"What are five books that have influenced you most?" I hate questions like this. As soon as I'm asked for a list of anything, my mind goes blank. Five books, for instance? I suddenly can't remember a single book I've ever read in my whole life. Same for "favorite songs." Same for "sins to confess." (I always felt frantic during times of "self-examination" when I couldn't remember anything I'd ever done wrong.)
But if I approach the subject stealthily and gradually, I can come up with some answers. Some people make lists of worship songs. I, on the other hand, have identified five (fairly random) phrases that have had a big influence on how I think.
I might be wrong.
I like my opinions. I think they're accurate, well-balanced, and grace-filled. Many times I'm sure they're based on solid Biblical foundations. But it's incredibly helpful to remind myself that I might be wrong. That margin of error makes room for compassion, understanding... and even the ability to change my mind.
The Bible isn’t an instruction manual
It's not, you know. It's a collection of ancient writings -- some poetry, some history, some campfire stories, some letters, some narratives. It's the only authorized and inspired text that tells us Who God is and who we are in His sight. It's not a systematic layout of what to believe and what to do. One day, when I can read my Bible again, I won't read it like an instruction manual.
You have sinned, but you have also been sinned against.
Sometimes, it really isn't my fault. Sometimes, I really didn't do anything wrong. Sometimes, I have to forgive, but I don't have to take responsibility. That's usually not the case, but sometimes it is.
A unique interpretation is usually a wrong one.
I want to get this printed up on a mug. If you come across a Bible teacher whose take on a passage is radically different from any that you've ever heard before, it probably means that he or she has a good imagination, is pushing a very strong agenda, and doesn't waste a lot of time on, you know, actually teaching the Bible in context.
You have officially moved out of the “youth” category.
I tried swinging on a rope swing. The next day, my muscles screamed and I had big matching bruises on each inside thigh. My quotable mother gently explained to me that, at 35, I can't expect to act like I did when I was a teenager.
-- SJ
Sunday, April 01, 2012
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6 comments:
A few weeks ago someone asked me what kind of food I liked to cook and I couldn't remember anything I cooked at all.
I think I need to find a rope swing. Right now.
I have the same problem. It's really a liability when you are an academic. Fortunately at least half of the academic life consists of writing and not having to think of things on the spot.
I especially love 2 and 3 on this list. I think I shocked my in-laws last year when I said "I don't think the Bible is a science book," trying to argue that the point of the geneologies was not so that you could add them up and figure out how old the earth is. Argh.
Oh and I still have a terrible time trying to read the Bible, especially during Lent when the lectionary readings are from Genesis and Proverbs. The only thing that gets me to do it at all is that I have the new Orthodox Study Bible, which is a new translation of the OT and has a LOT of notes about the interpretation of the Fathers, which usually has to do with types of Christ and not about bizarre moralisms.
Number five really resonated with me. Just this morning I read an article about Revelation myths, and of course when the writer was done, there was little left to care about. What I noticed as I was reading was the tone of "now we know better," and I found myself wondering how one person in the twenty-first century could set aside centuries of wisdom and belief and probably more knowledge than the write had. And I came to the conclusion that there probably was wisdom in numbers.
Mom
Great post. I particularly like the one about unique interpretations. It's amazing how fast it goes from "I have some spectacular new knowledge" to "everyone else is wrong and I have the only right interpretation."
As a fellow 35+, I will note that we need to train for our flights of fancy, including rope swings. I don't bounce back like I used to, but I intend to be able to hike with the grandkids, even if I have sore muscles now to stay in shape...
I have to say I like them all!! :)
About the Bible as an instruction manual, I have to say one of the ways I've grown the most in my walk with God has been being able to see the "big themes" in the Bible. The overarching story of redemption. Once I "got" that everything (well many things) fell into place.
It's hard to find Bible story books for children that develop that overarching redemption theme too. That don't make individual stories of the Bible into how-to moral stories. Two I've found have been "The Big Picture Story Bible" and "The Jesus Storybook Bible." I have to say I learned some things myself from them!
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