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Approaching God One Thought At A Time

It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.
- Oscar Wilde

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Rule of Emphasis

The Rules of Biblical interpretation have stood the test of time, having long been used by many disciplines. Given epidemic levels of Biblical illiteracy symptomatic of modern Christianity’s various sects each offering differing versions of Christ and the gospel, Quantum Christianity introduced the Rule of Emphasis designed to assist in clarifying the context, and therefor the content, of Scripture.

Work hard so God can say to you, "Well done." Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means.


- 2 Timothy 2:15 TLB


Each of us daily employ a variety of means to communicate with others. Embedded in our interactions are subtle and not so subtle indicators of our thoughts and feelings. From facial expressions and verbal cues to body language and overt physical actions, we find ways to make our intentions known.

The
Bible is amazing, unique in all the world in many ways. Yet even the Book of Books has it's limitations. For all its glory as the consulate spiritual menu and meal, Scripture’s ability to communicate it's key messages yet lays in the hands it's readers. A Bible passage has no body language, facial features or tone of voice to strengthen or soften it's point. Outside of colorful adjectives and adverbs, Scripture's ability to beckon and promise, shout and demand, cry and implore is severely limited.

Unlike a person, the Bible lacks the ability to warn the reader when important or
pivotal points are misunderstood. Or does it? Evidence abounds supporting Scripture's Divine inspiration and authority. A bold claim yet one being reinforced daily as ancient prophecies begin to unfold. It would stand to reason that God, in His infinite wisdom, would find a way to communicate the truths most important to humanity.


Rule of Emphasis Criteria

As with all literature, a sincere desire to comprehend the Author's intent is a necessary ingredient to understanding Scripture. With a good faith effort, simply employing the Rule of Emphasis when reading the Bible yields easily understood meta messages.

The Rule of Emphasis uses the following criteria to determine the
importance the Bible places on a subject or topic, directive or warning, promise or condition:


  • Vitality of concept: What importance does the plain meaning of the passage's language communicate? To what degree does the author use syntax to accentuate the topic.

  • Development of thought: How many verses are used to develop the thought? Is it continued throughout most of or even the entire chapter?

  • Repetition of idea: Do subsequent chapters continue the same or a complementary train of thought? Does the author reinforce the concept in additional Bible books? How many of the Bible's 66 books and 40 different authors develop the same or similar themes?

  • Detail of instruction: How much time and trouble does the author invest in detailing the concept? The more precise and compelling the instruction, the higher the emphasis being communicated.

  • Indirect references: Beyond the direct language, does the author support the theme with indirect references? These might include citing other passages as well as the use of metaphor and typology.

  • Stated benefits: What are the clearly stated benefits of understanding and complying with directive or meeting the conditions associated with promise?

  • Explicit or implicit warnings: What level of disappointment or danger is the author warning against? What risks are involved in failing to heed the warning? How easily reversed are the negative consequences being discussed? Are the outcomes described temporal or eternal?

Complex not Complicated


When it comes to Scripture, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so" is a bit simplistic. Here's just a few Protestant Bible statistics:
  • Total Books: 66
  • Authors: 40
  • Chapters: 1,189
  • Verses: 31,101
  • Words: 783.137
  • Commands: 6,468
  • Promises: 1,260
  • Predictions: 8,000 +
  • Fulfilled prophecy: 2,000
  • Unfilled prophecy: 500
  • Languages translated into: 1,200
  • Bibles printed: 6,000,000,000

Thankfully, even a book with as bold a claim as that of being the Word of God has easily identifiable themes emphasized repeatedly and in detail. Additionally, Scripture has this to say about itself:

  • "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:16-21

  • "There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." 2 Timothy 3:15-17 MSG

  • "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13

  • "When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others." 1 Corinthians 2:13-15

  • "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John 16:12-14

Examples

The following are offered as an introductory list of ten meta-issues directly or indirectly emphasized throughout Scripture and even more so in the New Testament. Bare in mind that indirect handling of a topic is not synonymous with unimportance. For example, it has been insightfully noted that the Trinity is Christianity's most unique feature. Yet the word "Trinity" is absent from the Bible. Additionally, the author of Hebrews indirectly yet emphatically warns that typology, by it's nature subjective, is actually the meat as apposed to the than milk of Scripture.


1. Honesty: Perhaps the key virtue most pleasing to God. Honesty includes our appropriate response to a number of aspects of human life.

