Monday, August 27, 2007

The Bible Wars

From Real Live Preacher, via Fr. Jake:

So now I’m gently sliding into middle age. I’m tired of fighting over the Bible. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about most fine points of theology. I know a little too much about how the New Testament was formed, and I know a little too much about what’s in there and how hard it is to keep it straight.

I have much simpler questions for people now.

“You reading the New Testament? Trying your best to understand it?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you trying to follow Jesus as a disciple, trying to understand what he said and live the way he did, where possible?”

“Yeah, I’m trying.”

“MY BROTHER!”



In a comment at Fr. Jake's, I said this:

Perhaps my idea of one of the purposes served by the Bible is simpleminded, but if I view any of the statements from the Testaments as prescriptions, I see them as prescriptions for me.

For instance, I love the words from Micah, "He has showed you, O mortal what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly before your God?"

I'm happy that I've read those words, chewed over them, swallowed them, digested them, and tried to make them part of the way I live my life. I don't see them as useful for beating others over the head.

The Bible includes many passages that serve as indicators of how I should live my life. Some wise one told me long ago, that I should always read the words of the Scriptures as though they are directed to me, and I have found that advice to be quite valuable and humbling.
Grandmère Mimi | Homepage | 08.26.07 - 10:14 am | #


Along with Real Live Preacher, I'm sad to see the Bible used as a weapon in the wars of words among Christians, those wars that scandalize the Body of Christ.

By reading the Bible as though the words are meant for me, I don't feel drawn to call others to account based on what I find there. I share what the words mean to me and how they draw me into a living relationship with the person of Jesus Christ, and call me, by his grace, to live a life of love, according to his command to those of us who claim to be his followers. For me, reading the Scriptures in this way has been absolutely liberating.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm deeply grateful for the teachers and preachers and writers equipped with their knowledge and insights, who have guided me in my walk with the One who is the Way, who have helped me to a greater understanding of the words whose purpose is to open my mind and heart to the living Word made flesh. I have learned much of value from them, and I thank God for them.

9 comments:

  1. I love that way of framing things, Mimi. Thank you for sharing it.

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  2. Yes, it's good for me to be reminded of what it was like to read and hear the Bible before the Bible wars became so prominent, in both governmental and TEC politics. I remember the first time I read through the Gospels, from beginning to end, during one Lent not long after I returned to church as an adult. It was as if I was reading something entirely different than what I had pieced together from the bits and pieces and platitudes of my youth and cultural Christianity. The guy who is at the heart of these stories is so.... well, astonishing, radical, complex and confounding. Reading RLP's piece reminded me of that, and now yours as well.

    (Aside: The Gospel of St. John has always been my favorite. I can scarcely forgive those who have taken such extraordinary poetical and mystical language and used it as a bludgeon.)

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  3. That was great. I just made a slightly different version on this comment on another blog...

    One sad element of today's world is that due to a tragic amount of innocence which has bred an overload of fear.

    This in turn results in a complete reduction in the use or even encouragement of people's critical thinking skills... Especially in things religious. That leads us to a void of any inner authority.

    This perfect storm of conditions gives us the use of the Bible and Scripture as tools to control, to diminish, to hurt, to belittle.

    And not to give life, hope and encouragement to those desperately in need of it.

    Such troubled times I say.

    That's my two centimes!

    Pax.

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  4. Doxy, thanks. Framing it that way has simplified my life greatly.

    Klady, I love John's Gospel. I'm pleased to find another aficionada. I don't "get" most of the antipathy to John - except, of course, the misuse of it to bludgeon. I do get that.

    FranIAm, thanks for your two cents. Indeed, where has critical thinking gone? Where has logic gone? Gone with the wind in many cases, I'm afraid.

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  5. Bible as a weapon. Yeah, it has been that. We use it to beat other people over the head.
    when someone tells me I'm not preaching enough about SIN, I always assume they are talking aobut someone else's. "please talk more about the sins other people commit."

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  6. Diane, I'm sure you assume correctly that folks don't want to hear preaching on their own shortcomings. It's the others who must be called to account.

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  7. Society suffers from an epic lack of critical thinking across the board. That's why we keep ending up with such heinous leadership.

    When you read the Bible you're approaching it as an adult, not as someone looking for a quick'n'easy fix. If only everyone could approach religious texts your way... we might have world peace! Yikes.

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  8. PJ, I do have reservations about the way I tend to make up my Christianity as I go along. At the same time I try to remain true to the message of Jesus in the Gospels - what he did and what he taught.

    IMHO, there are few, if any, quick n' easy fixes in the Christian life.

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  9. I couldn't agree with you more Mimi.

    The bible is supposed to be a guide, not a hard and fast recipe book.

    That's why God gave us brains and free will - we are supposed to struggle with the texts and learn to make use of them on our own.

    Oy.

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