That sounds like a good idea.
You could start with the famous passage from Corinthians: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways."
And then there's:
"For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." from second Thessalonians.
Also:
"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." from second Timothy.
The potential problem with this approach is that anyone practiced in biblical exegesis will find passages to counter these.
The whole system of putting so much faith and meaning into a text is workable only because of the flexibility of that text.
For example, "Consider the lilies of the valley... "
24 Jun 2015, 9:29 am
