Appreciating the timebound nature of the Bible enables us to understand the timeless nature of the Bible.
Begin with Jesus. Look at God (and the Bible) through the lens of Jesus.
We always have the opportunity to meet God when we're reading.
The primary theme of Jesus' life, ministry, and message is the Kingdom of God. It is also the major theme of the Bible.
What is the Kingdom of God? It's not Heaven. It's not the Church. Colonialism was motivated by greed by justified by the view that the Church was the Kingom.
In Eden the Tree of Life speaks to God's gift of Life. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil speaks to God's right alone to judge. Jews believe that if Adam and Eve had obeyed, they would have eventually been ready to eat of this tree too.
When we give up our knowledge of God, we become less than we're meant to be.
The Kingdom of God is God's righteous rule over Creation.
The bookends of the Bible - The beginning of Genesis and the end of Revelation - show the Kingdom of God on Earth.
We no longer live in the Kingdom of Darkness, under the authority of Sin - we now live in freedom under the authority of Christ.
Our Father means that we are adopted in the Kingdom. Hallowed be thy name means may my life bring honor to your name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done is a prayer that God's will might be done in your life.
Reflect on Matthew 13:10-17.
No comments:
Post a Comment