Remember again John Stott’s wise instruction:  In every step of our Christian growth and maturity, and throughout every aspect of our Christian obedience and service, our greatest foe is pride and our greatest ally is humility.

I’m convinced of this from Scripture, and out of that certainty and conviction I must consider how I can daily, diligently, and deliberately weaken my greatest enemy and strengthen my greatest friend - all motivated by grace in the shadow of the cross.”

- CJ Mahaney, Humility:True Greatness, chapter 5

DEFINED

Observation is “the act or faculty of…taking notice; the act or result of considering or marking attentively.”  Dr. H. T. Kuist defines it as “the art of seeing things as they really are.”  He also suggests that it entails seeing “impartially, intensely, and fearlessly.”

(Robert A. Traina, Methodical Bible Study, p.31)

It’s amazing to me how much of the amazing treasure of God’s Word lies untapped, unnoticed.  As I have been revisiting my own study of God’s Word, I am grateful for the insights I’ve gained and the renewed commitment in my own life to thorough observation of Scripture.

According to Traina (whose material I was thankfully required to read in my Biblical Interpretation class through Western Seminary), there are three things needed for good observation and four main things to observe.  I share these briefly.

Need #1 - The Will to Observe

“Unwilled observation is soon satiated and goes to sleep.  Willed observation, vision with executive force behind it, is full of discernment, and is continually making discoveries which keep the mind alert and interested.  Get a will behind the eye, and the eye becomes a searchlight, the familiar is made to disclose undreamed treasure.”  (Traina, p.32)

THE CHURCH NEEDS THIS TODAY!!

Need #2 - Exactness in Observation

Here’s a powerful illustration:

Sir William Osler, the eminent physician, always sought to impress upon young medical students the importance of observing details.  While stressing this point in a lecture before a student group he indicated a bottle on his desk.  “This bottle contains a sample for analysis,” he announced.  “It’s possible by testing it to determine the disease from which the patient suffers.”  Suiting actions to words, he dipped a finger into the fluid and then into his mouth.  “Now,” he continued, “I am going to pass this bottle around.  Each of you taste the contents as I did and see if you can diagnose the case.”  As the bottle was passed from row to row, each student gingerly poked his finger in and bravely sampled the contents.  Osler than retrieved the bottle.  “Gentlemen,” he said.  “Now you will understand what I mean when I speak about details.  Had you been observant you would have seen that I put my index finger into the bottle but my middle finger into my mouth.”  (Traina, p.32-33)

Need #3 - Persistence in Observation

• Peering into the mists of gray
• That shroud the surface of the bay,
• Nothing I see except a veil
• Of fog surrounding every sail.
• Then suddenly against a cape
• A vast and silent form takes shape.
• A great ship lies against the shore
• Where nothing has appeared before.

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• Who sees a truth most often gaze
• Into a fog for many days;
• It may seem very sure to him
• Nothing is there but mist-clouds dim.
• Then, suddenly, his eyes will see
• A shape where nothing used to be.
• Discoveries are missed each day
• By men who turn too soon away.

Clarence Edward Flynn  (quoted in Traina, p. 33)

…

Four Things to Observe in Scripture

1. Terms

This refers to words and their meaning in a given context.  Sometimes the same word means something different in a different context.  But it only means one thing in each context.  For example, take the word “trunk”.  It can mean the base of a tree, the body of something, a part of an elephant, a box or a chest, or the back end of a car!  But it only has one of those meanings in a given context.  Pay attention to words!  This is where your jr. high English classes pay off.  Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions…

2. Structure

This refers to how words/terms relate and interrelate to each other.  The Bible was written in language.  Language has structure.  I hate to say it, but grammar could be the most spiritual thing on the planet.  Paul intended to be understood.  He wrote on purpose, as did all the Biblical writers.  Carried along by the Holy Spirit.  And the phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs that make up Scripture carry truth in a structured form.  Pay special attention to “connectors” - words that indicate flow in the structure of the writing.

