"if you have an infallible text, but all your interpretations of it are admittedly fallible, then you at least have to always be open to being corrected about your interpretations, right? ...So the authoritative text is never what I say about the text or even what I understand the text to say but rather what God means the text to say, right? So the real authority does not reside in the text itself, in the ink on paper, which is always open to misinterpretation. Instead, the real authority lies in God, who is there behind the text or beyond it or above it, right? In other words, the authority is not in what I say the text says but in what God says the text says." (72)
Enter this discussion and share your thoughts about how God speaks and the role of scripture.
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This passage was one I really appreciated. I had a lot of people in the "every word is true camp" in my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI find the human nature element of great value. People had nations crumble, crops fail, and disaster strike. Somehow they made it through all that. So can we.
Let me add this to the more recent post page
ReplyDeleteHey folks, check out this morning's NPR story.
It is strange how all of this is un-contorversial to me, but like Mike, I did not grow up in the church. I had a grandmother who prompted occasional attendance, but it is not the same thing. I guess the question really is does our faith and religion have to change to match the times and social climate, or is that a cop-out? We can't help but view the world from the lens formed by our environment and experience - is this fresh perspective or delusional?
Here is the story link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125165061
I like the workbook idea. I guess I am looking at current events with churches and such and comparing it to my framework of beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI think in terms of future tense, what could be, rather that what is... and I think a bit of religion is like this too. Tradition and such tries to keep church where it used to be, but the world is moving forward.
And it's all over the map, some modern things are unbelievable, compared to 2000 years ago.
Lets take just wearing hats, just 80 years ago it was mandatory attire for men, now the only vestige is no hats in church.
I guess the thing to concentrate is core principles, and apply them to the modern day.
You've both touched on what seems to be a big point of contention in the church. If we change, are we just giving in to culture? Or is it the nature of everything in life to always be on the move--on the "grow"--so to speak? I don't really see it as changing old beliefs for new beliefs, but just as having the picture broadened, like the curtains opening bigger to reveal a huge projection screen at the theatre. Every so often, if we are open and humble, we get to see the curtain move back a little more and we are amazed at how big God is. At least that is my experience.
ReplyDeleteIf our view changes, does that mean that we had God all wrong in the beginning? Does it mean that scripture isn't true? Or does it mean that we just have a more mature understanding?
I agree, Tania, it doesn't seem controversial, but if you've stood in one place for a very long time and some bits of your foundation begin to crumble, it's easy to think you're going to totally lose your footing and fall down the proverbial 'slippery slope'. It's fearful for many people.
How wonderful, though, to start with some basic materials and begin to build a solid foundation now that you've lived awhile and understand a little about life. You can combine the 4 building blocks of Methodism--scripture, tradition, reason, and experience--and find truth more easily than some lifetime 'church people' can.