year in review

Since I started Tweeting, I've written less on my blog...and feel quite guilty about it every time I think about it. Before I end the year, I'd like to reflect on a few great lessons God has been teaching me in the last 12 months.

1. Dying is gain. Paul said it first [Philippians 1:21]. Never more has this spiritual principle found such personal confirmation as in the last year. Through our family relationships with several homeless friends and our timely connection with our African brothers and sisters, I have learned the joy of giving myself and my stuff away. I'm reminded that my money isn't mine. Neither is my house, my clothes, my kids or my time. I'm just a steward of God's resources. And, as often as I sacrifice, lose, give and die, I discover the blessing of true life.

2. The power of words. There's a difference between saying something and having something to say. Through my cautious adoption of Twitter and Facebook, I have been challenged to use social networking as an extension of my ministry. This means that I guard what I write and endeavor to write what matters. Proverbs 18:21 is a powerful reminder of the potential good and evil of subjects and verbs.

3. Holy Spirit proof. I have been fortunate enough to be the bystander of several lives that have been radically changed this year. I study and preach about the Holy Spirit and the inward transformation He accomplishes. But, it's only a theological proposition until you see people start giving their money, their time and their life away to be the biggest blessing to others.

4. I'm never off. As a pastor and a parent, I'm always "on." This is true of every Christian. None of us take a vacation from our life with Christ. We are always influencing our neighbors, employees, community and children...for better or for worse. The question is not whether I'm discipling people but which direction I'm discipling them in.

5. Books, books, books! The written word still has more nutritional value over television any day. Be a voracious reader.

6. One Kingdom. I am terribly tempted to build any number of Kingdoms: my kingdom, my family's kingdom, the kingdom of our church. But, only the Kingdom of God matters. If what I'm doing makes God look so great that I'm forgotten amidst the deafening applause of others for His glory, I'm doing the right thing. Make God famous in all I do.

chirp chirp

My daughter was born to chirp. Her name, Jenna, means "little bird" and she hasn't stopped tweeting since she took her first breath. I've never met another human being who sings so often...all the time....everywhere. But, that's how her Creator made her and she is most content when she lives out her God-given design.

We could see it on her face during last night's Christmas Concert. Jenna sings with the Arlington All-City Boys and Girls Choir and they were invited to share the stage with the Master Chorale for a special Christmas program. My little girl, front row and center, wouldn't have chosen to be anywhere else. A song in German, one in Spanish and a finale with show choir hand motions---our little bird chirped, smiling ear to ear.

Jenna proved an important reality: We are most glad when we do what we were designed to do. God made each one of us as unique creations, specially fashioned to do "good works which God prepared in advance for us to do" [Ephesians 2:10]. There are many things we can do. But, when we discover what which we were Divinely designed to do, our heart is glad. For me, it's preaching. For another, it might be composing and presenting music. A friend of mine is most glad when she's giving. Another feels at home when he's listening to others.

Don't settle for what you can do. Find out what you were made to do. And do it. And, as you do, God will put a song in your heart. Chirp, chirp.

its all mental

I went running with Tiffany last week--my first time in 25 years. My legs were burning before I made it to the end of the driveway. As we scaled the hills near our neighborhood, Tiffany continued to remind me, "It's all mental." This was a hard sell to my feet, ankles, shins, knees, calves, thighs, lungs, sinuses and backside. For three miles, my body sent urgent messages to my brain begging me to stop. Then I realized: It is all mental. The physical challenge I faced ultimately ended in my head where I wrestled with whether to continue on or not.

In Romans 12:2, Paul urges Believers to be transformed by the "renewing of our mind." I will not overcome the hills ahead of me in life through physical training, but through spiritual renewal of my mind--what I trust to be true about God and His purposes.

I renew my mind by thinking, meditating on and engaging what is true and good. Philippians 4:8 states, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Paul's charge suggests that we don't form opinions, values and ideas simply as passive participants in culture. Rather, we can choose to invest ourselves in the kinds of literature, dialogues and influences which will cultivate godly thinking, wondering and creativity.

