Understanding the Bible

There are many ways to understand the Bible, and in a small way I am somewhat qualified to have an opinion. I grew up in the Church, have been a pastor/preacher for 31 years, have a BA in Bible with a double minor in theology and history, and have a Master of Divinity Degree. In the last few weeks God has been working on me about Biblical understanding and interpretation and how I sometimes have been reading and interpreting the Bible. There are three typical ways to understand and interpret the Bible. The first is Historical context; understanding the Bible in the context of the author, the time in history, and the people that book of the Bible was originally written to. The second is in textual context; understanding the verse in its place in the text, the verses before and after, the chapters before and after, and in the light of surrounding chapters. The third way is directly; what one verse or section of scripture says directly to me, often without regard to historical or textual context.

Now I would have one or two Bible College professors flinch at the direct interpretation of the Bible and all my Seminary professors would probably want to take back my MDIV.

Here is the revelation. Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul seemed to interpret the Bible with the direct interpretation, without regard to either history or context. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John interpreted it the same way. So did John Wesley, Martin Luther, and more often than not Billy Graham. They did not approach the Bible as course work; they approached it as the inspired Word of God that speaks directly to the reader with the breath of the Holy Spirit making application from what is a living word, not a word stuck in the mud and glue of history and context. When Jesus faced the Devil at the temptation He used the scripture very directly; when Matthew used the Old Testament to prove Jesus was the Christ, he used it directly. When Paul preached the Gospel using the Scripture, He used verses directly and often out of context. Now this does not mean that God does not speak and it is not of value to understand the bible in History and context, this is a great way to study and rightly divide the Scripture. But those who want to experience a living God in a living word must read it in the light of a more direct voice of God. It is too easy to allow ourselves to be insulated from a word that God intends to pierce the heart and soul.

The so called, Biblically educated elite have often used the “out of Context” argument to debunk the great preachers and even the great movements of Christian history, both the preacher and the movement where God is working, saving souls and lives and changing the world. The Bible is not just a historical book speaking of events and ideas that unfold in history, it is a Book that is the living, breathing word of God than is God’s way of directly interceding in whatever circumstance, culture, or time in any of our lives, Churches, and world; a word that is both inspired by the Holy Spirit but equally interpreted in a living way by that same Holy Spirit. Often it’s the ears of faith that best understand the Bible over the ears of the Biblically educated. The open heart understands far more of the bible than the closed mind.

the Lexington

visited the aircraft carrier The Lexington; here standing in front of an A-4 one of the jets my squadron in the Navy Flew…its a museum piece now…I wasn’t on the Lexington, the Independence was larger, but it reminded my that I would not want to be stationed on one again…hit my head twice. We saw a Jet like John McCain flew in Viet Nam as well as one like George Bush Sr was shot down in in WWII

leadership

For Pastors Leadership may be one of the hottest topics of the day. I have been to innumerable seminars on the subject and have taught a few myself. For many years it wasn’t a big deal in ministry, preaching, teaching, and pastoring was the name of the game. Since I have had a few days to walk on the beach I have had some thoughts on it. What kind of Leader was Jesus?
First, he broke most of the leadership and management rules that I hear about. Often he was way too forgiving and understanding, he would let people walk all over him sometimes. But on other days he could be very harsh, demanding, and unrealistic, and often way too inconsistent. There were times He would send the Disciples out to do amazing things and times he would tell them to stay close and quiet. There were golden opportunities to step up and change the world that he would let slip by and when it seemed the better part of leadership valor to not step up he might surprisingly lead them into great trouble and danger.
Jesus also picked poor staff and lay leadership. Peter was inconsistent and self focused. James and John could not control their temper. Thomas was a doubter. None of them could be depended on. In fact the best of the management lot might have been Judas who was the groups treasurer and occasionally gave what seemed to be pretty good advice, advice Jesus ignored.
Jesus built people, but never really built anything.
Jesus idea of leadership was showing people what it looked like to walk with God; showing them what it was like to love God, showing them what it was like to love their neighbor, showing them what life could look like for those who put God and others ahead of themselves, who were willing to forgo what the world might deem as success, for what the world would classify as failure, for the sake of the Kingdom of God and pleasing their heavenly father. In leading them to failure, at least as His culture and probably any other in history would define failure, He lead them to the greatest success of all. He also gave His life for them. Just what does Christian leadership look like, a leadership that transcends this worlds definition of success and failure as well as leadership.

Finding God’s Will

People often look for God’s will the wrong way, through circumstances and events. We look for signs or signals that tell us what to do, hoping God is speaking through affirming circumstances, open and closed doors, or just difficult or pleasent relationships. If this was the way God spoke then Jesus would never have left Nazareth much less have entered Jerusalem the week He was crucified. Even though circumstances said get out while you can, God must be speaking through the negative response of so many, Jesus found a place in a Garden where He spoke to God and then prayed, “Not my will but thine be done”!. We find God’s will through 1. knowing God, 2. Conversation with God, 3. and then obedience to God. Moses found God’s will at a burning bush and went to face Pharaoh even though he did not really want to or even think he had the talents to do such a thing. Abraham found God’s will in his back yard as God told him to leave his homeland. Paul found God’s will on the Damascus Road and later in a prison cell.
Finding God’s will is almost always surprising, unexpected, , and not easy, but it is always Amazing.