text of the Bible for exactly what it is meant to say; being careful not to 'read into' it more than was meant by God. This fellow Harold Camping, who's been predicting the end of the world for Saturday, finds all kinds of great Bible texts, and he is using waaaaay too much eisegesis!
Now don't get me wrong, eisegesis is not a bad thing; just a way of study that can lead to all kinds of misunderstandings. Basically, the books of Revelations, Daniel, Zechariah, and many more require a certain amount of eisegesis to make them have any sense at all........ But be very careful when you read such books, or hear any teaching on them, some of the best Bible teachers fail when they try to figure out some of God's clues.
Now here's a good rule: Rarely is prophesy used to create a 'prediction of coming events'. Instead, Bible prophecy is supposed to confirm what is happening in the present, so our hearts can rest, knowing that God is not taken by surprise- and neither are the saints that are led by his Holy Spirit. For instance, if a great earthquake hits our neighborhood (Matt.24.7), we know that we have been warned in advance, and like the Lord says, our hearts should" not be troubled". (Jn.14.27) The real test of a genuine child of God, is not that he or she is able to predict the future, or even escape it, rather, that this person trusts in God, no matter what comes their way!
Remember, Christianity is not as spooky as some make it out to be. It's many things: it's a way of life, a philosophy, a religion, etc. But at it's core, it's choosing to believe that God has provided a way for man to have peace with Him through his only son Jesus Christ. Everything that your Elders add to this central message, though sometimes important, pale in it's significance. So don't let any of this 'fringe' stuff bother you, when 'The End' starts to come close, I think we'll all know it. Grandpa
At it's root, Christianity requires faith. In addition, the genuine Christian experience is spiritual and ultimately subjective. Since no man stands between God and man (like the Pope), there is a requirement that each individual come to terms with God on a simple one on one basis. Because all relationships with God are ultimately personal, and we all have differing gifts, some people feel they have special insights about different topics.
I should say here, God does speak to us through his word, and I believe he speaks to us in our heart. Like you may hear a very quiet voice that says, 'go put your arms around that little girl who's crying over there, and console her'.
However, sometimes people get very complicated and sophisticated about the Bible. Likewise, some people get very complicated about how God speaks to their heart. Actually, to the believer, living the Christian faith is as natural as laying in your father's lap, or telling your mom how much you appreciate her. Or doing our chores because it's our turn. There's nothing hard about living a life of faith.
There are a couple big words that Bible students like to use, exegesis and eisegesis. Let me explain this way: if I were to tell you, 'go to your library, and get the CS Lewis book, The Silver Chair; because you are used to your dad's scavenger hunts, and you enjoy Harry Potter, you may think, I was sending you a coded message, and you should really be looking for a silver chair! You would be 'reading into' (eisegesis) more than I was saying. But I just wanted you to read the book because it's a good one! Get it?
Exegesis, on the other hand, is reading the text of the Bible for exactly what it is meant to say; being careful not to 'read into' it more than was meant by God. This fellow Harold Camping, who's been predicting the end of the world for Saturday, finds all kinds of great Bible texts, and he is using waaaaay too much eisegesis!
Now don't get me wrong, eisegesis is not a bad thing; just a way of study that can lead to all kinds of misunderstandings. Basically, the books of Revelations, Daniel, Zechariah, and many more require a certain amount of eisegesis to make them have any sense at all........ But be very careful when you read such books, or hear any teaching on them, some of the best Bible teachers fail when they try to figure out some of God's clues.
Now here's a good rule: Rarely is prophesy used to create a 'prediction of coming events'. Instead, Bible prophecy is supposed to confirm what is happening in the present, so our hearts can rest, knowing that God is not taken by surprise- and neither are the saints that are led by his Holy Spirit. For instance, if a great earthquake hits our neighborhood (Matt.24.7), we know that we have been warned in advance, and like the Lord says, our hearts should" not be troubled". (Jn.14.27) The real test of a genuine child of God, is not that he or she is able to predict the future, or even escape it, rather, that this person trusts in God, no matter what comes their way!
Remember, Christianity is not as spooky as some make it out to be. It's many things: it's a way of life, a philosophy, a religion, etc. But at it's core, it's choosing to believe that God has provided a way for man to have peace with Him through his only son Jesus Christ. Everything that your Elders add to this central message, though sometimes important, pale in it's significance. So don't let any of this 'fringe' stuff bother you, when 'The End' starts to come close, I think we'll all know it. Grandpa
4 comments:
nice letter, Peter.
So easy that my childish mind could understand. I find it very interesting that the most of the Bible is written in such plan language that evein a child could comprehend what God is telling his Children.
I think most people get frustrated with "religion" because they do try to figure out how they can make the word conform to their lives. Rather than trusting in God and allowing Him to do what he says we will do.
But then we have to allow the peace of God to work in our hearts. And the only way is to know what the word says and allow the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts and our minds.
To tell you the truth i feel kind of bad for this Harold Camping guy. He is a Teacher of the word and as we know he holds a great responsibility for his teachings. I find myself holding my mouth and watching what i say when the conversation comes up as to his character. As far as his teaching I can honestly say i believe that it is not what the Bible teaches and is wrong, unscriptural, and he only has to answer to God.
I do believe we are living in a time that is leading up to those events that the Bible tells us will happen, but God is a merciful and just God and wants all man to be saved. Not just a select handful.
On a side note. Im glad you posted. I thought i might of missed it. :)
Dick
Yeah, just because someone goes down a rabbit trail doesn't mean everything he is and says in bad. Just means he was wrong.
it looks like God had to change his planner. Camping says the rapture will now happen on Oct 21.
Do you remember the story of Chicken Little. I was looking at his picture, and he looks like a chicken. hmmm
Dick
Peter, Good response. Me, I'm just checking him. I must be in a rapture-free zone.
Jim
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