A few points of action:

1. Immerse yourselves in God's Word. The way of God is revealed in the Word of God.

2. Select your books with care. I fear that there are more mediocre books about the spiritual life published each year than truly valuable ones. Remember that "best sellers" are not always best.

3. Variety makes for a good diet. Explore theology, Christian fiction, devotionals, contemporary and ancient writers. Branch out.

4. Clear your coffee table. I have subscriptions to 4 magazines that taunt me every month. I don't have time for that many. Some people do. Manage the number of data channels [subscriptions, social networks, books, television, etc.] you take in. Remember, garbage in, garbage out.

you can do it!

I jokingly told Tiffany that the real work in her marathon wasn't her running, but my mapping, driving, parking, unloading and waiting at about a dozen checkpoints along the course! Saturday evening, I loaded my iPhone with coordinates that directed me to the next location where the kids and I were ready to applaud Tiffany and her running mate, Kelly McCullough. In the end, she reflected on how important it was for both of them to know that there was a small cheering section, just around the bend, challenging them to stay the course to the end.

The book of Hebrews states, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" [Hebrews 10:24-25]. The writer must have understood the lonely difficulty of running the spiritual race with no one on the sidelines urging him on. Without the encouraging support of community, most Christians are destined to fall out of the race.

This "spurring one another" comes in different forms. Sometimes, it's just personal presence. On race day, the kids and I were joined by our friends, the Lynches, the Carsons and the Porters. Just seeing these supporters lifted Tiffany's heart and urged her to go one mile further. Similarly, there is a value in community--not only in what we do together, but just the warmth and encouragement that we bring by just sharing life together.

Second, we may spur one another through our words. Proverbs 18:21 reminds me that words have the power of life and death. What we say may hurt or heal. Dozens of people called, texted and tweeted me and Tiffany before and after her run. Each connection strengthened her with courage and support. In the same way, my comments, brief note or loving email to a friend can give them a little push today.

Finally, we spur one another by running with them. From the beginning, Tiffany has trained with her friend Kelly and their partnership brought them to and through their marathon. Then, as Tiffany began to feel the burn just before mile 12, our friend, sweet Laurel Lynch, jumped into street and began to run alongside Tiffany as well. It was an incredible picture of love. This was Tiffany's race. But, Laurel wasn't going to let her fail. I wonder who needs me to come alongside them today. To look them in the eye and tell them, "I know your legs are weak...Life's been tough. But you can count on me. I might have enough strength for both of us for a while."

milestone metaphors

You'll have to forgive me, but I have marathon on my mind. Yesterday, Tiffany ran her first 26.2 mile race and this personal milestone for her has generated so many metaphors for life. Runners say a marathon is more mental, rather than physical [I wouldn't know personally....]. Watching from streetside, I couldn't help but notice an abundance of spiritual connections. Perhaps this is why the Bible describes the Christian life as a race [Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1] So, my next few posts will reflect a few race principles to encourage you to cross the finish line.

the blessing

Many people have asked me to reprint the "Blessing" that I use each Sunday at the close of our worship services at Pantego Bible Church. For 4 years, this pastoral charge has been my heart's desire for the people God has called me to lead. It is a combination of Scripture and personal mission:

"And now brothers and sisters, go and grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Consider your very lives worth nothing if only you may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to you--the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace. And, as you go, become disciples so changed by God that God may use you to change your world. And, all of this that God--the living God--will make Himself famous through you."

Here's the source of each phrase:
And now brothers and sisters, go and grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [2 Peter 3:18]. Consider your very lives worth nothing if only you may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to you--the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace [Acts 20:24]. And, as you go, become disciples so changed by God that God may use you to change your world. [my personal Mission Statement]. And, all of this that God--the living God--will make Himself famous through you [the chief end of man: the Westminster Catechism].

no rinse required

This morning, as I emptied the dishwasher and reloaded it [don't be impressed, I'm too often not that helpful], I was disappointed by two realities. First, I loathe stacking "clean" dishes in the cabinets only to find that they're not really clean. The wash and rinse cycle cleared most of the food, but the dry cycle only served to baked remaining particles to the ceramic. I go out to the garage and get a chisel from my workbench.

Because of the first irritation, I have a second one: I must rinse each piece of dinnerware [even water glasses, just to be safe] to guarantee that everything will be clean. In the end, I have become the dish washer and the appliance under my counter simply stores plates, bowls and silverware until someone gets around to putting them away.

One of the biggest reasons why we "work" for our salvation is that we don't believe that the cross of Jesus is sufficient to wash away the stain of our sin. Grace sounds too weak. And so we believe that we must pre-rinse our lives in order to present ourselves on the rack to Jesus so that He might finish the cycle of making us clean. My good deeds underestimate the deep power-scrubbing of the cross and overestimate the added benefit that any of us could bring to our own life change.

Truth is, we are saved by grace alone so that "no one can boast" [Ephesians 2:8-9]. In other words, grace makes human effort unnecessary so that saved people end up proudly pointing to the cross instead of their own contribution. We make the mess. But only God can sanitize our souls. We bring nothing. But the cross is powerful enough to make me clean. The old hymn asks and answers the question: "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

shock value

Six weeks ago, my outdoor spotlights stopped working. So, I removed the switchplate in my foyer and stared at the twist of wires linking four toggles together. I had flipped the circuit breaker in the garage but the thought of navigating bare wires gave me pause. I hate electricity. Actually, I love electricity [I wouldn't be typing this blog without it], but I can think of 120 shocking reasons why I'd prefer to keep my distance.

So, I called my friend, Kevin Hill. He's a professional. Kevin is well-grounded in all things electric [pun intended]. He immediately went to work snipping, stripping and switching wires...while they remained hot. That means that a current was still flowing to the switches Kevin was fixing. But, time and familiarity have enabled him to handle the power without fear.

Ravi Zacharias, noted contemporary speaker, once commented, "Do not let your familiarity with God rob you of the wonder of God." His warning was to every God-lover who could grow so used to God, that they cease bowing in holy fear at His holiness, cease standing awestruck at His beauty, cease being humbled by His majesty. In short, they "handle" God without any trepidation of His Divine voltage.

Notice the warning in Exodus 19:10-12:

And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

God's people were cautioned to consecrate themselves before God. That is, they were to prepare themselves before meeting God. The next day, when God descended, they were to restrain themselves--not rush the mountain--lest God's power knock them off their feet forever. If God never changes, He possesses the same "electricity" He's always had. I must be on guard not to let my own familiarity with Him rob me of the everlasting wonder of who God still is.

I've been 'called'

You've heard someone say this before: "God called me." Sometimes, this little phrase is used like a 357 Magnum--to neutralize objection. If God called me to protest that cause, leave this church, kiss that girl or change academic majors, who's to argue? I wonder how many selfish (and sinful) pursuits have been undertaken under the guise of God's calling.

Still, there are times when right-minded people are impressed with Divine leading. I have a friend in Austin who was called by God to launch a new church. It wasn't a kind of self-centered neo-church venture to make a name for himself. Instead, God was moving him to launch a church to reach a marginalized group of people his present church wasn't designed to reach.

Good call. And, God-called.

But, how do we distinguish between the genuine call of God and the temptation to do our own thing and simply affix God's name to it in the end? I think we must look at the subjective and objective elements of Divine "calling."

SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF CALLING
On the one hand, God's "call" is subjective. Many biblical people had the benefit of hearing God's voice, having angels appear at their bedside or stumbling across blazing bushes with unmistakable directions on what to do next. However, God more often moved "in the hearts of His people." Men and women experienced God's movement internally. It's that moment when we are suddenly excited or alerted to a need; where our spirit resonates with an opportunity; where our heart is weighted with a burden. At this point, a person cannot study or test these subjective feelings. All they know is that the Spirit of God is moving them in a particular direction [John 14:26].

OBJECTIVE NATURE OF CALLING
The problem with the subjective nature of calling is that it's...well...subjective. I know that my heart is deceitful above all things [Jeremiah 17:9] and, what I "feel" may not be what is true. So, if I'm not careful, I may conclude God is calling when, in fact, I'm just pushing my own agenda. What I need are "objective" confirmations of God's subjective calling on my life. I have relied on several objective benchmarks to help me discern when God is leading:

1. The truth of Scripture. What I feel in my heart must correspond to what is written in God's Word. If God has spoken one way long ago, He will not lead me in another today.

2. The affirmation of community. If I am being led by God's Holy Spirit, and the same Spirit in me resides in other godly people, then the Spirit in them will resonate with the Spirit in me. This is one of the grand benefits of community. Together, the whole Body works toward common purposes and the protection of its members.

3. Correspondence with my resources. God gives each person spiritual gift[s] for the work of ministry [1 Corinthians 12]. Most often--though not always--God's mission for me will align with the resources God has already given to me for the work of mission. In other words, God will not usually call people to something that does not align with spiritual gifts, natural abilities, personality or passions. [To be fair, I must admit that Moses didn't feel completely qualified to stand before Pharaoh. But, his prior leadership position in Pharaoh's palace was a resource that gave him standing at a later time].

4. Curious change in circumstances. When I graduated from seminary, I felt that God was calling me back to our church in Austin. The greatest obstacle to our departure from Denver was the sale of our home. Immediately after the church asked me to come, I received a phone call from a friend who said, "I've heard that you might be leaving. I'd like to buy your house." No kidding. That call was God's confirmation of His calling. When the circumstances of life curiously line up to support what God is saying, that can be a great confirmation of where God is leading.

Many times, God provides one or more of these benchmarks to clarify His calling. But, in the end, to follow God's calling is an act of faith [Hebrews 11:6]. And, while we might search for the signs, we ultimately say "yes" to Him because we trust Him in wherever He leads.

overcoming spiritual deafness

We have been studying the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 for the last couple of weeks. IN these two chapters, Jesus speaks to a select group of churches in Asia Minor and issues a unique message to each--sometimes commendation, sometimes condemnation and sometimes, a little of each. But, the common element of each letter is in the last lines: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says."

At one level, the command is silly because we all have ears. I've never met an ear-less person. But the command is also serious because the presence of ears on either side of our head is no guarantee that anything is getting inside. We must choose to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us. In the case of Jesus' letters through the Apostle John to each of the churches, the Spirit's message was quite clear. At other times, the Holy Spirit isn't so obviously clear. So, how do we "hear" what the Spirit is saying?

The Holy Spirit speaks in a variety of ways. First, the Spirit speaks through conviction [John 16:8]. Because the Spirit resides in the Christian [John 14:17, Romans 8:11], He "speaks" to us in the way He moves our heart. When we feel uneasy about something we're doing, we are likely sensing the directing hand of the Spirit.

Second, the Spirit speaks through God's Word. In John 14:26, Jesus said, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." When we read and study the Bible, God's Spirit resonates within us as we decipher and digest truth. It is His Spirit which is communicating His heart to us [see also 1 Corinthians 2:6-16].

Third, the Holy Spirit also leads us through other Believers. Because every Christian is indwelled with the same Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:13] and grafted into one Body, we can count on the Spirit in one person to "coordinate" with the same Spirit in another. This is another reason why biblical community is so important. As we spend time together, the Holy Spirit leads us in our life with one another.

The anticipated danger of Jesus' message to each of the churches is that, though having ears, they might choose not to listen. And, for each of us, it's possible that we might suppress the Spirit's conviction, ignore the Spirit's truth and isolate ourselves from the Spirit living in community. If we do, we'll become spiritually "deaf." On the other hand, if we listen to what God is telling us through His Spirit, then we become spiritually in tune to the living God.

lessons in purity

For the last several weeks, I have been preaching a new series: "SEVEN: Pursuit of the Perfect Church." Through this survey of the 7 churches of Revelation, we are learning how to become a less-than-imperfect church. Through the church of Ephesus, we learned a lesson about love. At Smyrna, we learned about persecution and suffering. In Pergamum, we learned about the importance of truth. This week, we travel to Thyatira and are reminded about moral purity.

To help us hold a high standard, my family uses an Internet filter. I know there are a hundred different software programs available. But, I personally endorse SafeEyes. I have been incredibly impressed with how the software blocks or allows sites and allows me to manage the amount of time that my children spend on the Internet. If you don't have a program, let me encourage you to check it out. It's a very low price to pay for high living.

from busy to burnout

I think God might be trying to tell me something. the cover story on seveeral Christian magazines have been about "Running on Empty" and avoiding ministry fatigue. The topic at a recent Senior Pastors' gathering was dealing with burnout. And, a friend recently confessed that he was in a fog with so much ministry.

So, last Sunday evening, I talked briefly with our ministry leaders about burnout. When we "burn the candle at both ends," we're liable to find the flame of ministry eventually snuffed out completely. Through my conversation with other ministry leaders and some research on the topic, I presented the following 10 Symptoms of Ministry Burnout:

1. Longing for “greener grass”-- Desire for a new ministry, new community, or a new church.
2. Dream of escape --Desperately needing to get away. You spend more and more time scanning the Travel section of your newspaper.
3. Anger and cynicism --Conversely, a lack of humor.
4. Increased addictions -- To fill the voids in life, you busy yourself with other distractions. television and Internet are often the worst culprits.
5. Lack of joy in your calling -- You no longer delight in or get excited about successes.
6. Task-orientation -- With an increasing feeling of hopelessness and failure, you begin attending to tasks to “get something done."
7. Loss of creativity and newness -- Your mind shuts down to new ideas and creation.
8. Isolation -- The fear of being exposed causes you to retreat from community.
9. Neglected responsibilities -- What you used to do naturally, you now forget.
10. Unhappy spouse -- Your unhappiness and discontent are mirrored in your mate.

Truth is, we all can experience some of these challenges during the best of times in life. But, when several of these show up in my soul, I need to take inventory to see if I'm about to go down in flames.

fellowship of the unashamed

I recently heard the testimony of a very brave teenage girl who stood resolutely for Christ. On her Facebook page, she posted the following quote originally written by Dr. Bob Moorehead:

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slowdown, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.

I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

application

[NOTE: This is the final post in a series of entries intending to help readers learn how to study their Bible.]

For those following this series of posts, I have very briefly touched on 3 steps of effective Bible study: Preparation, Observation and Interpretation. Preparation puts me in line with God's Holy Spirit so that I can discern spiritual things. Observation is the discipline to "search out" the details in a text. Interpretation is the business of making sense of what I see. But, my study is complete only when I apply what I have learned.

Two key texts come to mind when I think about this principle of Application. In Luke 6:46, Jesus asks, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" His point, of course, is that submitting to Jesus as "Master" requires not just understanding what He teaches, but doing it. Similarly, James highlights the foolishness of observation and interpretation without application:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." [James 1:22-25]

The key word in this text is "do"--intentional application of what we learn. In fact, James explains, to read and study the Bible without applying truth is like looking at ourselves in the mirror and walking away without correcting our problem. Just as mirrors and designed for self-improvement, so the Bible is designed to change our lives.

Howard Hendricks, distinguished professor at Dallas Theological Seminary writes, "Interpretation without application is abortion of God's Word." He goes on to highlight 4 "substitutions" that we may be tempted to make:

1. We substitute interpretation for application.
Disciples feel that if they understand a passage, they have mastered its content.

