Snippet: "It's impossible to understand God's Word..."

Snip·pet | ˈsnipit | noun a small piece or brief extract.

Here’s one from Jon Collins in an episode of the BibleProject podcast (Nov. 15, 2021):

“When you’re reading the [New Testament] you’re reading in English someone writing in Greek thinking in Hebrew.”

His comment follows a discussion of Paul’s statement in Romans that in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, and how Paul’s understanding of “righteousness” is heavily informed by the Old Testament’s use of the term seen through the prism of Christ.

Given that uncontroversial and indisputable realty, no single person has the knowledge and resources to figure out what Paul means by “righteousness” alone. (And let’s not forget the thousands that passed on copies of a letter whose original has been lost, determined that Romans belongs in the Bible, worked through the many instances where the copies didn’t agree on exact wording, translated Romans, edited the translations, published or uploaded the Bible you use…).

So let’s finish the sentence, “It’s impossible to understand God’s Word…” What comes next?

“Alone.”

You can and you should read the Bible when you’re alone, but even when you’re alone you’re not alone. What you’re reading is the work of thousands upon thousands. And your reading has been informed by the work and influence of thousands of others you have known and who went before you.

And what is true about the Bible you hold is true about the entire Christian life, if the Bible you hold is true.

So let’s not try this alone.

Photo by Keren Fedida on Unsplash

Snippet: A Happiness Equation

Snip·pet | ˈsnipit | noun a small piece or brief extract.

I’m doing research for a sermon on joy for our Christmas Eve services, one of the major themes of Advent. Here’s a snippet from a Spanish Catholic saint Josemaria Escriva, quoted by Arthur Brooks in an article on happiness in the Atlantic:

“Don’t forget it: he has most who needs least. Don’t create needs for yourself.”

This idea can be taken too far into full-blown Stoicism (think Mr. Spock without his human side).

But it’s also so accurate when it comes to what we think we need to make us happy (e.g., three times my salary, which is about the average of people’s answer to how much more money would make them happy) or when we build up huge expectations (e.g., for the Christmas season).

So, one of Brook’s equations for happiness (he has several) is as follows: Satisfaction = What you have ÷ What you want.

Brooks offers this advice: “Don’t obsess about your haves; manage your wants, instead. …make an inventory of your worldly desires and try to decrease them.”

He also advises making a bucket list of attachments you need to discard, and make a plan for doing so.

It’s a great article with other great advice from a practicing Christian whose work on creating a more civil society has really impacted me.

“The 3 Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic.”

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash