One of the bigger mistakes people make in reading Scripture is that they read it as a spectator. For them Scripture is a collection of stories and events that took place thousands of years ago. True enough, we are reading historical accounts.Posted on 02/11/2012 12:04:19 PM PST by NYer
One of the bigger mistakes people make in reading Scripture is that they read it as a spectator. For them Scripture is a collection of stories and events that took place thousands of years ago. True enough, we are reading historical accounts.
But, truth be told these ancient stories are our stories. We are in the narrative. You are Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Deborah, Jeremiah, Ruth, Peter, Paul, Magdalene, Mother Mary, and, if you are prepared to accept it, you are also Jesus. As the narrative we read unfolds, we are in the story. We cannot simply watch what others say or do or answer. For what Peter and Magdalene and others did, we do. Peter denied and ran. So do we. Magdalene loved and never gave up, should should we. Magdalene had a sinful past and a promising future, so do we. Peter was passionate and had a temper so do we. But Peter also loved the Lord and ultimately gave his life for the Lord. So can we. Jesus suffered and died but rose again and ascended to glory. So have we and so will we.
The scriptures are our own story. We are in it. To read scripture as a mere spectator looking on is to miss the keynote. Scripture is our story.
In the light of this keynote there emerges another very important and powerful key to unlocking the text. The key is simply this: Answer the Question! Among the many things Jesus did, he asked a lot of questions! And whenever you read the Gospels and Jesus asks a question, answer it! Do not wait to see what Peter or Magdalene, or the Pharisees or the crowd say for an answer. You answer the question, in your own words. This brings Scripture powerfully alive.
So twenty years ago Bishop John Marshall, Bishop of Burlington VT., and later Springfield Mass compiled a book: But Who Do You Say That I Am? In the book he collected and listed all the questions Jesus asked in the Gospels. And he encourages us to answer the question. Bishop Marshall, in listing the question, gives extra verses for context and adds brief commentaries. However, I would like to list just the raw questions.
I will give the verse reference so you can look it up. But, unless you really think it necessary, avoid looking it up at first. Just let the question meet you where you are right now. The question may mean something for you that is very different that its original context. But that is OK. Just pick a question, read it, consider it and answer it, by talking to the Lord.
Read the list slowly, perhaps over days or weeks, often taking just one question at a time. I have attached a PDF version of the List here: 100 Questions that Jesus asked and YOU must answer. Again, ponder each question. Answer each question prayerfully and reflectively. This is not the complete list of questions but it is surely food for thought. Now, answer the questions:
100 Questions that Jesus asked and YOU must answer:
After all this you might have a few questions for God:
Very thought provoking post. Thank you!
1. Who said or wrote it?
2. To whom were they speaking?
3. What did they say?
To jump to number three before knowing the answers to one and two is to cause nothing but confusion and biblical error. Guaranteed.
So sad to see such a beautiful set of scripture reflections marred by such fanatical hatred.
Ummm, no.
The Scriptures are about Jesus. He tell us so, at least twice.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me(John 5:39)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27
You are confused. Jesus is God, He has no need for Scripture, we do. It is about His Love for us.
Narses: You are confused. Jesus is God, He has no need for Scripture, we do. It is about His Love for us.
No I am not confused. Scripture is not our story. It is Jesus's story. (And of course he is God.) While it was written for us, it is not about us. It is about him. He said so.
Thanks for the ping!
The scriptures are God speaking to us.
BookMark
May God bless.
Tatt
I agree, 100%.
But that doesn’t make it our story, it’s His story.
Whenever your "pope" speaks, even if that is an interpretation which you are authorized to accept, you must then understand what it is that he said. Without realizing it, you are interpreting his interpretation. Thus, we all take a text and use reasonable hermeneutics to interpret it. The writer of the article is using an "encyclopedic" view of the Scriptures to understand what it is saying. With such an approach, anything may be understood. And, this is precisely where Rome went off the reservation.
2. To whom were they speaking?
3. What did they say?
To jump to number three before knowing the answers to one and two is to cause nothing but confusion and biblical error. Guaranteed.
This is a very good hermeneutical setup. I might add that #4 is "What does this mean I should do, think, believe?". But, you are correct, jumping to 3 or 4, guarantees I will misuse Scripture.
The Scriptures are about Jesus. He tell us so, at least twice.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me(John 5:39)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27
Excellent point. Jesus is the main story of the Scriptures. The diminishment of the role of men is a component of the story which men do not wish to hear, and they rage against God. Religions then begin to use even God to elevate men back to Babelian heights; they write themselves back into the limelight. This article is a perfect example.
I don't agree that calling out poor hermenuetics is "fanatical hatred". If you would simply read the entire "sermon on the mount", you will recognize that this is not to the non-jewish believer of today. Even read the entire so-called "Lord's prayer" and notice that Jesus ends this with, "If you do not forgive your brother, your Father in heaven WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU." Is that your Gospel? If it is, then no wonder you identify with the trappings of sacerdotalism, indulgences, sacraments, confessions, absolutions, mariolotry, and papalism. Tragic you have not been captured by grace. If you can, leave that dark corner and come into the light of Jesus, alone.
Or Matt. 15:24 "But he answered and said, I am NOT SENT but UNTO the LOST SHEEP of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL."
Not so "beautiful" to Gentiles there, is it? What does your church do with these Scriptures? Ignore them, play them down, or make yourselves into spiritual Israel in order to claim His words?
Who said it? To whom was He speaking? What did He say? And (thank you, Dutchboy) what was the reason for what He said?
Once again, the question is answered. You should accept my interpretation because it uses ordinary interpretive rules used to understand written material. They are the same rules that you are using right this moment to understand what it is I am writing. The writer of the article is not using such reasonable interpretive techniques. And, yes, I do have formal training at an accredited biblical university. But, that is not the point. Everyone, anyone, can pick up the Bible and using ordinary hermeneutics, understand the writers intent. Suggestions to break from these techniques do not lead people to the truth.
You make the logical phallacy of equating “Not All of X” with “None of X.”
The reason the bible records God telling various people various things is that we are supposed to learn from those things; God reveals his truth to Moses, for instance, and in doing so, he reveals his truth to us. Hence, it is “our” story in the sense that it is written for our benefit. What’s more, our souls rebel against or cleave to his Word, much in the same manner that others’ souls have; the relationship between God and any given person in the bible has much in common with the relationship God and us, so in that sense, stories about God and Abraham (or David, or Adam, or Jehosophat) are really stories about God and us. That’s why we can pray David’s psalms as prayers, even though maybe there is no army encamped around us, because on the spiritual level, we are in the same position.
At the same time, there are many places where the context of many individual things Jesus says must be considered. The examples you gave are strong enough examples of such, that Jesus appeared to Saul and Peter to give them specific messages so that it may also be recorded in the Bible that we are not to understand those messages as being directed to us; that although Jesus came unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he is present among his Church for all peoples.
But since ALL Christian churches must acknowledge everything I’ve written, I’m fascinated at what your motivations must be. Surely you acknowledge that the words of God are recorded for our benefit; surely you also acknowledge the importance of context; surely you believe Christ came for the entire world.
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