NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

What Are The Implications Of Inspiration

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Interpretation Is The Process
That Renders The Actions
Of An Inspired Text
Into Meaning

Those who believe the Bible will often justify their belief by pointing out the fact that the text of the Bible is inspired. The argument is you can’t or shouldn’t easily dismiss an inspired text, and I would agree entirely.

Because it’s an inspired text, we should take every passage of scripture seriously but we also must be cautious. Accepting it as inspired and applying it literally, at face value, are two very different things.

For the purposes of this post, Inspiration is understood to mean the text is God breathed or arranged. In other words, the text reads the way God intended. It says what He wanted it to say.

And we have statements in the Bible that reinforce that idea.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction is righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16 & 17)

Another passage lending force to the idea is 2 Peter 1:21.

The prophecy (Old Testament scriptures) came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost

The Timothy passage refers more to the outcome of inspiration, the benefits that can be derived from studying it carefully, while the Peter passage focuses on the process, how it actually came to be.

But what does that really mean? How far do we take the idea of inspiration? I don’t question inspiration but I do question how people use the idea when attempting to apply the Bible to life.

If you want to get the right perspective on inspiration, there are several implications to consider. [Read more…] about What Are The Implications Of Inspiration

16 Reasons Leviticus 18 Doesn’t Deny Same-Sex Marriage

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What the Bible says is not what the Bible teaches.

Old Testament Sacrifices
Taught Us To Expect A Sacrifice
Not Make One

Introduction: Leviticus 18 is a rather daunting passage of Scripture. It actually imposes the death penalty on same-sex relations between males. It is significant that it doesn’t mention women but we’ll talk about that later. For now, my intent is to use interpretive principles to determine why this command was given and see if there isn’t a softer, more generous way to understand this directive.

The Bible is a book that must be interpreted and everyone agrees but they don’t all agree on what that actually means or how it is done. As soon as you use interpretive principles to step on the toes of some prized belief, you’ve got a fight on your hands.

What It Means To Interpret The Bible

Bible believers often say they take the Bible literally. I’ve said that often and I still say it today but “literal” needs qualification.

Even if you take the Bible literally, you still must interpret the text before you can apply it.

Interpretation is at the heart of the discussion and it, more than anything else, shapes our understanding of literal. It literally changes what we mean by literal.

Simply put, interpretation is a process. To admit to the process means we aren’t taking the Bible at face value. We don’t take biblical statements and simply overlay them on human society expecting everyone to comply.

The very few who take that approach do so only selectively. They apply some passages literally and others not. The selection process between which are treated literally and which are not is done with little explanation as to how the line is drawn between the ones we obey exactly and the ones we don’t.

Why is one accepted without an interpretive exercise and another not? That question is never even explored.

The people who take a so called literal approach to the entire Bible are also thought to be weird and are viewed as outside the mainstream. As an example, neither Jews nor Muslims will eat pork. The rest of the world is enjoying a piece of bacon and wondering what’s the problem. And that’s only one issue. There are many more.

Generally, no one takes a word for word approach to the entire Bible. No one!! Some, as I’ve mentioned, claim to do so and will often try to but when they come to the Old Testament requirement for men to grow and braid their sideburns, obedience takes a turn, unless you happen to be a Hasidic Jew.

Among Christians, not even the hard core, heavy handed, fist pounding believers will go that far.

Taking the interpretive approach, we ask questions, all of us, about each idea before applying it to life. Or that’s what we should do. Asking questions is an important part of the process.

The point is no one really offers unqualified, exacting obedience to the Bible.

What The Bible Says Is Not What The Bible Teaches

More to the point, what that really means is what the Bible says is not what the Bible is actually teaching. The Bible may mean exactly what it says, but there is a huge difference between what the Bible is saying and what it is actually teaching.

Interpretation is the work we do after reading what the Bible says so we can come to an understanding of what the Bible teaches.

Most people understand this on a subconscious level but it needs to be highlighted as central to the discussion.

Taking that thought a little further, what the Bible says, the letter of the text, and what it teaches, the spirit of the text, are sometimes so different the ideas are counterintuitive which means we have to do some work to figure it out.

The connection between the meaning of the words and the teaching of the text is not always immediately clear and the only thing we can do to bring clarity is to engage the interpretive process.

That’s what it means to interpret the Bible.

Holes In The Ground vs Indoor Plumbing

Following is a good example. [Read more…] about 16 Reasons Leviticus 18 Doesn’t Deny Same-Sex Marriage

Calvinism Misunderstands Motive

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Circular reasoning engages no discussion, offers no arguments.

Motive Is Determined By Character
Not Condition

The following was a comment on a blog post at Allkirk Network.

The comment made two interesting points which I wanted to explore a bit. One involves what the commenter referred to as a misunderstanding about a sinner’s motive for doing good works. The other involves his use of the word “Holy” which is a bit misleading.

Lutherans believe in Man’s freedom of will. As I understand it, as a Lutheran, man has freedom of will and can choose to do good works; but in our sinful condition our choices to do good are based on selfish reasons, not godly reasons. In this, humans always choose selfishly (sinfully), even though the work may outwardly appear good, they are not pleasing to God. Herein the Work of the Holy Spirit is paramount in changing our nature from sinful to holy. When the Holy Spirit works through us and guides our decisions, only then can we make good choices for God pleasing reasons, and do truly good and holy works. How does Cavlinism/Reformed view this?

