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Taken Out of Context

Taken Out of Context

RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks. https://religionnews.com/2018/11/27/museum-highlights-slave-bible-that-focuses-on-servitude-leaves-out-freedom/

The Importance of Context

This is a pic of the “Slave Bible.” It is missing 90% of the Old Testament and 50% of the New Testament. It told of Joseph’s enslavement but left out the parts where Moses led the Israelites to freedom. While this bible isn’t in production anymore, what it attempted (and failed) to do is very much alive today.

People read, hear, and see content without context. Without context, you cannot see the full picture. We can cherry-pick a verse and use it to fit the chosen narrative. We can see a segment of a video and spew hate because we perceived the footage as hateful. Without context, the video or text means nothing.

People Can be Taken Out of Context

People can be taken out of context as well. We see an angry teen or a distracted adult, or even perfectly put-together person, and we form an opinion based on a moment or season of life. When we make assumptions based on limited information, we are often looking at a person out of context. It is easy to assume we know someone’s story based on a moment, but that is rarely the case.

Walk in Grace

I am glad that many of the slaves who walked before me knew the truth no matter what version they were given, context or not. Jesus sees us as we are and takes us as we are, not because we earned it, or we put on an act, but because of grace. He sees us as we truly are, and He loves us anyway. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ” –Galatians 3:28

July 2019, Deb Kunze, Counselor

COVID-19  NOTICE

We at Threads of Hope Counseling care deeply for you, your families, and our community. As the concern regarding the spread of COVID-19 increases worldwide, Threads of Hope is prepared to reduce the spread of illness by following the expert guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health. MDH continues to stress common-sense illness prevention strategies such as sanitizing surfaces, covering your cough and sneezes, and frequent hand washing.

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Additionally, there is a lot of misinformation being spread regarding this virus which has inspired significant anxiety in many in the community. Look here for ideas on how to reduce your fear while remaining wise in facing the uncertainty of this disease.
We are here for you and there is always hope.