Rose-colored Glasses

Maybe you have heard the term, "Rose colored glasses" before. Usually, when I have heard that term, someone is making a comment about another who is looking at the world with a tainted view, one that only sees the good while ignoring the bad. It's a simple phrase.

However, when any of us look at the world, we are all looking through a lens. We have countless experiences that are informing how we see something. Whether it is our upbringing, the relationships we are in, or our social-economic status, all of these teach us how to interpret the world.

As we extend this thought to scripture, it follows through as well. We are told time and time again at how important it is to read scripture. And it is. God's scriptures are powerful, teaching and cultivating within us the spirit of God within our life. Still, Christians rarely (or not as much as they should), teach and work with people at how to read scripture.

As a kid, and even a young adult, I had some crazy understandings of God (I might even still have some now). Scriptures like Mark 10:25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," brought all sorts of interesting images of a rich man getting stuck halfway through the eye of a needle. Now, I know that is a bit of a stretch, and I have always had an active imagination, but when we think about it, this scripture stretches us. Is it really bad to have money? Is being rich wrong? Am I willing to make money and chance not getting in heaven, or even getting stuck halfway through a needle?

These are questions that I asked, and maybe you have as well. All of my experiences have informed how I viewed this one scripture, and many of my experiences were highly challenged by what was said.

The Bible is big. There is really no debate about that, and...it takes some time to really understand it. I found this article which walks us scripture readers through a very practical manner for how to read scripture. Just click on this http://www.ransomfellowship.org/articledetail.asp?AID=509&B=Denis%20Haack&TID=7 I find this article quite compelling and filled with integrity in regards to how we engage the scripture God has given us. Take a look at it and let me know what you think!

Grace and Peace!

Micah