Assumptions

Tonight I want to talk to you about assumptions—(Slide) assumption is defined as a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.

Why would I choose assumption as a topic in this final exam? Because when I read the Bible, especially the stories, my mind forms a picture of the scene as it plays out. Think about 2 Kings 6:16–17(Slide)

2 Kings 6:16–17 ESV

He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

How do you picture this scene? (Slide x2)

I guarantee it isn’t the same way I picture it. Why? Well that is what we are going to discuss.

When we read text, especially Scripture, we need to be aware that we will often approach it with our own assumptions. Many times these assumptions are unspoken, subconscious, we are not even aware we have or we are doing it.

We don’t realize how our background is influencing the way we interpret the text we are reading. Sometimes we read text how we were taught to read them, taught by our parent, churches, or mentors. How we have grown up, our own cultural background, our own experiences influence the way we read text.

It’s not wrong, it is reality, but we need to be aware that it is happening and we need to be open to letting the text and and letting our study of the historical, religious, political, and our cultural background challenges our assumptions and challenge how we read a text. This will help us to look at it in a different light.

How do you picture the shield of faith? Your picture will rely on your background. Are you a movie buff and picture it as this? (Slide)

Or are you a history buff, like I am, and picture this way? (Slide)

In Ephesians Paul writes of the shield of faith.(Slide)

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Paul was from the time of Roman occupation so he probably pictured it as such. (Slide)

It is our experience and knowledge (our hobbies) that lets us grasp things but we must be aware that it does influence the way we read and understand the text of scripture. We need to read and let the text of scripture challenge and transform the way we think about it and to try to understand it in light of the way God intended it, and in light of how the author intended it, in their culture and back ground, not ours.