2. We substitute superficial obedience for substantive life-change.
Disciples come to believe that if they begin to apply the scripture or demonstrate a life which may only hint at intended change, they have accomplished the intent of a text.

3. We substitute rationalization for repentance.
Namely, we explain away our sin, our complacency, our refusal to be more than mere hearers of the Word. We give excuses as to why a text doesn't exactly apply to us.

4. We substitute emotional experience for a volitional decision.
Our excitement about a text or our passion about its implication becomes the end result of our study. While we might be emotionally captivated by spiritual truth, we are nonetheless unchanged.

True application is a change in our lives: a change in what we believe, in what we feel or in how we live. The Bible is designed to transform our mind, our heart and our behavior. So, once we discover what a text means to the original audience, we must decide what implication it has for us personally. The following is a list of questions to ask as we work to apply God's Word:

1. Is there an example for me to follow?
2. Is there a sin to avoid?
3. Is there a promise to claim?
4. Is there a prayer to repeat?
5. Is there a condition to meet?
6. Is there a verse to memorize?
7. Is there an error to note?
8. Is there a challenge to face?

Today, you might print this list and tuck it inside your Bible as a reminder to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers as well. I pray that your study of the Scriptures yields great fruit for life transformation.

let the nations be glad!

For all the planning that goes into a worship service at Pantego Bible Church, no one can orchestrate the work and ways of God. Sunday was one of an increasing number of God-moments.

Six weeks ago, three men visited our church and introduced themselves at our Guest Reception afterwards. They represented a growing community of refugees from Burundi, Rwanda and Congo. Many had been settled in the United States within the last three years through a special refugee plan in 2007. Though there may be more than 2000 of these foreigners in the DFW area, these men are connected with a known community of 100+ in south Fort Worth. After gracious introductions, they made one request: Would our church grant them a place to worship in their own tongue?

Burundi is one of the most Christianized nations in central Africa and the spiritual roots of these beautiful people run deep. As Pastor January, Method [the most English-speaking interpreter] and elders of their newly-forming church met with a group from PBC, they humbly requested a room..or a tent...or even a patch of grass to meet as a Body and worship each week.

It took little convincing of our Elder Board to give this church a place to begin worship services on the PBC campus. yesterday, many from their African community joined their pastor on our stage for us to welcome them and forge a partnership that unites 2 nations under one Lord. As we received our morning offering, the Burundi community sang songs to God and, while none of us understood a word, we translated their hearts with no problem.

I am looking forward to the days ahead as we learn more about our friends and determine how we, the church, might be able to meet their needs. Already, we have been richly blessed by their arrival. We pray that God will be made famous in this work.

To learn more about the history of the Burundi refugees, see a very informative article HERE.

discipline

Oh the beauty of discipline:



You can also view it HERE.

interpretation | #3

[NOTE: This is the 7th post in a series of entries intending to help readers learn how to study their Bible.]

As we consider the importance of responsible interpretation of the Bible [remember 2 Timothy 2:15?], I think we should pause and consider the topic of translations. The difference between "interpretation" and "translation" is like the difference between a chef and a dietitian. A chef takes raw ingredients and "translates" them into a delicious meal. He could fry, bake, grill or sear fish...depending on his customer. In the end, fish is fish, but the chef has the job of presentation. The dietitian, however, isn't given such luxury of personal preference. He or she must analyze the meal and draw conclusions about the amount of sodium, calories, protein, etc. These conclusions are based on the substance, not presentation. Still, the dietitian will be limited by the meal that the chef prepares.

We have a variety of translations of the Bible. However these translations differ in presentation. They are the result of different scholars who are writing the language of the Bible for particular audiences to digest. I think about the multitude of translations in three basic categories:

LITERAL TRANSLATIONS: These translations are true to the original, Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Bible. However, because they are word-for-word designed, some find them to be too "wooden," or stiff. In other words, they don't sound like we speak. They are the most accurate for personal study. Example of literal translations include the New King James Version, the English Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible.

