The invention of the printing press in 1440 is arguably one of the greatest inventions of all time. It revolutionized the way in which we communicate and relate to one another. The printing press made it possible for the common person to have their own copy of the Scriptures to read and study.
We value greatly our individual personal Bibles, for they have made truth accessible and dare I say palatable, to our unique needs and lifestyles (just take a stroll through your local Christian bookstore at all of the different “kinds” of Bibles: for the environmentalist, the patriot, the pre-teen, etc).
Clearly the benefit of giving out Bibles to people of all cultures (and demographics) has been great however in the process of individualizing the Bible to such an extent has something been lost?
Christian theologian and ethicist Stanley Hauerwas writes, “No task is more important than for the Church to take the Bible out of the hand of individual Christians in North America.”
Hauerwas argues that full access to the Scriptures completely unguided by Church tradition or biblical training leads to a situation where any interpretation is viewed as “valid” an in effect the Bible becomes stripped from its true authority to speak into our lives and our culture.
Have we over-emphasized a “personal” approach to reading/studying the Scriptures?
What does a more “communal” approach look like?
We value greatly our individual personal Bibles, for they have made truth accessible and dare I say palatable, to our unique needs and lifestyles (just take a stroll through your local Christian bookstore at all of the different “kinds” of Bibles: for the environmentalist, the patriot, the pre-teen, etc).
Clearly the benefit of giving out Bibles to people of all cultures (and demographics) has been great however in the process of individualizing the Bible to such an extent has something been lost?
Christian theologian and ethicist Stanley Hauerwas writes, “No task is more important than for the Church to take the Bible out of the hand of individual Christians in North America.”
Hauerwas argues that full access to the Scriptures completely unguided by Church tradition or biblical training leads to a situation where any interpretation is viewed as “valid” an in effect the Bible becomes stripped from its true authority to speak into our lives and our culture.
Have we over-emphasized a “personal” approach to reading/studying the Scriptures?
What does a more “communal” approach look like?
How have our “niche” translations (the “Green” Bible”, Pre-Teen Bible, etc.) been helpful or harmful in our culture?