  • Mortality: Full appreciation that we are not just fearfully and wonderfully made but most fearfully and wonderfully made, in a fearful and wonderful place, living fearful and/or wonderful lives, facing fearful and/or wonderful futures and a most fearful or wonderful eternity.

  • Nature: We are triune beings as perviously explained. Hence we are spirits (eternal beings) possessing souls (personality) living in bodies. While God is the great I Am. I am nothing great. He has so much, everything. He knows so much, everything. He is so much, everything. Tri-Omnity. Eternally Self Existing and immutable.


  • Obedience: As with our own children there are levels of obedience. Scripture requires we grow into greater maturity. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of church attendees, rather than having 5-20 years of Christian experience, we have 1 year of elementary Christian experience 5-20 times.



2. Repentance: Point 1 alone shows we have much for which to repent. Such a repentive mindset need be strategic and continual, individual and corporate.

  • If My People: A familiar passage to many, God’s formula for repentance is little understood and employed even less.

  • Cure for Worldliness: As discussed, only once does the Bible not only diagnose worldliness within the church, but offer a line by line prescription in treating this malevolent tumor metastasizing throughout the body of Christ. Particularly in the First World.


3. Biblical Literacy: In the face of growing evidence for the Divine authority of Scripture, a small percentage of believers today choose to diligently, rather than casually, seek Him as commanded.

  • Remembering Scripture: The average Christian is unable to quote ten verses in a row.



4. Intercession: The responsibilities and distractions, temptations and deceptions of modern life all vie for the attention of today’s believers. A dwindling minority are willing to invest the kind of time and energy in prayer, or any spiritual discipline the Bible promises to reward. Rather, based on a misunderstanding of the unconditional loving acceptance of God, many assume salvation and presume that simply tossing up a prayer now and then is sufficient.

  • Unanswered Prayer: The biggest reason for prayerlessness is unanswered prayer. Yet, rather than addressing the root causes of this extremely serious issue, we choose to either opt out or pretend all is well.

  • Prayer Meetings: It’s been said, “You can measure the popularity of a church by the number participating in a Sunday service. You can measure the popularity of a pastor by the number participating in a midweek service. You can measure the popularity of God by the number participating in a regularly scheduled prayer meeting.” By this standard, God’s popularity has plummeted to single digits. Makes one wonder with defeats such as the inversion of millennia of morality, the abortion of over a billion, untold numbers of family members lost to sin etc. what more motivation is necessary? The lack of an extremely well attended serious and lengthy prayer meeting offered weekly, if not daily, is a tragic sign of the times. It’s one thing to fight and fail, quite another to fail to fight.

  • Levels of Prayer: As there are various modes of prayer, so too are there levels of commitment and fervency. Again these include simply praying for, which largely amounts to wishful thinking. Next would be pressing in for hours at a time. Finally there is praying through, which implies continual intercession until the answer is in hand. In a time such as this, it's the role of wise intercessors to recognize the temptation and sin overwhelming society. Including those embraced by the people of God. Like Jeremiah, they pour out their soul in lament that God would save His people, even in the face of great personal cost. Like Habukkuk, they wrestle with God that in justice and judgment He might remember mercy. Like Mary and the Canaanite mother, they refuse to take no for an answer. Like Paul in his greatest prayer, they travail that the gifts of the Spirit would flourish and multiply, and the Church would be “filled with all the fullness of God.” Yet, where are the mature among us dedicated to this most crucial of missions? The fulfillment of which would benefit everyone in every way. Oh that we would genuinely pursue, and thus entertain a realistically hope, of fully experiencing the Spirit’s presence and power, provision and protection. In ways "exceedingly, abundantly, beyond all that we can ask or think.”


5. Sanctification: Most Christians will listen to a sermon. Perhaps a tenth of these take the time to discuss the sermon seriously. Perhaps a tenth of these pray about putting the teaching into practice.  Perhaps a tenth of these will do so.  Perhaps a tenth of these gather to pray that others do the same. Perhaps a tenth of these will honestly review their results, admitting failure where warranted. Perhaps a tenth of these will reinvest the time and effort required to meditate on and refine the process. To succeed in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission, we need far better odds than one in a million honest and diligent God seekers.

  • Kingdom Wisdom: The New Testament reveals a heavenly wisdom in direct option to worldly thinking. Christian fellowship must reflect the importance of understanding the difference and choosing sanctification.

  • Immorality: Though we may hope and pretend otherwise, immorality is a leading deal breaker in Scripture. A nearly 60 year deluge of temptation and deception has turned every aspect of Earth into a Waterworld of entitlement and sin.

