The Scriptures have authority ... but the problem is that we mave given our interpretation the same authority. Many times our limited understanding, but arrogant approach has left us shaming the name of Christ.
I believe in the authority of Scripture ... just not our interpretation of it!
When someone today attacks the authority of Scripture stop and think... maybe they are attacking a poor cultural interpretation that has been skewed as the authority or absolute truth.
I do not believe in our perspective on absolute truth and absolture authority... it has been so confused and mixed with cultural Xianity.
It is not our job to defend the scriptures! They Can stand on their own!!!...maybe we should listen to what people are saying and dig a little deeper. I think many people who question authority have a good point but they are too often marginalized as rebellious or faithless.
Many would make accusation of this being heretical and dangerous... but on whose authority?
Comments?
22 comments:
yingyang is back eh?
:) mark. how you doing man. its been too long.
umm.... this echoes some velvit elvis chats.
what exactly do you mean when you refer to absolute truths... i think there is a real skew of thoughts on what absolute truth is?
exactly my point...
Its a hard point to argue against but a much much harder point to accept.
You (someone) claim authority of text...but on whose authority?
Your own?
History/Tradition?
Consensus?
My version of Jesus is the Jesus I see in the Bible; the problem is that there is a filter that I see this Jesus through which, no matter how hard anyone tries, will not be the same filter as anyone else.
Each one of us brings our own cultural matrix of ideas to the table when we study scripture.
Knowing this I suppose that it would be very important for me to listen to your version of Jesus and try and understand your filter of how you see him.
The thing that bugs me is when some very arrogant, pushy, and proud people suggest that their particular way of seeing scripture is THE way to see scripture. Arrogant. Pushy. Proud.
See. I just did it. Arrogant. Pushy. Proud. Please see scripture my way - that there are many ways to see scripture.
Actually I think there is only one way to see scripture.
I'll come back later to see if anyone wants to debate. Then I'll tell you what I think it is.
On a side-note it would be interesting to compare authority of scripture with the other extreme alternative- authority of the Church, which is what the catholic faith operates under.
Can interpretation be God-inspired? We know the words are...
Jer
I agree ...
we must never surrender our thinking processes and interpretation to our cultural matrix alone. Our thinking should transend culture.
markimus
Mark - Our thinking maybe should transend culture but I don't think it actually can.
Alex - I am away the next few days...however, how could it be possible to see scripture in only one way? I'm sure I view it differently then you do. That's two ways.
I assume then, that you are speaking about one authoritative perspective on scripture? Theorietically I agree but the reality is that there is no way of knowing who or what that authority is.
Looking forward to seeing how this conversation develops while I am away. I'll check in on Thursday.
-Jer
Well for a start, scripture is open to interpretation by anyone who is not a Christian.
However, for Christians there are certain parts that we all agree on that are not negotiable.
But beyond that, there is something else which, if read in the right way, will make it transcend all our cultures and read the same.
So how do we 'find' that interpretation that transcends all cultures?
What is it about that interpretation that makes it trenscend?
How do we know if and when we are twisting God's Word to suit ourselves??
(MSG)
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
~Cathy
Then, of course, we are told to "defend" the Good News
Jude 1:2-4 (NLT)
The Danger of False Teachers
3Dearly loved friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the truth of the Good News.[a] God gave this unchanging truth once for all time to his holy people. 4I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
~Cathy
alex i fear that the 'right way' might in fact be your interpretation of the 'right way.'
that is not to say its impossible.. ha.
is it about the right way? I think that is part of our systemic issues with black and white...
What if it were more about application of narrative than about correctness?
OK, I'm going to reveal to you what I think is the right way:
Studying the scriptures in the Holy Spirit.
There is only one Holy Spirit, and if he is truly in each of us we should get a general consensus on scripture.
The only margin of error/misinterpretation is when our own idealogies get in the way..
What are your thoughts?
I'm too tired and it's too late for me to find scripture to back up what I'm saying, so I hope the Holy Spirit in you agrees?
Alex
I thikn that is a good foundation... My question woudl be how do distinguish bewtween our own idealogies and HS?
Hmm...
I'll give that some thought and get back to you,
of course I fall victim to circular reasoning - by giving it some thought perhaps I am already imposing my own ideology...
Guess I'll have to pray and ask the God the HS to give me the words.
Obviously I'll feedback with some scripture (also at risk from my own interpretation- once again shall ask HS to interpret for me).
Gah! brain fried.. back soon.
Said I'd think about it...
Too long to comment
Didn't know I had it in me- thanks for bringing it out!
Alex:
Read your blog - excellent post.
~C
The Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Any of our wisdom that does not have this as foundation, is not wisdom at all but is earthly and unspiritual. This comment may seem off track, but I don't think it is -
Mike Yaconelli: "I would like to suggest that the Church become a place of terror again; a place where God continually has to tell us, "Fear not"; a place where our relationship with God is not a simple belief or a doctrine or theology, it is God's burning presence in our lives. I am suggesting that the tame God of relevance be replaced by the God whose very presence shatters our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within. The Church needs to become a gloriously dangerous place where nothing is safe in God's presence except us. Nothing--including our plans, our agendas, our priorities, our politics, our money, our security, our comfort, our possessions, our needs.
Posted more comments on Alex blog...
Cathy,
Like the sound of what your saying- a reverance for the Unseen Host of Hosts.
When characters from the Bible encountered God, they were awed, afraid (with the possible exception of Jacob who went mano a mano).
Perhaps it is because, as well as having a view of scipture through our own cultural precepts, we have a view of the person of God.
An old man with grey hair and a grey beard? Where does that come from? God is ageless. What if we imagined a younger, smarter, all-knowing, all-powerful, sexless being- seems far more sinister and yet, is possibly closer to the real thing.
Even as I'm typing this I'm aware that God is watching and observing what I am saying, that in itself makes me a little edgy.
Good job I know through both the Holy Spirit and the Word that he loves me and can handle my speculations!
Someone said to me once that "Perception is reality." In relationship, what you meant is not as important as what 'they' heard. Could this be true of the Bible? Where do we draw the line? I think I could agree with your assertions in theory, but in doing so we create our own interpretation and assert that it is correct in a way. A bit of a circular argument...
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