lets be honest.

There’s two different ways to interpret Scripture.

exegesis --> Greek ‘ex’- lead out of ; to pull the meaning out of the text.

eisegesis --> Greek ‘eis’- lead into; to interpret the text by reading into it one’s own ideas

the first lays aside all desires, preconceived ideas, even the theological framework we’ve known and been taught all our lives, and looks solely at the text to understand it. Its pulling the meaning out of  the text alone.

  the second interprets by putting our own ideas into the text,, or even looking to prove our thought/idea by pulling Scripture to defend it.

[drawing truth out of the text vs. reading our views into the text,, making it mean whatever we want.]

Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.

Clearly, interpreting the Word exegetically is key.

But now,, I am forced to question..

am I living exegetically?

am I allowing what I see when I look around me in our American Christian culture to dictate and influence how I live?

am I stuck in what is comfortable?

am I trapped in a theological framework I was raised in?

am I redefining Christianity and His call?

am I actually living Biblically,, or have I used the Bible to defend a "Christianity" that meets my desires and level of comfort?

am I really obeying Him?

am I really walking in the Spirit as I’m commanded?

am I actually making disciples?

am I truly living and fellowshipping with the Body as I see laid out in Scripture?

do I really see the power of the Holy Spirit in my life?

am I truly living supernaturally?

am I fulfilling His call to love as He loves?

is there any tangible difference between my life and the life of someone down the street who denies the existence of God? 

is Jesus redefining my life,, or am i redefining His? 

honestly?.

these are some of the questions He’s asking me.

and as I seek to align my life with His Word, I’m allowing God to

                                            [[search me deep]].

       to dig up all that our culture, and American idea of church, and my own personal preference has planted in me,, and

       root me firm in how [He alone] defines following Jesus.