The Jealous Chicken Who Crushed My Bones into a Ball and Threw me into a Far Country


Metaphors.  They are so fun.  This is that! (Is it?). Well, it’s like it, for sure…(Is it?)
I may have to think about that some more…..

And there is an absolutely amazing use of metaphors in the Bible.  Such variety.  But some can leave people confused, angry, hurt, or feeling scared.

As you’ve likely encountered in your own experience, people can use the Bible in many different ways (and not all of them positive).  Some have used it (with incredible editing) to justify slavery; others use it to “prove” the subjugation of women to men, while still others use it to try and justify maligning / hating on certain sins that they themselves may not be inclined to indulge in.

And this is the very thing we really need to watch out for, because it’s way too easy to do.  And people get hurt by it, and God’s name is slandered needlessly because of it! Thus, we need to get a handle on this in our practice and reading.

For example, the title of today’s blog can be cobbled together from various elements of Scripture.   No.  It’s true.  Check out the following verses in this particular order:

Exodus 34:14
Matthew 23:37
Psalm 51:8
Isaiah 22:17-18

Does that mean that Scripture is telling us untruths? After all, these very words and ideas are found therein!  

Or might it be that we are in desperate need of learning how to approach the Bible in healthy ways, ways that promote a contextualised reading of it, that takes into account (at all times) the “bigger picture” regarding who God is (e.g, the famous “God is love” line, repeated twice in 1 John, chapter 4, verses 8 & 16).  Anything that deviates from this understanding and approach needs to be seriously reconsidered as to its accuracy and validity.

This is what I shall be aiming to do in future posts, addressing various topics, but especially ones that are popularly misunderstood and misapplied (e.g., the ever-burning damnation of hell that awaits sinner upon them dying).  I’ll be seeking to come at them from a variety of directions, but all in an attempt to bring greater light / clarity / praise to God, who deserves it.  

I hope you’ll be blessed as I have been in learning these things.