Inspiration For The Blog Name

I’ve sat through enough sermons now to know that every time a pastor gets to a confusing or controversial passage, they’ll end up saying something along the lines of, “To understand this passage, we must look at the proper context.” I find myself doing this almost every time I have to teach or speak about the bible.

The thing is, even without explicitly stating it, I always want people to know the proper context for pretty much everything I say, no matter the situation. I’m frightful of being misunderstood or misinterpreted, as it has led to tensions in relationships. Upon self-reflection, it’s why I tend to over-explain and always hated school assignments that required me to summarize things.

I love the Bible and believe that following its principles would lead to a better, healthier society. Taken out of context, however, the Bible can be used to justify just about anything, from slavery to polygamy to incest. When we look at these passages in their proper context, we find that these statements are far from the truth. If you are skeptical of the bible, I promise that if you read it in the proper context, you’ll find it is magic for your soul.

We live in a digital age where short-form content sells and goes viral, and rage-bait titles get the most clicks. These lead to many things being taken out of context (either about people or topics), twisting the original message’s intent and meaning. I’ve seen this used to defame people, further personal agendas, or push certain narratives, regardless of the damage it causes. We live in a society that has become more divided, more callous, and more in need of proper context than ever.

Why I Chose The Name

I’ve gone back and forth a lot about what to name my blog. I want a blog where people can hear my thoughts and maybe even receive some encouragement. I invite conversation and love hearing from others. I know that some people can see it as a pretentious name and interpret it as me proclaiming I have the proper context, that I have the intellectual or moral high ground, and can turn potential readers off. After a lot of deliberation, however, I still couldn’t shake the name because of how important having proper context is to me.

If one of my goals is to have conversations with others, then proper context becomes even more critical. How can we talk about anything or understand anyone’s point of view without knowing their context? I’m sure many of us have experienced jumping into a conversation midway and being completely confused about what they’re talking about, until they’ve explained the proper context.

So, despite the advice and better judgment of my closest friends, I’m sticking with the name. I want to encourage understanding of others. I want to do my best to show how beautiful the bible is. On top of the importance of proper context to me, I find it a catchy and memorable name, and I hope it sticks with you, the reader.

I want to make it clear that I write not as an expert, but as a learner. The name “The Proper Context” is not me claiming to have it or know it, but actually more as an admission of the opposite. I want to understand the proper context of everything and everyone, and I am growing in this every day. Hopefully, you see the vision, and join me in that journey.

Why Proper Context is Important

Regarding personal relationships, proper context is necessary for having understanding and productive conversations. I have a friend who’s scared of birds. I can maintain my position that this is a silly phobia (my context is that I used to own parakeets), or I can understand the context of his fears and be more sensitive.

Regarding studying the bible, proper context is necessary to avoid misinterpreting it and justifying sin.

Regarding understanding me as a person (or anyone), context is essential because that is how we get to know someone or why they think the way they do. As a Christian, husband, father, teacher, and Asian-American, I’ll have certain qualities or beliefs that might seem foreign or odd at first. This blog serves as a way for people to get the proper context about me and to understand better why I think the way I do or do the things I do.

Proper Context Leads to Truth

Proper context is necessary because it helps us get closer to the truth. I believe in absolute truth, but I also believe that nobody can claim to have it or know it fully (especially me!). While getting it entirely right can’t be accomplished in this lifetime, the goal is to get as close to it as possible. Exploring the proper context of things is how we do this, whether it’s with the bible, or with politicians, or with other people.

I recognize that in some situations, for the sake of truth, many people have disparaged others. This, however, doesn’t mean that truth is the problem, but how it is used is the problem. The pursuit of truth must be done in humility and applied with gentleness and discernment. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 8:1, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” In the context of the rest of the bible, Paul isn’t saying that knowledge is bad. But it is bad when having it makes you proud and look down on others.

At the end of the day, as a believer, I want to look, live, and love more and more like Jesus. He never compromised on truth and married it beautifully with grace. I hope to maintain that balance in every interaction, because I want to be the best possible witness to Him who saved my soul.