FREE TRANSLATIONS: Opposite of literal translation are those translations which are freer in their syntax, grammar and word content. The translators have taken liberty to rearrange the parts to smooth out the readability of the text. While these translations often "flow" and have an easier readability, they are not as dependable for deeper study. They are paraphrases, relying on the translator's style and perspective. Free translations include The Message, the Living Bible and J.B. Phillip's The New Testament in Modern English.

DYNAMIC EQUIVALENT: A moderating option between literal and free translations is the dynamic equivalent translation. These phrase-by-phrase versions maintain the historical distance between the original language and the current language, but updates style and grammar. Examples of these translations include New International Version and the New English Bible.

Here is a list of Bibles from most literal to most free:

King James (KJV)
New King James (NKJV)
English Standard (ESV)
New American Standard NASB)
Revised Standard (RSV)
New Revised Standard (NRSV)
Updated NASB
Amplified Bible
New American Bible
New International (NIV)
New English Bible
Good News Bible
Phillips Modern English
Living Bible (LB)
New Living Bible (NLT)
Jerusalem Bible
Contemporary English (CEV, "The Promise")
Today's English Version
The Message

Which version should you choose? I encourage Bible students to use whichever version is most readable to them for their personal, devotional time. However, when it comes to serious study, the student should use a Bible that is closer to a literal translation. I enjoy reading The Message, but it does not provide the necessary accuracy of the ESV or NASB when it comes to thorough study. Good interpretation starts with the right translation.

refreshment for free

interpretation | #2

[NOTE: This is the 6th post in a series of entries intending to help readers learn how to study their Bible.]

In the last several posts, I have lightly surveyed the basic steps to good Bible Study. We start with the Spirit, then learn to see, then make sense of what we see. This is the discipline of interpretation. Once I have answered my interpretive questions, I attempt to summarize the passage several ways. This task of summarizing is a very helpful exercise.

One way to summarize a passage is to determine a "topic" for the passage. Try and reduce the passage to one word [two, if you must]. This one word must take the entire passage into account. It's a challenge, but forces the Bible student to look at the big picture. For example, after studying the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes [John 6], a person might conclude that the topic is "provision."After studying the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego [Daniel 3], they might choose the topic "conviction" or "perseverance."

Another way to interpretively summarize a passage is by drafting a "Big Idea." Every passage in the Bible answers an implied question. In John 3, the question is obvious: "How can a man be born when he is old?" [Nicodemus asked, v. 4]. So, this passage more generally answers the question, "How can people be 'born again'?" The challenge is to discern the question being asked and answered in each passage.

Here's an easy example. James 1:2-18 deals with trials. The question implied may be, "How should a Christian deal with trials in their life?" The answer [summary of the passage] might be: "...by choosing joy, seeking wisdom in faith, looking to the greater reward in the end, and resisting the inherent temptation that is sure to come." Put the question and answer together and the Big Idea is: "The Christian endures trials in life by choosing joy, seeking wisdom in faith, looking to a greater reward and resisting inherent temptation that is sure to come." Reduce the phrase a bit more and one might write: "We overcome trials with joy, wisdom, hope and fortitude."

Let's try another: Matthew 5:13-16. After a quick study, I might summarize:

QUESTION: Why must the Christian be salt and light in their world?
ANSWER: Because it reflects who they truly are and illumines the glory of God to others around them.
COMBINE: The Christian should be salt and light to reflect who they truly are and illumine the glory of God in the world.
REDUCE: We shine to reflect the glory of God in a dark world.

If I wanted, I could spend time writing and rewriting each question/answer to refine what I really believe the passage is about. This exercise is a great interpretive process.

Now it's your turn.

and now for reality

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