Does God speak out of context?

In colege I learned that when it comes to reading the Bible, “Context is everything”. In my 4 years at the ol' IWU I was trained so well that applying the “who, what, where and why” to Scripture is second nature to me. Linds and I are fortunate to have had a great education in this area. Most of the students in my youth group have not had this kind of training. I have had workshops and taught all the basics I can but stories like this next one always come up. This one got me thinking…

A student in our youth group came up to us and shared a problem she was having and how God spoke to her about it. She showed us in the Bible where she got her answer and it was way off. It wasn’t even a complete sentence let alone a complete though. We didn't want to embarrass her too much but it was ripped way out of context. I think that the first thought in both Linds and our minds was, “Out of Context: Commence Teaching mode…Execute.” Yet when she shared what God was teaching and directing her to do it was spot on with what we believed was the best and most godly course of action. She read the words incorrectly but she got the right message.

This and other circumstances like it have come up numerous times in our ministry. What are we to do? The way she was reading the scripture was way off but the Spirit of God still directed her in the right direction. Could it be that God can and sometimes does speak out of context? She needed a word from Him and He gave it to her without the benefit of context.

In this situation do we….

A: Put it in God’s hands. Keep quiet about it. She is getting the right answer; what does it matter. She is making a scholarly error and not a spiritual one. She is on the right track, context will right itself in time.

B: Save it for later. She got it right this time but what about another time. What happens when she reads something about handling snakes or connects concepts from opposing testaments to make a new heresy? Maybe do it passively but make sure that she knows the danger of reading into the text.

C: Nip it in the bud. Say something right away. Strike while the iron in hot. Commend her for coming to the right conclusion but take this time to teach her the best way to read and study the Bible.

Each of these has its own problems. I could hide behind A because I fear or dislike confrontation. The same could be said of B. If I take C I could be anal at best and most likely spiritually prideful.

What do you think is the best course of action? Is there something I am missing? Could there be something that collective biblical scholarship is missing by binding itself too tightly to context? How do you argue against someone else’s experience?

Thoughts on Star Wars

If I lived in the Star Wars Universe I would have a healthy dislike for the Force. Whether Jedi or Sith I would just not like them, here is why.

Every major war in the Universe has been fought by them. They are always fighting each other and everyone gets sucked into it. Even a cursory glance at Star Wars lore will reveal that when the Jedi and the Sith are at odds the whole universe has to suffer. It does not matter what else might be going on the Sith are seeking their Revenge and the Jedi their Return. Empires rise and fall, whole planets and ways of life are destroyed because they can’t get along.

You can’t trust them to care about anyone but themselves. This is especially true of the Sith but even the Jedi care more about the “mysteries of the Force” than curing societal ills and righting wrongs. They have some great propaganda but when the bantha poodoo hits the fan, they care about keeping and getting control. The universe is going to pot in the Clone Wars and it is all a ploy to get the Sith back in power. The Jedi have to destabilize the entire political climate because the Emperor happens to be a (you guessed it) Sith. “Oooo Luke you just killed the Emperor and destroyed the Imperial Regime. I am so glad you ushered in this new era of political and economic confusion.” I don’t think so.

There is no middle ground with them. You can’t be a Sith with Jedi tendencies or vice versa. I thought it rather ironic when Obi-wan told Anakin that only the Sith deal in absolutes. Isn’t that an absolute? There is no place for anyone outside of their structure and belief system and if you can’t use the Force you might as well resign yourself sitting back or dying a quick death by lightsaber. If you are not one of them you have no voice. Democracy by the people really doesn’t work when you have two absolutist groups wielding an all powerful and infallible Force.
Ok I admit it, I am a nerd. I love Star Wars a lot but I realize most of you don’t care so I will move on to my thoughts on Republicans and Democrats…