For us or for them? Reading scripture in its context
- How much of a Bible verse applies to the people directly in the story versus to us?
The hosts work the 'for us, for them' idea: how much of a Bible verse applies to the people directly in the story versus to us. Named examples: Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:13, Matthew 7:7, and the Genesis 1 cosmological statement. A host tells of hearing three or four people invoke Psalm 139 ('search me and know me, O Lord' — the postcards-and-doilies version) while skipping the part right before it, where the psalmist says he hates God's enemies the way God hates them. A sermon story illustrates the same cherry-picking: a 70-year-old listener heard an entire sermon on sexual promiscuity and pornography and took away only a throwaway line about watching who your kids are around.
More on Psalms
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Is modern Christianity biased toward a personality type?
- Is modern Christianity (its sermons and worship music) biased toward a certain personality type?
A host asks whether what churches teach, focus on, and sing is biased toward a certain personality type — prompted by emotive worship lyrics (the 'sloppy wet kiss' line in a…
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Dear LFTP 1: loud coworkers, the joining-in manager, and the Psalm 126 follow-up
- How should employees handle loud, disruptive coworkers whose manager joins in?
Mike reads the first Dear LFTP letter: a shared workspace where one department talks nonstop about non-work topics, and their manager joins in rather than correcting them — the writers are desperate for a reasonable work setting.
From No. 593 · Do You Hear What I Hear
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Why do we even read the Psalms?
- Why do we even read the Psalms?
Mike (speaker-0) asks why we read the Psalms: coming off Job, he is confused whether he is supposed to agree with David's complaints, since Job was rebuked for making the same arguments.
From No. 219 · Why Read the Psalms?
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Chat question: did God knit each of us for a specific purpose?
- Did God knit each of us together in the womb for a specific purpose?
A chat question asks whether God knit everyone together in the womb for a specific purpose (Psalm 139).