Monday, January 9, 2012

The Bible in 3D....

We live in a high tech, high energy, fast paced world!  I used to consider myself one of those tech savvy people, but that was long before my daughter came along!  Over the past month, I have attempted to catch up in this tech world by tweeting, facebooking, and even blogging as often as possible.  Technology can be a beautiful thing!   I am determined that it is like anything else.... it can be used for the King or opposed to the Kingdom. 

One of the big new things is the HD and 3D craze.  You know what I'm talking about.  It's those overly priced flat screen TV sets and those really pricey movies that make you sick to watch!  A few years ago I was in Orlando chaperoning a field trip for a group of 8th graders and we visited all those incredible Disney parks as well as Universal studios and Islands of Adventure.  I love me some roller coasters!  The older I get the more they don't really like me so much, but I will ride them until I hurl (unfortunately)!  The feelings is not the same for fair rides (too sketchy), simulators, and 3D movies!  I kinda felt pretty silly when the Hulk, the Mummy, and Dueling Dragons left me begging for more and Shrek in 3D made me sick!  It's that extra dimension that's the kicker though!  I touches you in so many ways and maybe not all of them are good!   You got the drift? 

I was thinking about Scripture the other day and how often view it as ancient and devalue the message in today's culture.  In the church and outside the church, we water it down because we are afraid it might offend somebody.   Instead, we tend to follow other people's opinions, suggestions, and hopes from FaceBook, to Dr. Phil, to the tabloids.  The consequences have been catastrophic in our life!  Broken promises, broken families, and broken lives!  The church suffers while moral collapse is our country is rampant.  What if we viewed God's Word with the mystery and authority that it deserves?  Then I realized something.... maybe God's Word is 3D too! 

3 Dimensional suggests that it touches you in 3 different and distinct ways.  For most of us, we read it only on the surface level.  Sure, you can get something of it that way.  But after a while, it almost seems infantile and elementary.  Look deeper.  Look for the context of what you are reading.  What did it mean when it was written and to the people who initially read it?  You should never read the Bible out of context.  It's dangerous!  Heresy is born by such error!  Finally, I'd suggest that you go into the last dimension.  It's the dimension of application.  Revelation without application is blatant rebellion!  What's the point of all this is if doesn't change you?  God' Word was meant to change us!

The Bible in 3D....
1D - Surface Reading
2D - Text in Context
3D - Application of Revelation

I challenge you to go deeper!  It's my conviction that we are setting for something far shallower that what God wants to show us!  I leave you with proof!  The proof is always in the pudding!!!!

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God many be competent, equipped for every good work."
                                     -2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV

If God breathes out the Word, why aren't we inhaling the full truth of it?  

1 comment:

  1. Why, indeed, Joey! Glad for the post; keep up the good work. We miss you in Satsuma but are so excited to see what ABBA is doing through you. Love to you and the family.

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