To be clear, the post was aimed at settling the record regarding four myths about Lutheranism, apparently perpetrated by Calvinists. The four myths centered on free will, the Lord’s Supper, the use of the law and engaging the surrounding culture.

Those issues are not the focus in my response.

The post was on a Presbyterian website so it is was offered from a Calvinistic perspective. The topics being discussed were interesting but, again, that’s not the focus here.

I’m assuming the commenters understanding of Lutheran theology is correct. If it isn’t, the same idea is floated by other theological systems so addressing it has purpose.

The important thing is, even if he was wrong about Lutheran theology, he made a judgment call on the motives of sinners which can’t be justified. He was wrong and his comment serves as another example of Calvinist’s tendency to argue from the presumed rightness of their position. It’s circular. Calvinism is right so you must be wrong because what you say disagrees with Calvinism. No discussion engaged. No arguments offered. [Read more…] about Calvinism Misunderstands Motive

Book Review: After Evangelicalism by David Gushee

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All truth is God's truth no matter where you find it.

Negating Ideas
Is Neither Clarifying
Nor Helpful

Before I read this book, I’d never heard of David Gushee. I read it only because it was being used for a study group in a church I was familiar with. The church was progressive and the book was enticing.

The enticement was based on two facts. The number of people questioning and/or leaving evangelical churches particularly of the fundamentalist version and the title, “After Evangelicalism”, which seemed to imply an answer for why people were leaving and where they were going.

For the record, Pew Research reported that the number of US citizens claiming to be Christian dropped by 12% over the decade between 2011 and 2021. Most of the decline was among Protestants and fundamentalist Evangelicals had the largest share so the topic is certainly relevant.

People are leaving. The trend is visible. The book offers an answer to “Where should they go?”

Although I spent most of the last fifty plus years in fundamentalist circles, I too have concerns and have entertained them for quite some time. I still believe the Bible entirely and trust Jesus completely but I question the interpretations commonly taught in fundamentalist circles.

There was no single cataclysmic moment that dismantled everything I believed. It wasn’t an avalanche. My concerns developed slowly over time as situations arose.

The Jay E. Adams counseling books are an example. His teachings led us to believe any Christian is capable of unraveling the intricate and complex problems that plague the lives and disrupt the relationships of people. Influenced by Adams’ books, counseling became the craze for every person from the pulpit to the pew and since churches are often like echo chambers and public prayer is a great source of gossip, the result was pure chaos.

Since those days, I’ve come to believe that counseling is both a gift (some people have it, some don’t) and a qualification. It’s something you’re called to do and something you must learn to do but thanks to Mr. Adams, many won’t have it.

Another issue that created cracks in my fundamentalist advocacy was the hard fisted way churches handle divorce and remarriage. You expect that from Catholics but even protestant churches are taking up the Romish mindset.

That’s just two issues and they’ve been around for years but it only gets worse. In more recent times, it is the absolutist mindset about abortion and the heavy handed approach fundamentalists take to sexual orientation and identity issues.

For some of these issues, I’ve developed ideas I believe are helpful, clarifying. For others, I’m still thinking, but in every case I’m motivated by the hope that there is a better, more thoughtful response than the usual fundamentalist approach which is to sequester every uncomfortable topic behind closed doors.

Some might write me off as just another progressive but there is one very important way in which I differ. In every case, whatever the issue and whatever my conclusion, I take my cues from the Bible. The Word of God, which is what I believe the Bible to be, is still the source and foundation for every belief.

The sad part is progressives, the people we think could help, begin their arguments in most cases by attempting to dismantle the Bible. They don’t just excise a text here or there but the effort is more like evisceration. Once they’re finished, there’s not much Bible left to consider. [Read more…] about Book Review: After Evangelicalism by David Gushee

Review: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

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Truth, like food, is better received when better prepared.

A Clanging Cymbal Expresses Adamance
Not Meaning

Before the Scopes trial, which ultimately was a debate between creation and evolution, William Jennings Bryan famously said, “if evolution wins, Christianity goes.”

He, like many other absolutists before and after him, was wrong. In the end, neither side could claim victory and Christianity hasn’t gone anywhere.

But it makes you wonder. How many other tightly held biblical ideas could be moderated without destroying faith and the Christian community?

The truth is Faith isn’t easily obliterated and science is not static. I believe in a young earth and a seven day creation but I know I can’t prove those ideas any more than evolutionists can conclusively prove the 13.7 billion year history they claim for the earth.

When conflicts like this occur, the only reasonable response is to respect the rights of others to think differently, share in the discussion and keep digging for facts. Both sides keep digging but the sharing part resembles a barrage of artillery shells flying both ways. Everyone is firing and ducking.

Instead of clarifying, the discussion separates and divides. Neither side seems to understand that ideas aren’t weapons and would be better used to stimulate thought than cause injury.

I understand how uncomfortable some ideas can be but I still find it difficult to refuse the discussion.

Before you walk away, remember that religionists are often the unreasonable party. They don’t argue, they dismiss. Religious conservatives, like the Catholics who put Galileo under house arrest for teaching the earth revolved around the sun, accept only compliance and obedience. Arguments, any arguments, are viewed as an offense against God and there is a long history of burning opposing ideas at the stake.

I’m saying that as one who was raised in religious conservatism. I learned the doctrines well and zealously complied but compelling ideas should never be ignored even if those ideas seem to rub faith the wrong way.

We should never be satisfied to ignore those ideas and always be open to new arguments and perspectives.

The question is where do you find those arguments. [Read more…] about Review: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr