A Hermeneutic for All of Life


An article from Sam Storms on seeing Jesus in all of Scripture has me thinking about how we view all of life. How we interpret the events around us and on the global stage. What is our hermeneutic?






her·me·neu·tic
/hərmən(y)oodik/ adjective

1.concerning interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts.

www.dictionary.com




A hermeneutic is our method and theory of interpretation. And while Storms was reviewing Scripture to encourage interpreting the Bible as pointing to Christ, there is actually more we can see as pointing to Jesus - all of life.





Here is the text in question (one of them anyway): Colossians 1:15–17





Jesus "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (ESV)





Storms them writes that by saying "for him" Paul is indicating that "Jesus Christ is the purpose of everything exists."





Now I am familiar with this text and I have always thought of all things being for Jesus concerning his glory, that he would reign over them. But it goes further.





Think about that. Sure there are some sticky implications to that statement, but none prevents it from being true. Just like every Scripture in the Bible, everything of creation is meant to point to Jesus.





It may be to reveal the need for a savior. To show the beauty of his creative power. To proclaim his arrival, life, death, and resurrection. To highlight the miracle of belief and what a life transformed by grace looks like. To call us back to him when we run off to lesser gods.





Jesus as a banner over all things to make himself known. That people would believe.





Every encounter, every run-in, every mellow moment, every anxious interview, and everything in between. It is all for Jesus - about him, pointing to him, for his glory.





What a radical way to view all of life. And I think it is right. I want to spend more time interpreting life in light of Jesus. Will you join me?


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