Be careful when speaking "out of context"

Be careful when speaking “out of context” 

How easy it can become for any of us to pick or choose a phrase from someone else’s speech or writing that helps us make a point in our own presentation.  There is nothing wrong with that as long as we give credit to the former speaker for its use.  What becomes a problem is when we use it to change its original meaning and someone will say, “Is that what so and so meant when they used the original phrase to mean something different?”  

In scripture we find many quotes of an author or Jesus himself that without reading the sentence or paragraph before or after the chosen text can make a complete difference in the object of the quote.  Jesus when teaching about being tempted using just a couple of words will have the listeners scratching their heads as to what he meant.  “It would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck.”  Who was he speaking about and what was their intent?  Without the preceding and following verses it could make us think Jesus was ready to condemn anyone he was referring ro.  Putting this in context we see what Jesus was talking about.  

“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.  Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the sea.”  (Mt  18: 4 - 6).  Then he goes on further saying,  “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.  In the same way, it is not the will of my heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”  (Mt 18: 10, 14).  As a point of reference I too took these last two sentences out of context to complete my article.  I did not include the theme of searching for a lost sheep which Jesus used as an example.   (Mt 18: 11 - 13).

What becomes a travesty in speeches or criticisms of another’s comments whether in politics or religion has found a way to proselytize the unlearned or especially children who are at the disposal of their ministers or teachers.  I have heard some TV ministers that try to impart their theological premise by using heretical themes against Catholicism and it makes me want to call their bluff, but cannot do much except write about what I know is heresy.   (see CCC 2089).

One example was Joseph Prince, a TV minister, saying the Blood Jesus shed was just divine alone.   If that were true then the humanity of Christ was an in or out of truth.  Everything Jesus did, whether miraculous of human suffering, was united under the truth of him being true man and true God, at the same time.  (CCC464).

We are entering a period in time where real truth, especially regarding the faith of so many people slipping away, and the truth of what real justice in our courts is being attacked by the Woke mob.  President Trump has promised, and is making a difference in his administration steps to counter these portrayers of Woke initiates who still are denouncing righteousness in government.

Our Church too must keep the premise of bringing the souls of their people back to God.  Faith is the gift that is always under attack from Satan and he uses the teachers of evil to pounce upon the weaknesses of those who have drifted away from Church.  So we  must use the words of Christ, the Bible, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support the Truth of God.

Ralph B. Hathaway