AudioArtist
AudioArtist
Nobody is denying that Scripture means what it means. But they are rightly questioning our ability to objectively and entirely understand every piece of scripture we come across. Ironically, it is usually Christians who are incredibly suspicious of the Comforter's ability to lead us to all truth (and of anything to do with the voice of God and the Holy Spirit) who are also often so certain of their own (or their denomination's) interpretation of Scripture. Could anything be more proud? Could anything show a more faith in the unrenewed mind and the flesh?
And I've been learning recently just how deep and layered Scripture is. It has multiple meanings, and it is living and sharper than a two edged sword, so God can use the same passage to different ends in different people's lives according to their situations. But people are so proud of their own interpretations that they oppose those who may have seen a different layer. Jesus' statements especially refer to many truths at once - for example, 'the first shall be last and the last shall be first.' Prophecy is also layered - the same prophetic passages in the Old Testament have both been fulfilled and remain unfulfilled, or have been fulfilled in multiple ways at once. Paul and John even connected 'let there be light' to the entrance of Christ into the world, but that application in no way undermines the creation account. Scripture is also often paradoxical, but we have taken anything Jewish out of that and have tried to neatly tie up these paradoxes through our Western systematic theologies. Proverbs that any sane person would admit have opposite meanings are placed right next to one another. What is one to do with that?
We must all work together as one body and listen together to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our intellect is a gift, so of course we can utilise it, but at the same time we must not lean on our own understanding. We all need each other, but so many of us don't realise that - especially if we're fond of a certain Christian camp or own intellectual abilities. We're so blind to our own lack of understanding and so quick to idolize and subject ourselves entirely to a particular movement, be it the reformation and reformers of old (who weren't perfect either) or modern Churchianity.
Perhaps some think that it's dangerous to assert that it is impossible for humans to be objectively right about scripture. But it's far more dangerous to believe your own intellectual might can sort out every scriptural knot, to have an unteachable spirit and to cling to your own pet theological constructs your entire life for all the wrong reasons. Of course wee should cling to foundational truths, but even these have depths we haven't uncovered yet. The Gospel is so simple a child could understand it, but so profound that it'll take us a lifetime to ever understand it.
And I've been learning recently just how deep and layered Scripture is. It has multiple meanings, and it is living and sharper than a two edged sword, so God can use the same passage to different ends in different people's lives according to their situations. But people are so proud of their own interpretations that they oppose those who may have seen a different layer. Jesus' statements especially refer to many truths at once - for example, 'the first shall be last and the last shall be first.' Prophecy is also layered - the same prophetic passages in the Old Testament have both been fulfilled and remain unfulfilled, or have been fulfilled in multiple ways at once. Paul and John even connected 'let there be light' to the entrance of Christ into the world, but that application in no way undermines the creation account. Scripture is also often paradoxical, but we have taken anything Jewish out of that and have tried to neatly tie up these paradoxes through our Western systematic theologies. Proverbs that any sane person would admit have opposite meanings are placed right next to one another. What is one to do with that?
We must all work together as one body and listen together to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our intellect is a gift, so of course we can utilise it, but at the same time we must not lean on our own understanding. We all need each other, but so many of us don't realise that - especially if we're fond of a certain Christian camp or own intellectual abilities. We're so blind to our own lack of understanding and so quick to idolize and subject ourselves entirely to a particular movement, be it the reformation and reformers of old (who weren't perfect either) or modern Churchianity.
Perhaps some think that it's dangerous to assert that it is impossible for humans to be objectively right about scripture. But it's far more dangerous to believe your own intellectual might can sort out every scriptural knot, to have an unteachable spirit and to cling to your own pet theological constructs your entire life for all the wrong reasons. Of course wee should cling to foundational truths, but even these have depths we haven't uncovered yet. The Gospel is so simple a child could understand it, but so profound that it'll take us a lifetime to ever understand it.
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