Time words (now, then, after, until, when);

Location words (where, at);

Logical connectives (because, for, then, therefore, so that, but, yet, nevertheless, as, likewise);

and Emphatic connectives (indeed, only).

These are clues that will lead you to important structure in each passage that will help you get at the writer’s meaning and flow of thought.

3. Literary form

Scripture is beautiful literature.  Of course, it’s so much MORE than that.  But the fact is the Bible is made up of various kinds of literary “genre” or form.  There’s narrative stories, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, figurative speech, parables, logical writing (epistles), and apocalyptic (Revelation, Daniel).  Each of these genres have various interpretive keys.  You don’t read them all the same way!  Knowing what “genre” you are reading and some basic rules/keys for reading that genre will help you see and take away what the Lord intended and intends.

4. Atmosphere or Mood

As you look closer, spend more time, and linger in passages of the Bible, becoming more aware of what is there and what you see - you will also begin to get a clearer sense of the atmosphere or mood of the author and the spirit or tone of what he’s writing.  For example, is there an urgent, aggressive tone?  Or, a gentle, comforting tone?  Joyful? (Philippians). Or concerned? (Galatians).

Tapping into the mind and emotion of the Biblical author, as much as possible, through careful study of Scripture, provides rich information toward the overall message being conveyed.  If all we do is “fly by’s” - we’ll likely miss the true thrust of the passage!

…

Recommended Reading:

Living By The Book, by Howard &  William Hendricks

How to Read the Bible as Literature…and get more out of it, by Leland Ryken

Methodical Bible Study, by Robert A. Traina

Do we really believe that a pursuit of satisfaction in Christ has serious study of the Bible at its core?

Is it possible that God has given us His Word and expects us to not only read it, but study it, as a means to our increasing joy and strength in the faith??!!

“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.” Psalm 19:8a

We live in an increasingly biblically illiterate society.  Sadly, this is true of the Church as well.  Studying the Bible is a discipline that is scarce to find these days in any given group of Christians.  If we’re honest, most of us do more “fly by’s” than we’d like to admit.

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Well, friends, it’s time to land.  Get out.  Look around.  Dig.  Explore.  And often.

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Something has to change.

The implications of this desire bring a serious demand on our lives.  In fact, everything changes.  Life must get arranged and rearranged around the Bible and the beauty and power of the Truth it contains.

At RockSolid, we invite students to taste and see the challenges and rewards of study.  It’s an invitation, not driven by guilt and shame, but drawn by desire and longing for a vision of Christ that outshines the flashing, enamoring lights of High Def that compete for our attention and interest in this culture.

It’s akin to CS Lewis correct statement regarding our desires NOT being too strong…but too weak.  We are far too easily pleased.

And that’s certainly the case for most Christians in our culture when it comes to Studying the Word of God.

We invite you to endeavor to pursue with us an experience of deeper satisfaction in Christ through the serious study of the Bible.

Don’t be intimidated.  And don’t be fooled.  It is both demanding and rewarding - like all true Christian discipleship!

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The first step down the satisfying road of study is called OBSERVATION.

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I’ll share some helpful instruction about the kind of observation in Bible study I’m referring to in the next post… I think it will challenge you, inspire you, and help you to “see” Christ in your Bible as He ought to be seen!

In the meantime, consider these questions for yourself:

• What are the biggest obstacles in my life that keep me from studying the Bible in a satisfying way?
• When was the last time I spent 2 hours in the Bible at one sitting (as opposed to a movie)?
• Do I want to learn how to do more than just “fly by”?
• Am I willing to rearrange things in my life to make more room for God’s Word?

According to this news report:

Online dating site eHarmony will create a service for same-sex matching in a settlement of a 2005 complaint that the company’s failure to offer such a service was discriminatory.

Under terms of the agreement with the New Jersey attorney general’s office, eHarmony Inc. will start the service, called Compatible Partners, by March 31.

