Lessons on Accurate Interpretation

We live in a age of a staggering information overload: Currently there are a total of 1.86 billion websites on the internet, over two billion YouTube Channels, 2.85 billion active Facebook users, and 2 billion people sending information on the most popular communication platform Whatsapp. The number of mobile devices operating worldwide is expected to reach 17.72 billion by 2024.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to determine what is true or not. Particularly recently, deciding whether one should be vaccinated or not. Did the Corana Virus COVID 19 leak for a lab in Wuhan or natural hop from bats? Another battle people struggle with is whether they should stay in SA or not?  With the coming elections, how to vote for the right party? Moreover, the countless revolutionary theories like the earth are flat. Most importantly, we need to be alert of the Mainstream Social Justice movement’s opposition against fundamental Christian values seen as oppressive. To me it is interesting how emotionally heated these debate become, a first sign that people have already swayed from a non-bias, investigative path.

The BIBLE our SOURCE for accurate interpretation.

Interpretation has quite a broad scope of use: dancers interpret music and words through movement, we interpret dreams and visions, the interpretation of the law, bookkeepers interpret financial statements to name a few. One does not want to restrict interpretation, but when it comes to making vital life decisions, one must ensure that the process of interpretation is accurate and reliable.  Each practice of interpretation involves a common source document. For example, bookkeepers have to have the source document to give an accurate account of the financial status of an enterprise.

Primarily, followers of Christ interpret LIFE, TIME or relevant FACTS from our knowledge of God first, as revealed through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, and the general assembly and church of the firstborn. (Heb 12:22-24)

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. [1]

But this is also problematic because there are so many interpretations of the BIBLE!! Many people did terrible things based on their interpretation of the bible. JOIN THE MBTC Class on BIBLE interpretation TERM 3.

The threat of wrong interpretation

Most wars began because of misinformation and propaganda alienating people from another and creating an evil ‘face’ that people are willing to kill. Therefore, Jesus’ instruction to love our enemies was so powerful yet extremely difficult. The enemy wins the battle by creating a distance.  The interpretation battle is primary won with face-to-face contact and meaningful dialogue.

Phillip Zimbardo proved with the Stanford Prison Experiment how nine normal middle-class college boys could turn evil in just eight days. “A set of dynamic psychological processes is outlined that can induce good people to do evil, among them deindividuation, obedience to authority, passivity in the face of threats, self-justification, and rationalization. Dehumanization is one of the central processes in the transformation of ordinary, normal people into indifferent or even wanton perpetrators of evil.

Dehumanization is like a cortical cataract that clouds one’s thinking and fosters the perception that other people are less than human. It makes some people come to see those others as enemies deserving of torment, torture, and annihilation.”  [2] One of the war techniques is to paint faces so that the warriors become unrecognizable and intimidate their enemies, and thus more prone to act contrary to their conscience.

Lessons from other sources are helpful for accurate interpretation.

We can however draw lessons from the above mentioned shortlist of interpretive practises to gain insight and deepen our understanding for instance: wine tasting.

Primary things to remember:

Slow downPay attention Irradicate conflicting smells in the vicinity.Build smell vocabulary practise labelling all fragrances

I guess the lessons is helpful in our quest for accurate interpretation in general, don’t you think? We all need to slow down, before jumping to conclusions. Learn to pay more attention and ask engaging questions. Focus and eliminate distractions. Improve our vocabulary of discerning categories and words through study and experience. (Heb 5:13-14)

FIRST LESSON on INTERPRETATION: Make a point of getting direct feedback.

Equally crucial for survival is direct feedback.  Like a racing driver feeling the understeer on the steering wheel going through a corner, we need accurate feedback to make the right decisions.  Too many options complicate matters and lead to procrastination, frustration or forced decisions that later show was the wrong choice.

It is alarmingly sad how many believers have heard the right word or instructions, but our interpretation was way off! In my own life and ministry, I must confess my mistakes were not because I did not hear correctly, my interpretation was limited, and I jumped to misinformed conclusions.  Assumptions exist because of distance. No communication leads to presumptions. We often leave God’s face/presence too soon and run into making our own decisions without further consultation with God!

SECOND LESSON on INTERPRETATION: Interpret Scripture as communication between God and man.

First, one must know that God’s word is not abstract literary words and sentences. The Bible is God’s way of communicating with us.  Like any good listener, it is harmful and disrespectful to cherry-pick parts that resonate with our point and then quote it as if this is God speaking.  Because we talk more than listen, with an increasingly shorter attention span of 8 seconds,[3] we are disposed to misinterpret Scripture, God’s voice, and another terribly.  Correct interpretation begins with becoming an exceptional listener.

Natural science and widely read academic papers, are just more than a 100 years old. For thousands of years, ancients used a another method to navigate the complexities of life, towards finding best practise. Narratives or stories. The stories of Abraham, Moses, David and Daniel, their triumphs and their mistakes are like guiding lights in the darkness. The primary interpretive lesson to be learned is thus; look at a life lived! Jesus is in this aspect our ultimate example! the Word became flesh and showed us the best way to do life!

