"Lenses of Understanding"

My Pastor, Roger Gardner at the Alfred Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, shared an awesome message a few weeks ago entitled, "Lenses of Understanding. It was about how we interpret the Word and our life experiences.

A lens is a transparent object with curvature. The lens bends light in a nutshell. I am a Physical Education teacher so that is were my understanding ends in regards to a lens. He went on to say that we truly need to interpret scripture through the Holy Spirit. We need to encounter the Word. It is not enough just read the Word for head knowledge, we need experiential knowledge.

Understanding truth is progressive and layered. It takes time. Our foundational layers are critical. Just like you would not build a house on sand, for it will wash away during a storm. Our foundation needs to be solid. (see Matthew 7:24-27)

The 5 lenses of interpretation (not an exhaustive list):
1. Personal experience
2. Faith/Heart
3. Theology or Belief System
4. Tradition
5. Maturity

How do you interpret situations in your life? The leper in Matthew 8:1-4 did not have any understanding of who Jesus was and what He was sent to do. When he saw Jesus he worshipped Him. He seems to have had an understanding of who Jesus was but he was unsure if Jesus would or could heal him. He said, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus response is priceless. He put out His hand to touch him and said, "I am willing; be cleansed."

The Bible does not give us a biographical sketch of the lepers life. But it seems as though the lens that he was looking through was dirty. Jesus in His awesome leadership cleaned his lens as well as his leprosy.