[HT: Stand to Reason & Justin Taylor]

The Need for Sound Teaching…for Sound Relationships is OFF THE CHARTS!

This is another sign of the confusion in our culture and the need for solid teaching on relationships and sound counsel regarding God’s design of Biblical manhood and womanhood and also how to go about the process of finding a mate and forging a love in a way that glorifies God.

We are committed to addressing these issues head on.  This is a reminder of how important a ministry like Life-Trac Family Ministries and RockSolid is.  Please pray for us!

Consider Supporting RockSolid in your Missions Giving

I’ve never even made this available before now, but if you’d like to support our work, you can make a safe, online donation. A regular monthly donation or a one-time donation, no matter how large or small, will make a huge difference for us.  Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel!

Exhibit A:

Tony Jones.  Heard of him?  Leading “emergent church” guy.  Turns out Tony is taking a stand on the homosexual, gay, lesbian agenda:

“I now believe that GLBTQ can live lives in accord with biblical Christianity (at least as much as any of us can!) and that their monogamy can and should be sanctioned and blessed by church and state.”

You can read the full article here.

Prepare your minds for action!

Ok, RS gang.  You know we talk a lot about discernment.  And we challenge you to “think” and “dig” and grab hold of those “rocksolid” truths and principles of God’s Word and the historic, orthodox faith - and hang on, right?

Well, hang on friends, because the truth is, many of your friends and my friends - um…”christian” friends that is…are likely much closer to dangerous doctrine than they are aware.

The evangelical american church as we know it has been undergoing slow but steady shifts in the last decade. (And longer obviously…) But “movements” have trajectory.  And sooner or later, it will be made clear if you really have a rocksolid foundation on truth and God’s Word or if you are drifting with a progressive, postmodern culture.

We have to stay engaged and be discerning what I’m calling the “liberal slide”.  Call it what you will.  But it’s a move away from Truth.

And some of you (or your parents, friends, youth pastors, et al) may be reading books by guys who are doing the Liberal Slide…all the way off the pages of Scripture.  In the name of “love, grace, relevance, etc…”  It’s twisted.  It’s not love.  WARNING:  Do not be deceived.

Along these same lines, there’s an excellent post titled: What to Do When Your College Goes Liberal: Some Thoughts From Someone Whose Been There from RS worship leader/new blogger/stud:  Carey McPherson over at the Paul & Timothy Blog.  These guys have started a great thing, very needed in the church today and there’s several great posts over there.  Carey’s latest deals with the liberal shift that takes place at Christian universities, seminaries, etc… It’s excellent and I highly recommend it.

aj

[HT: Justin Taylor]

I’ve received several questions from Christians young and old about Rob Bell.  Bell has authored several popular books including Velvet Elvis:  Re-painting the Christian Faith and Sex God, and also the well-known NOOMA videos.

I’m working on doing some more first hand research that I just haven’t gotten around to yet.  The little I’ve done (reading through his church’s website, reading from those I respect and generally share convictions with) leads me to think I’ll have similar concerns as these from a Pastor in California.

I’m interested if you have any thoughts?

More to come…

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the [president] as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  Honor everyone.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the [president].”  1 Peter 2:13-17

Be Subject.  For the Lord’s sake.

We see in the above verses what government should be doing, from a moral standpoint:

(1) punishing those who do evil

(2) praising those who do good.

What’s evil?  What’s good?  Those are questions “governments” always wrestle with and always answer - one way or another.  As a result of depravity and the sinful human condition - people end up calling evil - good and good - evil.  That’s not good.

We know that when Peter said “be subject” he didn’t mean “be silent”.

Be subject, but don’t be silent.

This passage and others, do not call the Church to stick its head in the sand, pray for God to do something (apart from our involvement as the means??), cross our fingers, murmur under our breath, complain in private, and do nothing.

Peter knew this:

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”  And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.  Acts 4:18-21

And the believers prayed like this:

“And now Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”…And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:29, 31

So, honor those who govern and lead.  Honor the president.  Honor Barack Obama.  And continue to speak the word of God boldly.

