"What It Means To Me"

There is a pervading sense (particularly in Evangelicalism) that all one needs to do to understand God’s word is study it in the morning hours (usually in solitude) and pray God reveals its meaning.

Further our individualistic culture has become skeptical of any kind of authority (ie: tradition, clergy, critical scholarship) that Biblical training seems to many as unnecessary. As a result many are shaped not by what the Scriptures have been saying throughout the centuries (through the community of faith) but rather by their own particular vantage point and perspective.

In the 18th Century Baptist Preacher turned Universalist Evangelist Elhanan Winchester writes about how he came to his position of Universalism: “I shut myself up chiefly in my chamber, read the Scriptures, and prayed to God to lead me into all truth, and not suffer me to embrace any error; and I think with an upright mind, I laid myself open to believe whatsoever the Lord had revealed. It would be too long to tell all the Teaching I had on this head; let it suffice, in short, to say, that I became so well persuaded of the truth of Universal Restoration, that I determined never to deny it.”

The critique here is not on a theological position but rather the method of Biblical interpretation used to arrive at such a position.

Here I find John Calvin worth quoting: “I acknowledge that Scripture is a most rich and inexhaustible fountain of all wisdom; but I deny that its fertility consists in the various meanings which any man, at his pleasure, may assign.”

Where is the balance between individual study, teach ability, trained clergy, and Biblical scholarship/criticism in the life of Biblical interpretation?

How have you seen individual interpretation practiced in harmful ways?

A Biblical Nation?

From our nation’s beginning we have been heavily influenced by the Bible. Yet to what extent should America be labeled a Biblical nation? Our Presidents throughout the years have all been seen carrying a copy of the Bible and have even quoted Scripture, yet does this make American a “Biblical nation”?

As history looks back on our forefathers each one used (and misused) the Scriptures in various ways. Thomas Jefferson (who’s personal library consisted of more books on the Bible than any other president) translated his own copy of the Bible. Dubbed “The Jefferson Bible”, this translation focused on the life and teachings of Jesus but was completely devoid of miracles (or anything supernatural). On the one year anniversary of September 11. President George W. Bush, gave a speech in which he said, “The ideal of America is the hope of all mankind…That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness shall not overcome it.” (here President Bush mixes portions of John 1:4-5 with a nationalistic fervor in such a way that what is created is nothing short of syncretistic and idolatrous).

What emerged throughout the development of our nation was a predisposition to read Scripture through the lens of America nationalism (ex. in 1777 Benjamin Franklin proposed the national seal be illustrated as Moses leading Israel to safety through the Red Sea).

Mark Noll writes: “...although the Bible had worked itself into the foundation of national consciousness, it contributed little to shape the structures built upon that foundation – except for the conviction that the structures were as sacrosanct as the biblical foundation itself.” – The Bible In America

In this sense Noll points out that America (and its policies) has become intertwined with our Biblical identity to such a degree, that just as the Bible is venerated and held sacred so then is our national identity.

Where do you see examples of America as a “Biblical Nation”?
Where do you see example of America act apart or “outside” of the Biblical narrative?

Interpreting The Bible

Questions for you today surrounding Biblical interpretation:

What must one consider when interpreting the Bible?

What must one guard against when interpreting the Bible?

What in our culture works for proper Biblical interpretation? What in our culture works against proper Biblical interpretation?

Can one know what the “Bible says”?

The Bible In Our Life

The Bible is present in every courtroom and every presidential inauguration taking on an “iconic” status, while serving as the foundational book for those of the Christian faith. Further, within the Christian framework there are those who uphold a venerated view of the Bible (without error, without question, literal in every way) while others in the faith take a different posture. These differing views of the Bible lead to a varying array of practices reflected in both our personal living and our corporate politics. Over the centuries perhaps no other book as been used and abused than that of the Bible. It has been used to both defend the institution of slavery in the United States while at the same time serving as a beacon of hope for those looking for freedom from such an oppressive system.

In “The Bible in America” Nathan Hatch and Mark Noll write: “…Scripture has been nearly omnipresent in the nation’s past…however, the actual use of the Bible in American life has been attended with considerable complexity and decided ambiguity.”

Because of this I would like to have some conversation (over several blog posts) that revolve around the Bible; how we use/misuse it; its impact on our life/politics; and the message it brings.

Where do you see the Bible’s impact on our culture (either positive or negative)?