Read Bible in context

Dr. Seaver, a seminary professor, told me to "always interpret scripture with scripture."

He explained that the Bible is composed of intertwining documents that clarify and support each other, and quoting a verse doesn't always show understanding. Understanding is sometimes difficult, and often comes through explaining a passage with others related to it, while also keeping it in its proper Biblical context.

Last semester, some letters asserted that Christians should be sacrificing in church. To those who have read Leviticus 17, for example, but not some key scriptures on the crucifixion, it could be a question.

Many scriptures explain why Christians don't sacrifice, but Isaiah 53 and Hebrews 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 answered my specific questions.

I once attended a baseball game at which a woman saw the pitcher's unusual windup and shouted, "Hey ump. He's balking." After she did this several times in front of giggling spectators, the umpire shouted back, "There is nobody on base. The rule doesn't apply."

Although not a perfect illustration, this story reminds me of how one could read Leviticus 17, one of 1,189 chapters in the Bible, and then visit a church and proclaim "Hey, there is no sacrificial alter up front, just a large T-like structure." He could even publicly accuse Christians of not knowing and following the Bible, but he would be much like that woman yelling at the umpire -- certainly observant, but somewhat mistaken.

Perhaps it's best not to think we can slay Christianity with its own sword, because we may just slash our own credibility with questionable arguments.

Rather than accuse Christians, I think we have two other options -- disregard Christians and the Bible, or read the Bible and take our questions to knowledgeable people who can point us to other scriptures for answers.

Regardless, even if we don't care to ask and learn, we need to remember that Christianity isn't going to crumble when the opposition mounts attacks of bad Biblical scholarship, so let's avoid this tactical error. If the Bible itself could destroy Christianity, it certainly would have done so by now.

Keith Bless
junior-recreation and parks management

Charged for nothing?

If you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to tell a story. Imagine that you have just received a bill. It could be a credit card bill, garbage collection bill, your child's college tuition bill, anything.

Now, think for a moment and tell me the first line you read on the bill. I would almost be willing to bet that it is the balance due. I know that's where I look.

And I know that my parents, trying to make ends meet while putting two children through college, look there first as well. And now imagine that that line says that your balance is ZERO.

I can think of two things to do in this situation:

1. Dance around the room a few times in celebration, throw the bill away, and go out for dinner.

2. Sit there with the bill in hand and think to yourself, "You know, Self, I really have nothing better to do than to read this whole bill, just for grins and giggles, because legal fine print is fun to read, and because I am just that bored."

Granted, choice two seems pretty silly, doesn't it? Well, apparently, this is what your office expects of beleaguered parents everywhere who are constantly bombarded with mail from Penn State, because the fine print on my semester bill just came back to bite me. Let me explain.

I must admit that I am very fortunate, because once all of my student aid comes in, my semester bill shows a negative balance.

I want to make it clear that I am very thankful for this aid, and for the kind people and organizations that supply it. But I just want to point out how the University Bursar congratulates me for having such an outstanding academic record that I can go to school for free.

The office cancels my classes, restricts me from registration and charges me a $25 fee on a negative semester bill balance. And not once, but TWO consecutive semesters.

"Why?" you may ask.

Because I didn't mail in the bottom tab from my semester bill saying that I don't owe the office anything. Pardon me if I'm bitter, but according to my calculations, I've now paid the University $50 simply because it owed me more than $1,000.

I think anyone else would be a little upset as well.

I just want to let you know that after the day I receive my diploma, this University will never again see a penny from me. I will never join the Alumni Association, donate to my class gift, give a dime to any Penn State fund raising campaign, or even buy a pencil in the bookstore.

This may seem a little silly, but I am taking a stand on behalf of myself and every other student the University takes advantage of every chance it can get.

And to the University, try not to spend my $50 all in one place.

Justin Connors
senior-computer engineering