Who Decides?

Recently, I was talking with a friend about Biblical inerrancy, inspiration and authority. We talked about literary genres and cultural contexts and how understanding those dynamics within and around the text makes a difference in how we then interpret and apply a text.

My friend then asked me the critical quesiton, "Who Decides?" For instance, is it possible to claim that the Genesis narrative is in line with local creation narratives from the middle east and doesn't necessary indicate a literal 7 24 hour day creation story and then claim that Jesus' story was entirely real? Is it possible to understand some texts as metaphorical and others as literal? If so, who decides?

That's pretty much a million dollar question within the Evangelical community. I've just started reading a book called Slaves, Women and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis which attempts to answer at least part of this question. The author, William Web, begins by listing various scriptures (2 pages worth) and then asking the readers to mark each one as either cultural or transcultural (for all time). He then asks the question, "Why do some biblical instructions have ongoing significance and force in their entirety, while the continued application of others is limited in some manner? How do I determine which components of the biblical text should apply today and which should not?

Webb later makes the comment, "It is necessary for Christians to challenge their culture where it departs from kingdom values; it is equally necessary for them to identify with their culture on all other matters." The book, from my understanding, then goes on to examine the "issues" of slaves, women and homosexuals in light of this statement. He argues for what he calls the redemptive-movement hermeneutic, an approach that looks at commandments and pracitical living out of the old and new covenants, considers them in their cultural context and attempts to understand a possible trajectory that God is working out throughout history. It seems like an interesting and innovative approach, one that will at least begin to answer the question, "Who decides?" and does so with the underlying assumption that the Bible is God's revelation of himself to us.

This whole idea of Biblical inspiration is fascinating. What an incredible thought Paul has in 1 Timothy 3:16, All scripture is God-breathed.... Simply amazing.

Thankfulness in Blessings

A good friend of mine, who happens to be a real estate agent, recently commented to me that she is struggling to see the blessings God is giving her in her business as just that, blessings.

I knew immediately what she was talking about. The fact is that increased business is an answer to prayer for her as she meets the needs of her family. Rather than thanking God for meeting this need, she is stressed out trying to balance life in the midst of this blessing.

I know what she's talking about because I do this myself. I ask God for something, God gives it to me and I complain about the results, meanwhile failing to recognize or rejoice in the blessing provided by God. As I considered my own response, my mind went back to a scripture memorized long, long ago:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7 TNIV

I've heard this exhortation to the Philippian believers used often to talk about rejoicing in hard times. It seems as if it even goes beyond that, though. Just take a look at the language chosen by the author: Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS; Let your gentleness be evident to ALL; Do not be anxious for ANYTHING; in EVERY situation...present your request; God's peace which transcends ALL understanding...

This choice of words does not separate out good from bad. All means just that...all, every, always...nothing is excluded. All isn't a formula to check off. It's everything and all the time. It's also difficult for me to comprehend.

The author also emphasizes the first exhortation, Rejoice in the Lord...always. Emphasis is indicative of the fact that this is important. For me, practicing the art, or maybe spiritual discipline, of rejoicing in the Lord is critical to my outlook on life.

There's so much more to these verses, but for me tonight I take two things away:

- In the midst of life, all of it, I can turn my eyes to a God that is plenty big enough for my circumstances, and "is near."
- I need to work on (with God's help) practicing rejoicing and thanksgiving, in all situations.

Stepping Stones

Our church is showing the Truth Project video series, sponsored by Focus on the Famiy. The videos are fairly well done. There are some things I don't agree with, or agree with the way in which it is presented, but it has been a challenging series for me as I watch, process and discuss the information within the group I'm part of for this series.

Last night's video was about history. Del Tackett, the speaker for the series, basically states that history has been or is being revamped by historical revisionists, who leave God out of the picture, or distort true history in order to prove a point. I thought it was pretty interesting, although I would add that often we as Christians do some historical distortion ourselves. I think that's part of history...the attempt to understand that history and then apply it within one's life.

Anyway, at the end of the video, Dr. Tacket quotes William Bradford, leader of the Pilgrims of the Plymouth colony. The quote states, "Last and not least, they (the Pilgrims) cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propogation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work."

Our discussion group had a terrific time mulling over this quote. The idea of my life being a "stepping stone" is so contrary to the individualist nature that permeates our culture today. We tend to see ourselves as islands, making our own destiny. Or maybe a moutain peak, resting on the shoulders of those who have gone before..but failing to recognize those who will come after.

There's amazing wisdom in acknowledging those who have gone before and those who will come after and humbly accepting a vision of being a "stepping stone" in history. Success, when defined in a vacuum, is personal and exclusive. It's about financial success, being "in the know" and very much individualistic in nature. Success, when viewed within history and a community of faith is much different. Financial success is balanced out against how the poor are cared for. Being "in the know" is balanced with love that acts upon knowledge for the benefit of those in need. Decisions today are made in conscious consideration of what has been done before and the impact these decisions will have on what comes after.

I struggle to view myself as a stepping stone. The very purpose of a stepping stone is that it be stepped on. Not all that appealling to me, quite frankly. But this thought also provides an odd freedom. I can see my life and my call in history, in community. My responsibility is not to change the world, but to stack my stone in the pile and let God change the world.

Holy Saturday

Having grown up within the Pentecostal church, we never really paid too much attention to Lent, Holy Week and such. It was pretty much all about the resurrection. This year, I've celebrated Lent and paid much closer attention to the church traditions as Easter has approached.

The resurrection is, of course, incredible...indescribable in what it means to a Christ-follower. It seems to me, though, that the magnitude of the resurrection is lost when not enconsed within the story of Christ's suffering and death.

I'm reminded of a book I recently read entitled How (Not) to Speak of God. In the book, he describes a community of Christ's disciples that upon his crucifixion pack up their belongings and head off. They form a new community far away and continue to follow the example of Jesus within that community. It is not until hundreds of years later that a missionary comes to their community and shares with them the story of the resurrection.

I wonder if I could do that. Could I live knowing that my savior, my rabbi was crucified and my dreams were crushed? As amazing as that story is, though, and the questions that it brings to my own heart, I also question whether that's missing the point. The resurrection is an integral part of God's plan for the redemption of humans to Godself.

For me, the critical middle ground lies in recognizing both the crucifixion and the resurrection. Apart from each other, the meaning of God's work on the earth cannot be adequately understood. Without understanding the suffering of Christ, we cannot begin to fathom the sacrifice and the love present in this amazing act. Without the resurrection, the redemption is incomplete and we are still bound to the law.

The following prayer is from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime:

O God, creator of heaven and earth: grant that, as the crucified body of you dear son was laid to rest in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so I may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

I pray for all blessings on this Holy Saturday and for God's presence in our lives as we consider both the horrendous crucifixion of Good Friday and the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday. Amen.