  • Dualism: A vast majority of society fails to appreciate the role dualism plays in shaping our lives. A form of double-mindedness, we are not only capable of good and evil, but often participate in both. Knowingly and not. Note: As was the case with the Rich Man in the story of Lazarus, the judgment of eternity will forever clarify the wisdom or folly of our choices. Truth, currently clouded by individual and corporate foolishness, will then have it’s eternal dawn. Long after the current cosmos have vanished, God’s glory will illuminate mankind’s cumulative consciousness. Some to everlasting joy and praise. Some to endless weeping and gnashing of teeth. There, knowing as precisely as we’re known, before eternity and the host of Heaven, there will be no shadow of confusion or turning, no discussion or excuse.



6. Holy Spirit: The paramount glory of Christianity is found in the inconceivable gift of the Trinity. The Father so loved the world that He gave His Son, Immanuel God with us, to provide salvation through the incomparably costly atonement of Christ. Victoriously, Christ was resurrected and ascended to Heaven, offering to fill His Church with the promised Spirit of the Father and Son, that Omnity might not just be with us but in us.

  • Pentecostal Paradox: A major cause for the afore mentioned failures is lack of understanding of and insensitivity to the Holy Spirit. The two leading points of view regarding the Spirit’s work are opposite in nature, yet both have a negative, if not damning, effect. A majority of denominations and/or churches choose, purposefully or by default, cessationist theology. This suggests that miraculous gifts were only meant to attest to the veracity of the new revelation preached by Christ and His apostles. When this revelation was canonized into Scripture, the astonishing miracles ceased. Having timed out as a new dispensation focusing on the Bible began. Thus the authority of Scripture is said to have replaced the need for the extraordinary healing of the sick, tongues and their interpretation, prophecy, etc. A convenient doctrine to justify both worldliness and subsequent powerlessness. An excuse glaringly absent from Scripture. On the flip side, when it comes to gifts of the Spirit, modern Charismatics play loose with the facts, falsely assuring themselves of harmony with God via the continual demonstration of the miraculous in their midst.

  • Fruit of the Spirit: God has tasked mankind with the gracious directive to develop and practice the fruit of the Spirit. As it is defined in Scripture. It’s more the quality than the quantity of direct and indirect Bible passages that emphasize the fruit of the Spirit as one of the of most crucial of topics.

  • Gifts of the Spirit: The gifts of the Spirit, particular the healing of the sick, are essential in replicating the New Testament experience. Indispensable in both the ministry of Jesus, and that of His apostles in the Book of Acts, spiritual gifts stand as the first and foremost Christian icon of the presence and power of God.

  • Prayer of Faith: Christ’s brother James, the head of the 1st century church of Jerusalem, admonishes, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” The fact that nearly to a church we are unable to routinely heal the sick strongly suggests either we have no genuine elders or they are unable to pray the prayer of faith.

  • Revival: In light of our current spiritual crises, few topics are as relevant as revival. While the term has come to mean different things to different people, the kind of revival humanity needs is an unparalleled move of God on an unprecedented scale. Yet, the greatest restriction to the growth of the Kingdom of God lies not with those who know God least but best. The call to receive the challenge of revival falls not on the shoulders of sinners but saints.


7. Pro-Life: For the last several decades, the very Christian nations that once evangelized the world with the Gospel of Christ have become heralds of another message. Rather than Christ's command to love our neighbor through self sacrifice, this new gospel promotes the original sin of entitlement. The love of self through sacrificing our most consummate neighbor, our pre-born.

  • Abortion: In a single generation the loss of human life by clinical abortion has grown to eclipse all other forms of killing. From the men and women seeking abortion, to the institutions supporting its proliferation, the quantity and quality of so much innocent blood has spiritually stained our blue planet red.

  • Abortion and the Church: Abortion’s devastating impact on the Church is universally underestimated. Without overstatement, it is the most cunning and devilish sin in human history. With over 60 million performed in the United States, clinical abortion in the U.S. has taken ten times more American lives than WWII. With more than a billion world wide, abortion’s toll is equivalent 5-10 times Earth’s entire population in Christ’s day. Fearful statistics in light of Christ’s waring, “Whatever you’ve done or failed to do to the least of these my brothers you’ve done or failed to do to Me.”

  • Aborting our Prayers: When it comes to aborting planet fulls of the most innocent, Churchianity’s sins of omission and commission regarding abortion have been impacting our prayers for decades. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood,  your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity… Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.”

  • Abortion and the Good Samaritan: Their's no greater question than how to inherit eternal life. The Bible records Jesus only being directly asked this question twice. The story of the Good Samaritan, which incidentally is not offered as a parable, raises questions about modern doctrines of salvation and grace. It’s also a chilling correlation to our lackluster response to the pinnacle sin of abortion.

  • Authentically Pro-Life: There are differing views on what it means to be truly be pro-life. Sadly, the prevailing opinion is to be privately against abortion, whether such sympathies often or ever translate into appropriate action. If Christ taught that simply being anti-robbery and pro-safe travel wouldn’t save the priest and levite, how shall we today fare who fail the test of being Good Samaritans?


8. Science: Those diligently seeking to answer life’s ultimate questions soon find faith not only reasonable, but crucial when faced with the absolute certainty of the existence of God. Unfortunately, too few modern believers adequately understand either of God’s two revelations.

  • General Revelation: There is mounting evidence that the Bible is God’s Special Revelation. Nevertheless there is a growing disconnect among Christians on how Creation (general revelation) must seamlessly integrate with our understanding of Scripture (special revelation).

  • Young vs Old Earth: Again, the difference between Young and Old Earth creationism is night and day. To put it mildly, clergy and laity alike clinging to discredited beliefs appear foolish and uneducated in the scientific arena. An unfortunate and unnecessary hurdle in promoting the gospel.


9. Technology: Modern life is filled with unprecedented blessings and wealth through an endless list of amazing advances in technology, education, healthcare, housing, food, transportation, communication, business, entertainment, etc. Yet, to what degree is technology helping or hurting the Kingdom of God? Consider the ramification of TV and smart phones, tablets and PC’s, as part of what may well be a myriad of cultural blindspots.

For a variety of reasons, to the
serious Christian, the subject of a TV fast should be a no brainer. Odds are good, or in our case bad, that subscribing to and viewing, much less paying for and thereby partaking in and promoting broadcast or cable TV is clearly contrary to Biblical Christianity given even just the following short list of concerns. Yet, hundreds of millions of us remain faithful watchers, if not addicts, even though:

  • Amusement: Literally means "not to think.”

  • Waisted Time: The average family routinely invests 100's of hours a month in TV and social media, yet invest less than a tenth as much diligently seeking God. Hardly redeeming the time as the Bible dictates.

  • Morality: The proliferation of what was once considered soft porn infects everything from cartoons to prime time TV programing and commercials. Again failing the test of Scripture.

  • Porn: Thousands of scenes depicting acts of immorality and hard porn, not to mention entire episodes and series, movies and music videos are dedicated to such programming. Absolutely anathema.

  • Profanity: Millions of curse words permeate thousands of scenes, not to mention entire episodes and series, movies and music videos. Absolutely anathema.

  • Violence: Tens of thousands of scenes, not to mention entire episodes and series, movies and music videos are dedicated to such programming. Up to and including the extremely popular and lucrative gore genre. Absolutely anathema.

  • Occult: Tens of thousands of scenes, not to mention entire episodes and series, movies and music videos are dedicated to such programming. Up to and including the extremely popular and lucrative horror genre. Absolutely anathema.


10. Key Verses: The following are a short list of key Scriptures that largely go unnoticed, much less obeyed, resulting in devastating Kingdom losses in both time and eternity:

1. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version

2. “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24 New King James Version

3.For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48 New King James Version

4.Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16 New King James Version

5. “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Rom 13:14 New King James Version

6. “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also." Hebrews 13:3 New King James Version

7. “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” 1 Timothy 6:8 New King James Version

8. “Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13 New International Version

9.In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 New King James Version

10. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3 New King James Version

11. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:28-32 New King James Version

12. “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.” 1 Cor. 14:34-38 New International Version

13. “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” 1 Cor. 3:1-4 New King James Version

14. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18 New King James Version

15. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim 3:12-13 New International Version

16. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 New International Version

17. “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36 New King James Version

18. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalms 66:18 New King James Version

19. “I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.” Psalms 101:2-3 New King James Version

What is needed is spiritually quantum balance and equilibrium. In this case, as a decades old prayer partner once noted in regards to resolving the tension between accurately discerning Scripture and the centrality of the Holy Spirit, “Evangelism without prayer is Fruitless, Prayer without Evangelism is Faithless. Scripture without the Spirit is Lifeless, the Spirit without Scripture is Baseless.” With this mind, let us more prayerfully study the Bible, recognizing Scripture itself must be "spiritually discerned."



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