To understand and may be appreciate research, let us start and proceed from that which we know! Here we go!

-Have you ever done a term/research paper? Was it easy to find a topic? How about the time spent and the final grade?
-Those who have done a thesis (Masters level,)or a dissertation (PHD level,) know that it is a tedious work. It calls for careful research of many sources, documentation of other people’s ideas, sleepless nights, patience and humility! Those who have done either one know very well that every time you send a well written chapter according to you, it comes back marked with a red pen all over
-There are certain research that take years before they are reported. Even when you think that you have the right stuff, you have to check with several others before it’s finally accepted and printed!

How does this apply in our understanding of the word of God?

If there is one area that requires careful research, patience, humility, open mindedness, faith and prayer, then its the word of God! And here is why!

-Many over the centuries have misunderstood some of it’s content and application to the destruction of others and themselves! Do you recall of stories of people who sold everything, stopped going to school or work because Jesus was coming? It was all based on the misunderstanding/misinterpretation of the scriptures by one person and by extension influencing others!
-Jesus was rejected by His own people because of their wrong understanding of the Messiah that was to come
-While some Scriptures are straight forward and do not require principles of interpretation(Hermeneutics,) and of preaching (Homiletics,) others such as the books of Leviticus, Daniel, Pauline epistles, and Revelation, require more than just taking them at face value!

So to those of us who teach others, there is every need to be careful how we interpret certain portions of scriptures and teach others. That is what James was trying to teach when he wrote,” Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.(James 3:1)

Perhaps the greatest caution came from the Lord of the universe. He taught: “Any one who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mathew 5:19.)

I don’t know about you but as for me, I will continue to search the Scriptures in great humility. In the process, I will pray, be open minded, be patience, and have faith in the living God.

Pr B

– – –
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 04:59:19 -0800 [06:59:19 AM CST]
From: Absalom Birai
Subject: Re: Borrowing a leaf from research!