How important is it to be accurate? Is it better to just sort of grasp the general principles of things and move on or do the details really matter? Perhaps the answer is yes and no. You certainly want your surgeon to have a grasp on the particulars before he begins that triple bi-pass, a general understanding of anatomy is not enough. But, "it is about 2:30" may be close enough. I have noticed that, over time, what used to be important is now not so much. I am not an English scholar. I was born void of a spelling gene so spell check is my life line, though I must admit that at times even spell check has no idea what I am trying to write. That being said, I do get a bit bugged by the growing lack of appreciation for the simple ending "ly". These little letters turn an adjective to an adverb. However, the adverbial form is losing ground quickly, or as it is now quite commonly said, losing ground quick. The defenseless little "ly" is being removed from speech, literature, even road signs. "Drive slow, school zone" for example.
Now we must get to the sale quick or all the good bargains will be gone. If we drive too slow we may get none at all. And be sure to drive safe on the way so you don't get in an accident. Alas poor "ly" I knew thee well. I am aware that many will say, "Lighten up!What is important is that we communicate. Don't get all hung up on the details." There are ongoing changes to our language. Language is a living thing, so words change and even their meanings can change over time. Most people would think that if their savings were decimated they would struggle to recover. Even Webster would tell you that the large portion was destroyed. However, the original meaning was to reduce by ten percent. Just a tithe. Misuse of the word has actually changed it's meaning. So, if something isn't done quick, errr quickly, the little "ly" may soon find itself as extinct as the dinosaurs.
What is true with the adverb is also true in Scripture. It seems there is a growing desire to just stick with the principles that we find there. Read a passage and get the basic application and move on. I was talking to another pastor who said he appreciated my interest in the history, cultural context and details; however, he found that such things could cloud how the passage was applied to life. That kind of detail may have its place in academia but preaching needed to stick to general principles that are easy for people to apply. I guess I should assume that Paul's encouragement to Timothy to "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15) only applied to academics and not to common disciples. That certainly makes things easier. No need to really dig into the Word; just skim the surface and get the gist of the text and come up with a nice principle to supply.
There are some consequences to that approach. It leaves us with a number of diverse opinions that cannot all be true. It leaves us depending on others assumptions about the Word that, if passed on often enough, just become accepted as true, like decimated or the passing away of adverbs. As long as we communicate what do the details matter? This is why translators of Mark 7:19 can change the text, which, translated from the Greek says, "because it [meaning food]enters not into the heart but into the belly and into the drain goes out purging all foods". A simple description of the digestive process. However, we all "know" that Jesus did away with the Law and the dietary restrictions so the translators help us out with translations similar to the NIV, "For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out
of the body.' (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)." The words, "In saying this Jesus declared" is not in the original text but the general application is that Jesus ended dietary laws so accuracy doesn't really matter. How the text can be applied is all that is important.
The same "help" is offered for James 2:2: "Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.(NIV). The NASB uses the word "assembly", as does the ESV and NKJV. The word is actually "Synagogue". However, we all "know" that the "church" would not be meeting at a Jewish Synagogue so the "helpful" translators correct the text to avoid confusion. Accuracy does not matter, just so long as we get the gist of the text to apply to our lives. Church people would certainly not be at a synagogue, would they?
Who knows, maybe in time Christians can find comfort in getting a divorce from another believer "knowing" the general principle we see in Scripture is that God wants us to be happy. We can defraud our creditors by declaring bankruptcy knowing the gist of Scripture does not want us to be in debt. The details don't matter as long as we are comfortable with the general application of what we find in the text. It is a far easier and more comfortable way to look at God's Word. Much less judgemental than sticking to all those details. It seems believers are comfortably drifting further from the truth, becoming content with the traditions that we "know" and the applications that fit with our predetermined desires.
I wonder, over time, what will happen to the things we now see as true. What other areas of life will we find new, more palatable ways of applying? There may be few standards or boundaries that make believers distinct from the world unless the Lord comes quick..................................ly.
