Its' unfortunate that many Christians can quote their pastor, friend, or favorite Christian author "verse by verse" but don’t have the same familiarity with Scripture.
When Eve chose to follow Satan’s lead, the human race became foolish followers. That’s why so many evil regimes have been successful in history. That’s why so many false teachers are popular and why so many half-truths are part of modern Christian dialogue.
When Eve believed Satan’s promise that she could know what God knows (Genesis 3:5), the human race became “know-it-alls.” That’s why so many people hear something from a pastor, friend, or author and insist it’s true no matter how many Scriptures refute it.
Eve would have been okay if she’d tested Satan’s words against God’s words and not trusted her own wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5 is such a well-known verse, but I wonder if we genuinely think about its meaning:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Let’s diligently apply this verse to our lives.
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You forgot the last part of the verse....which actually makes the first part possible......In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM and He will direct your paths.
ReplyDeleteHi Aliyanna,
DeleteWhile the two verses are normally recited together, the part you mention is the next verse, not the last part of this verse. And it does confirm and expand the meaning, but this verse alone is rich with meaning. And I would say that verse 5 makes verse 6 possible, not the other way around. You can't acknowledge someone you don't trust.
Hi Gail,
DeleteWestern hermeneutics, in its linear perception of truth propositions, often misses the multi-vocality of non-Western truth narratives (such as in the Middle Eastern, Jewish proverbs).
As such, we often fail to forego an ‘either-or’ rhetoric to embrace a ‘both-and’ trajectory.
In this specific case, “trust AND acknowledge” (appositional truth) can be readily affirmed with “acknowledge AND trust” (existential reality). It’s NOT either-or!
~ Edmund Chan (Singapore)
Hi Mentored,
DeleteWhatever hermeneutics we use, we are able to discuss one aspect of our faith without discussing all aspects. This verse is not removed from the context. It simply highlights one aspect of the concept presented. It doesn't contradict other concepts, nor does it offer a distorted view.
No one gives the full gospel in every devotion. Grace is involved in every aspect of our faith, but we are free to discuss sexual purity or marriage relationships without explaining the full concept of grace.
You and Aliyanna will be very busy if you are going to criticize every Christian devotion based on this criticism.
Hi Edmund Chan,
DeleteI received you very kind email, but I am unable to respond as it has a no-reply email address. So I will reply to it here.
I appreciate your gracious way of expressing yourself in the email, and it sounds as if I misunderstood your comment.
It seemed to me that you were saying (in agreement with Aliyanna) that my devotion was not accurate because it failed to include both verses/concepts in the explanation.
Now that I've re-read your comment several times, I think you are pointing out that "acknowledging God in all of our ways" is simply another way of saying "trust in the Lord with all of our heart."
Forgive me for misunderstanding what you said.
God bless you for your gracious manner.
So true beautiful 😍
DeleteRemember, when the Scriptures
Deletewere originally written it wasn't broken down in chapters and verses. The translators did that
Amen. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why some Christians have to make everything so complicated by using big words. Surely true faith can sometimes be a simple thing?
ReplyDelete