Discerning facts and truth

Since I got my first 35 mm film camera decades ago, I’ve been a keen amateur nature photographer.

Apart from the right angle, composition and timing, sharp focus is always a challenge. Different lenses focus differently: with wide-angle shots, almost everything is in focus; with tele- and macrolenses, the depth of field can shrink to a few metres or millimetres respectively.

One can use the focus range to make the main item (person, flower or animal) stand out against a blurry background.

Today’s powerful lenses grant TV viewers the opportunity to see dangerous animals from up close, and to see small life forms not visible to the naked eye. High-density digital photography enables us to magnify parts of a photo without losing much sharpness.

When reading the Bible, one can be out of focus, distracted by non-essential stuff and missing the main message.

It often happens when people study the parables of Jesus. The one about the mustard seed may trigger questions: Why did Jesus say the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, knowing that fig seed is smaller? Why did he say that the mustard plant becomes a tree with large branches, while it barely reaches a height of two metres in Canada? Why did he portray the mustard plant as a haven for many birds, while it can only accommodate a few?

These questions distract attention from the main point Jesus made: although the kingdom of heaven starts small, it grows into something significant. Do not despise the day of small beginnings (Zech. 4:10).

Reading the parable of the sower made some think Jesus did not know much about farming: no farmer in his right mind would sow seeds on roads, rocks or in thorny brush. Jesus did not give a lecture on farming but about the various reactions of people to his lessons. Some did not take in the seed of his word because of their personal problems.

To understand the parables, we should not focus on the physical facts of the metaphor but on its spiritual truth. If not, the main item of the picture is out of focus.

If we study the historic parts of the Bible critically, looking for examples where the Bible seems to be out of line with general history, archaeology or science, we miss the main message of the Scripture about salvation.

The wide angle shows the main parts of Scripture: The Old Testament depicts the preparation for the Messiah; the gospels describe his arrival; and the Acts and epistles record the expansion of his kingdom. The main message of the Bible is about sin, salvation and gratitude.

Focus correction for 2018 is of vital importance for success.

Jacob Van Zyl of Lethbridge is a retired counsellor and the author of several faith-based books.