GodReflection: My Bible Doesn’t Read Like Yours
It’s not uncommon to hear someone express, “I have my own standards”.
It seems common place for us human types to judge each other by our own individual standards.
It is from my “standards” created by my own experiences that I interpret the world. The accumulated mass that feeds into my brain makes up my worldview.
From my worldview, I interpret everything that crosses the path of my earth walk.
It is through this worldview lens that I read my Bible.
The way I am wired colors my worldview. My particular personality follows me to the text.
Since I have a creative gene my tendency isn’t to read my Bible through the precise lens of a banker, a scientist or an accountant.
I have little interest in the periods, comas, sums and formulas each uncovers with abundant joy.
I read more as a builder, an architect or a city planner. I am a “big picture” type of guy. It is through the “what is and what can be” creative lens that I tend to see the world.
I can only read Scripture from the vantage point of who I am. I cannot read my Bible like you do because I am not you.
My own view of God influences my worldview. It colors the way I see myself and those I encounter. Thus, this God view aspect influences my open Bible. What has been my experience with God? Has He answered my prayers?
Do I look at Him as a Holy Santa Claus or as an ever-present Guide who sometime sends me down rocky trails?
Is He a clock winder God who wound up the universe like a time piece or an action toy then backed off to let it run down or is He active in my present?
My worldview is form by what I read and hear from others. To a certain extent the things I read and hear—that make sense—become a part of the way I see the world. It is with those same preconceptions—some right and some wrong—that I approach God’s Holy Bible.
Unfortunately, my prejudices—known or unknown to me—sway my worldview. I think of an extreme but real example of slavery. Sadly, slavery is more prominent across 
the face of the world today than it has been at any time in human history.
Not all that long ago in my own nation the way people viewed a different race made it possible to read their Bible and from it justify slavery.
The way I view others shapes my worldview. Do I see my co-travelers as inferior, equal or superior to myself? Here I am in the twenty first century living in one of the neighborhoods of the world that are in a major shift.
Up and down my street I have neighbors from Africa, Brazil, France, Mexico, Porto Rico and even a few from Texas. The way I see those of my own race and the way I look at those of other nationalities impact my worldview.
My view of self plays a role in the way I see my world. Am I self- centered living with the expectation that everything should come my way?
Do I have a view of my role on the planet? Do I see myself as an instrument of God? Do I feel capable? Or, do I view myself as inferior to others?
All of the above—and much more—compose my worldview one that is unique to me alone.
It is from my one-of-a-kind view of the world that I come to Scripture.
So here is the big question.
If each reader of the Bible brings her or his exclusive worldview to the way they read the text, shouldn’t I offer a little slack and breathing room to others who don’t see everything in Scripture the way I see it? Shouldn’t this fact alone make me less judgmental?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: My Worldview is Unique to Me
Gary@Godreflection.org http://www.GodReflection.org http://www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com
All it takes to discover how differently two people interpret the same Bible is a conversation over a cup of coffee. Honest disciples of Jesus actually hold different opinions when it comes to an encounter with Holy Scripture.
Some believe silence within the Bible equates to license while fellow disciples are sure silence prohibits anything not specifically addressed in the sixty-six Biblical books and letters. Both groups draw their conclusions from their Bibles.
Recently, while doing some spring cleaning I came across a ten-year old aerial photo of a small section of Sao Paulo the thirty-plus million populated city of Brazil. The picture was captured at such an elevated altitude that the thousands of skyscrapers appear as no more than little stacks of legos.
Like an “on-the-street” view of the city I see my Bible as rich in texture.
Each created one is unique and different from all others. Of the seven billion residents on planet earth no two people are alike. Yet God links us diverse ones together with Him—and each other—by His Spirit.
Any person whose face is turned toward God, Son and Spirit finds relevance within Scripture that is perfectly aligned to fit a unique situation.
“I didn’t fall off a turnip truck yesterday,” was the way an old elder friend often led into words of wisdom he was about to express.
As I begin this series of blog posts I feel as if this is a treatment of the obvious. My Bible doesn’t read like yours. You and I read our Bible differently.
In this set of posts, I want to explore the effect that worldview, background, church traditions, Bible exposure, feelings, religion, tribal warfare and expectations have upon how each of us encounter Holy Scripture.
If we can’t seem to see things alike then what do I hope to accomplish by highlighting our differences?
unique perspective comes through the use of a valid lens that helps them gain greater eyesight to walk with the risen Christ.
There is an attitude I want to cultivate throughout this series of posts in hopes that it will spill over into my life. It comes from a contrast greater than I can possibly imagine.
“It’s a girl” or “it’s a boy” is shouted with joy and great excitement to family, friends and strangers. The secret is out. It cannot be held.
Carefully calculated cameras reveal a secret from jumbo stadium screens to catch an unsuspected recipient off guard. A ring is presented and the question: “Will you marry me?” is popped.
The Gospel of Luke shares stories Jesus told that characterize people’s reaction to the salvation secret with celebration.
Francisco, a friend remembered with warmth comes to mind. He has since crossed over where he will receive his eternal reward.
But here is what I know.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
My parents taught me how to navigate the streets of our hometown.
Not long after my twenty-first birthday at the end of the Junior year in college, I loaded my baby blue Ford Mustang with all possessions—roadmaps included—and navigated the southern Interstate routes from Abilene, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts.
Each journey built on cumulative experiences prepared me for a move to the mega-city Sao Paulo, Brazil at age twenty-two. There the maze of streets was so extensive that maps took the form of a thick book, O Guia São Paulo. In size, it was more like Genesis to Revelation.
I did not emerge from baptismal waters ready to read topographical Spirit walk maps.
Over my prime “doing years,” God used the gifts He issued to me, for my own growth and for His advancement into the lives of others.
walk I judge my effectiveness as minimal.
Jesus, on the eve of his crucifixion spoke of his body gift for the disciples. I doubt that any of them had a clue at that point what he meant.
I am curious how much Jesus told them as he spoke about the kingdom of God? Did he tell them about his plans for his church that would cover the face of the earth? Did he tell them that his body would remain on the planet in the form of his church? 
head of each disciple as a visual aid.
And, our corporate body has only one head the risen Christ who 
just as you are a vital part of the whole. I united with you and you are united with me because we both belong to Jesus.
The headline for all to read is that the secret body functions as one unit because Jesus is the head. Whatever function I may have I am not the head. Only the Christ functions in that role.
function is the smile or the beautiful eyes. We are both holy because Christ leads.
I would sometime joke when asked how to raise funds for a Non-Profit Organization: “It’s easy just begin by telling a prospective donor, ‘I believe what you believe.’” Obviously, a person of integrity would never make such an assumption nor believe such an outlandish declaration.
So how is it possible to live in unity with another person who cannot mirror my belief system—much less attempt unity with millions of individuals who claim to follow a man called Jesus? Especially, when each one differs in the details of the life and worship of a Christ follower.
His church stands unified in belief of Creator God. We share unity in our affirmation that Jesus is the Christ.
However, we sin when we divide his body into rival church tribes, apply the war paint and throw spears and Satanic missiles at other Christ followers.
I would like to think I am making progress in being less of a disharmonizing person.
I have a current role within God’s revealed secret of His desire for unity. I am to LEARN and to LEAN on His Spirit to be a man of peace.
blameless in his sight . . . God did what He had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan He had already decided to complete by means of Christ.