Context and Diagnosis

I just got back from studying and I feel inspired.

I'm going to use diagnosis and the treatment of cancer as an analogy to emphasize the importance of context and studying the Scriptures. This should not in any way be confused with the analogy of sin and disease.

The contextual understanding of the Bible is absolutely necessary in being able to properly apply the Scriptures to our lives. I don't mean to use the word "properly" to necessarily imply a unilateral understanding of the Scriptures. The analogy of the diagnosis of cancer necessary for treatment does not fall apart at this level.

The female breast tissue is composed of epithelial and stromal tissue. The vast majority (99.9999%; I have no citation, but you get the point) of breast cancers arise from the uncontrolled proliferation of the epithelial tissue.

Malignant breast tumors can be categorized into three sub-types: DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma) and ILC (invasive lobular carcinoma). DCIS can be categorized into two more sub-types: comedo and non-comedo depending on the necrosis of the growth within the ducts of the breast. All breast cancers also fall under sub-types based on their molecular markers Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR) and Her2/Neu (an epidermal growth factor receptor).

Fibrocystic changes in the breast tumor are sub-type of benign breast growths.

The hallmark symptoms of what may possibly be breast cancer are lumps or dense patches of tissue. These are discovered through self or clinical examination, including mammographies. The only problem is that lumps or changes in texture and architecture of the breast tissue does not imply breast cancer. Fibrocystic changes are extremely common in breast tissue and can also present themselves as lumps or changes in texture and architecture, despite being benign changes without any increased chance of developing malignant breast cancers. To makes it even more complicated, not all breast cancers will present with symptoms of lumps or dense patches of tissue on self-examination or mammography. In fact, lumpy bumpy cancers are usually present in tumors that have already grown larger than 0.5cm. Lumpy bumpy and a lit-up mammography is primarily seen in comedo DCIS and IDC. They are the result of calcification as a result of saponification of necrosis of fast growing ductal, but not lobular, carcinomas. It may very well be possible one may have carcinoma in the breast tissue and not experience the lumpy bumpy symptom.

When studying the Bible, we frequently pick up lessons that can be practically applied to our lives. Unfortunately, we come across situations in which we extrapolate an understanding of the Scriptures without giving thought to the context. And we develop a lesson that we force upon ourselves or others, and use the Scriptures as our proof or justification.

Now...Most people at this point are going to assume that I'm going to use the analogy of getting a mastectomy to treat fibrocystic changes. However, that is only half the analogy. Breast cancers can also be undertreated because of a poor or no diagnosis.

Paget's Disease is the result of IDC making its way through the ducts of the breast and creating a discharge from the nipple. A poor diagnosis would see this symptom and just assume that there was some infection in the ducts of the breast tissue and maybe prescribe an antibiotic. I don't actually know if that happens, let's say it does.

Prescribing a mere antibiotic to treat an invasive ductal carcinoma is undertreating a severe disease. This can also occur when with a poor contextual understanding or without having a contextual understanding of the Srciptures. The question that I'm getting at, "Are we effectively using the Scriptures for all its might?"

No one would treat a patient without making a diagnosis of symptoms. At the same time, studying the Bible with a poor or no understanding of the context is a misuse and ineffective use of God's words.

Going back to the idea of "properly" using God's words. We might also assume that every lesson in the Bible has only one application. But this is a poor assumption. Just as there are many treatments (and combinations of treatments) available to a properly diagnoses breast cancer, there are many ways to properly use God's words. And because it's already 1AM, I'll sum it up by saying the lessons are all grouped under repentance, thanksgiving and loving (or any combination, permutation, etc of the three).

Moral of the story:

1. Regular breast exams (men, you too. 1% of breast cancers occur in men especially if you're predisposed with BRCA2)
2. Study the Bible longer and more. Add the extra study of context.