Introduction
It had never occurred to me that the bible can be so alive in my life until I went through biblical interpretation in hermeneutics. My experience in this journey can be summarized into four important achievements gained along with it namely: revelatory interaction with the Word of God, the fired-up inspiration which I got from the meditative study of the Word, the illumination in my heart that helped me see the hidden treacherous man in me thus drawing me to God in repentance. Lastly, is the ease of interpretation of the Word that I personally attribute not to my own understanding but the working of the Holy Spirit in me as a manifestation of my growing personal relationship with Him. There is no doubt that other than the book knowledge earned through the coursework, there is a lot more that has developed within me that stretches beyond coursework. The value of hermeneutics to me is the high placement that scriptural interpretation has on someone who takes time to search and understand the times and seasons just like the sons of Issachar.
Preaching, evangelism, and prayer
Before encountering this experience in hermeneutics, I used to passionately read the Bible but I did this as I would do to any other literary book. During all this time I took more value in memorizing scripture which I would apply in my preaching, evangelism, and even during prayer. My zeal was actually put to check when I realized that the emptiness in me was not filled by my much reading. However, an encounter with hermeneutics has transformed many things in my reading of the Bible by helping me incorporate reading, interpretation, study, and meditation of the written Word of God. To make it even better my meditation habits resulting from the study of the Word have led me to a passionate relationship with the Holy Spirit who has inspired me further through the Rhema (spoken) Word of God. Generally speaking my effectiveness in studying Scripture has been transformed from virtual memorizing to the real application of the Word.
Relationship with God
Indeed the new discovery in studying Scripture has impacted greatly on my relationship with God particularly so because I have learned to study the Bible not as by the way but as a fully planned activity with time and resources allocated to it. By so doing, it has become easy to let God through the Scripture illuminate my life and I respond accordingly to the inspiration and convictions I receive from the study. I have also been able to appreciate that God is infinite and His works are new every morning therefore I have learned to study while listening to His voice even if I am studying the same scripture again. In any case, it has taught me to start any study session with prayer and listening to God so as to grasp what His will is in the Scripture I am to study.
This reminds me of a situation in my life just after finishing my course. It happened that while I waited to graduate with my lot, I least knew that I had missing marks for the final compilation of my transcripts. When I went to the college to clear and confirm my name on the graduation list, I was informed by the faculty head that I was lacking a mark in one of the courses which directly meant no graduation. It is in that shock that some unexplained anger cropped up in me and felt let down (in fact I was angry with God). I remembered a place in college where we used to have our devotional prayers and went visiting there for prayer. While in prayer God led me to the Scripture that ALL things are possible with God. I held onto it and went back to face the Dean who surprisingly assured me that he would correct the problem and truly three weeks later I was graduating according to schedule. I believe that through the written Word the Rhema word was activated and made possible the impossible.
The application of 1 Cor 7:1-16
According to Abera (Pp 6-10), this section of scripture deals mainly with issues of marriage and gives both personal and godly insight on marital issues of celibacy, marriage, divorce, and marriage conduct. In the section, there are propositions of the dos and don’ts of marriage which Paul classifies as a personal view and as a godly revelation for the married, the unmarried, and the singles. This scripture has a lot of meaning to me as a local church leader because I keep referring to it during our family life counseling program in the local congregation.
Conclusion
Issues regarding marriage have formed an important part of congregational behavior because they have been found to affect worship and fellowship. At the center of it is for the married whom Paul in this case advises that they should be in habit of sharing out their bodies fully with the spouse unless for a short mutually agreed time. Peter while referring to the same said that except for prayer, a man and woman should not hinder one another because this has been identified as an easy cause of pain and strife in the homes.
To the unmarried Paul advises that they remain single. This is particularly made in reference to virgins whom he says will do better to devote their time to serving God. The implication of this is that marriage comes in to divide the attention of an individual as far as devotion and service are concerned. Although still argued about, it is true from an experience with the local congregations where the youth will be active in service but suddenly diminish after marriage when family responsibilities come in. however as Paul says, celibacy is a choice someone has to make if he/she can master the passions around. Locally I indeed have statistically established that most backsliding has a root in sexually related cases: either fornication, adultery, domestic violence, or in worst form death by assault or suicide.
While referring to divorce it is common especially among new converts to move away from the spouses they had before conversion. This may have a rational argument to support it but it is categorical even from the Lord’s words that divorce is not God’s pleasure and except for a situation of marital unfaithfulness or according to Paul, a willing choice by the unbelieving spouse, the married should not strive to procure a divorce.
By the end of it, all Paul emphasizes the importance of sexual intimacy and filial relationship and the dangers of extramarital sex which do not only deprive an individual of emotional security but also costs the relationship with God and thereafter relationship with other brethren within the congregation.
Work cited
Abera, Abay. Practical Implications of 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 for Christian Married Couples in the Ethiopian Full Gospel Believer’s Church. Johannesburg: South African Theological Seminary, 2010.