Layers

When you read or study scripture be looking for layers. What is the text at face value? What is the text saying in the context in which it was written? What is the text saying at it's easiest interpretation? What is a text saying to your context? What is a text saying to believers in other contexts i.e. those in poverty or those under persecution? What is the text saying at it's hardest interpretation? What other layers of deeper meaning might there be in a particular text. Is there more than one valid understanding of any or all biblical texts?

I have been in the U.S. church setting and the persecuted church setting in which the same text was used. There were two very different layers of understanding, context, and response. Might it be helpful if, once in awhile, we in the U.S. looked at scripture from the perspective of brothers and sisters who are living persecuted lives because of their faith in Jesus? If we did, I think we would find that texts that are about persecution are really about persecution and not about the natural or even accidental events that are common to all humans.