We basically in a mess, because of too few meaningful relationships with the right people, at the right time. Theories and philosophies get airy and harmful because it is refined in minds and classrooms without the interaction of the appropriate relevant relationships on ground level.

THIRD LESSON on INTERPRETATION: Interpretation requires a thorough investigation.

Journalists use rigorously determine verification and fact-checking before publishing a story.

Bible interpreters, study the context, background, ancient narratives and audience, text category, language, culture, intend of a portion of Scripture before one makes a current application of use and preach about it. [4]

Academics, review literature of existing conflicting and complementary research, provide research methodology (Experiments, surveys, questionaries, interviews, case studies, observational trials), determine feasible and practical outcomes.

Interpreting God’s Voice entails testing whether the word is in line with the Spirit of Christ, general acceptance among mature multitude of counsellors, convicts of sin righteousness and judgement, produce inner peace, is specific, practical, is a conviction, ensures a generational blessing, is at the detriment to self, and is always missional.

FOURTH LESSON on INTERPRETATION: We are more wrong than right – remain in HIM.

One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Job 36:4

What makes us think we can hear a person speak for 5 minutes, and we already make a judgement whether this person is good or bad? Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, “Talking to strangers” explains in his typically digressive exploration of the wrong assumptions we make when dealing with strangers.[5] He lists as an example how the best CIA espionage operatives find it very difficult to tell when people are lying.

When it comes to fake news, even more, alarming is that older adults engage with and share false political information on social media than any other age group. [6]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach,(James 1:5)

FIFTH FIRST LESSON on INTERPRETATION: Test the fruit – the outcome and the motive.

Be aware of thinking like a man. Here are a list of bad fruit and outcomes.

Cognitive dissonance Blaming, resentful, reactive Creates suspicion, Guessing assumptions Worry, fear, anxiety, Projecting guilt, favouritism, bias.  Shame, guilt, condemnation – of other partiesFutile – no practical confrontation and outcomeCause & Effect thinking – Job Carnal, miss-out on short term benefits

Rigorously test the outcome.

If I need to execute this thought? What will be the implications? Is the Lord going to be glorified? (1 Corinthians 10:31)Is it going to break down or build? (1 Cor 14:26)Is that going to change anything? Is it doable? James 1:22 (Doers of the Word) What’s the end? What is the fruit? What is the outcome 3 – 7 generations from now? Does it release faith or fear? Is it Scriptural? Is it compatible with the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Overthinking, analyzing the thought is perfected in the doing, not the thinking.

SIXTH LESSON on INTERPRETATION: The spirit of CHRIST litmus test

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this, cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. John 18:33-38

All self-determination is founded in the works of the flesh.

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). My life is hidden in Him. (Col 3:2). My purpose is in Him (Rom 8:29). My life is in Him (Mat 16:24).

A life centred on ‘self’ leads to struggle.  Either we are doing too much or too little, trying, striving, and fighting to be better, yet dreadfully failing, over and over, again and again! We never seem to get it right, seeking comfort and peace, accomplishment and meaning in all the wrong places to end up empty again at the end.

When we are the most like Him, we become the ideal spouse, parent, employer, and employee. When we live through His wisdom, life began to have meaning and purpose. He is the solution to every problem. His life will save you!

SEVENTH LESSON on INTERPRETATION: Truth test:

Truth must bring the individual to inner peace, rest, and an acceptable answer. It most concludes and resolves the quest. The truth is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God.Truth is coherent.  For coherence theories in general, truth requires a proper fit of elements within an entire system.Truth is consistently sustainable and rigid throughout time and history. It’s opposite to relativism, changeable, unpredictable fluidness. Truth can’t just be theory or philosophy. It needs to be tested practically in a particular life, place, time, and proven lifestyle. Truth must be both simple but also complex. Life is bitterly complicated, so truth should answer this complexity and give it good direction to simple, doable action.  Truth is a paradox. Impartial, self-sufficient, indisputable, indefensible. The strongest magnet changes the weaker magnet’s polarity. Truth should be universal, similarity and comparisons in other sciences.

You’re welcome to study the sermon/blog on the DANGER of being led by your emotions. https://hrco.co.za/sermons/the-danger-of-being-led-by-feelings/

[1] The Amplified Bible, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), 2 Ti 3:16–17.

[2] Philip G. Zimbardo. The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil

[3] Social media: the impact on spiritual formation among generation Z freshman college students.  https://firescholars.seu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1081&context=coe

[4] “So opening the Bible can be likened to entering into a communicative event. Or, to put it metaphorically, Scripture begins a conversation that is interpersonal and potentially life changing, because it is God who initiates the dialogue.” Jeanine Brown,  2021. Scripture as communication. Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics. Baker Book House.

[5] Gladwell, Malcolm, 2021. Talking to strangers. Back Bay Books. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know by Amazon.com Services LLC Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NC11JGM/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_PZDAVAJP2DE64PRJ376C

[6] Guess, A. M., Nyhan, B., & Reifler, J. (2020). Exposure to untrustworthy websites in the 2016 US election. Nature Human Behaviour, 4(5), 472-480. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-0833-x