“But you are…a holy nation…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

I pray that the Church will awaken to live as a holy nation within a stumbling nation and wrestle with what it means to be subject, not silent.

What does it look like to be subject, not silent?  What does it sound like?  Thoughts?

aj

I hope you are paying attention.

I’ll try and help link you to some of the most helpful and compelling writings on the issue of abortion.  A day before the election, it’s not like I’m writing to swing large amounts of voters who will never read this blog.  But now is the time to make crystal clear statements and help equip anyone and everyone with sound thinking about abortion and our biblical mandate to do something about it.  If you’ve been to RockSolid - you know where we stand on this issue.  And I’ve been keeping this issue in front of anyone who has seen or read this blog, even on the old site.

Now I will say, to both young and old, this is NOT the time to hide from controversy or apologize for clear and strong and immovable conviction on this issue.  Don’t worry about offending or losing friends.  Don’t worry about being labeled 100 things (closed-minded, judgmental, narrow, radical, fundamentalist, fanatical, brain-washed, unnecessarily exalting one issue above others, ignorant of “more complex solutions to more problems than just abortion”, etc, etc, etc…)

STAND FOR TRUTH.  SPEAK TRUTH.  Unapologetically.  Unwavering.

• 3,700 human beings are “legally” slaughtered in this nation, upheld by law, every day.

Do not be mistaken or misled.  Don’t listen to Donald Miller or Brian McLaren (both stumping for Barak Obama and persuading evangelicals to vote for him).  Or anyone else who tries to derail you from the overwhelming reality of the truth about the holocaust of children known as abortion.

May God have mercy on us and may God lead His people to speak up and speak out for the most vulnerable and defenseless among us.

May God fan the flames of passion for LIFE and human dignity, image-bearing, in the coming generations of those who profess His Name.

May God call many William Wilberforce-like leaders to engage and fight and persevere to the end.  And may we heed the call to fight with spiritual weapons of prayer and fasting - while not resorting to those alone.  God has also ordained means of ACTION in pursuing JUSTICE:  reasoning and persuading and engaging a culture with our lives and our speech.

Declare these things from the rooftops.

On Facebook.  On blogs.  In emails.  Over lunch.  Face to face.

• Stand to Reason has a great blog and post here.

• Justin Taylor is a machine - pumping out helpful content.

• Search his site on the topic of abortion.

• Abort73 is an excellent website.

• This article is a must read.

Here’s the titles of the 12 commentaries:  (A summary and I linked a few which will take you to the others as well…)

1. Electing a President - What’s at Stake?

2. Electing a President - The Question of Character

3. Electing a President - To Defend the Nation

4. Electing a President - Governing Philosophy

5. Electing a President - National Party Platforms

6. Electing a President - The Party in Power

7. Electing a President - Iraq and Afghanistan

8. Electing a President - The Question of Experience

9. Electing a President - The Issue of Family

10. Electing a President - Human Life in the Balance

11. Electing a President - A Matter of Priorities

12. Electing a President - A Fundamental Responsibility

For all of us who are Christians and Americans - I hope we are clear on where our first priority and citizenship  lies.  (see Philippians 3:20 and Ephesians 2:19).

Not all issues on the table in this election carry the same weight in the Word of God.

There are zillions of opinions, polls, articles, blogs, TV personalities, “famous” people, media outlets, pumping out zillions of bits of information - so it seems.  With each election in the electronic age this has continued to increase.  How can you even begin to sift through it and know who to listen to?  What are your guiding principles?

I’ll point you in the direction of a few, select sources that have helped me think through these issues in ways that are in line with our “sound thinking” passion here at RockSolid.

A very helpful one was just made available today.  Here is John Piper’s heart on the elections:  (no where in this video does he tell you who to vote for):

Outline:

1. Womanhood
2. Race
3. Abortion
4. Prophetic perspective
5. Sovereignty of God
6. Gospel