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Story
A man formed a religious cult, and people regarded him as a very learned person. He had a few followers, who recorded his instructions in a book. Over years the book became voluminous. It had all sorts of instructions recorded therein. The followers were told not to do anything without first consulting the holy book. Wherever the followers went and whatever they did, they would consult the book. One day the leader was crossing a timber bridge, and he fell into the river. The followers were with him, but none of them knew what to do under the circumstances. So, they consulted the holy book. "Help! Help!" the Master shouted, "I can't swim!" "Please wait a while Master! Please don't get drowned!" they pleaded. "We are still searching in our holy book! There must be an instruction on what to do if you fell off from a wooden bridge into a river!" While they were turning over the pages of the holy book, the teacher disappeared in the water and drowned.
(Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda, How to Live without
Fear & Worry)
Comments
God can speak to each one of us within the sanctuary of the heart. This is one threat of contemplation to a mass of Christians who have been conditioned to rely solely on the mediation of a holy book. Of course, they contradict themselves, for they rely on preachers whom they say preach biblically, Sunday School materials, religion professors, what they were raised to believe by family and local culture, …
The Reformation claim sola scriptura, only scripture, is antithetical to historic Christian teaching. As a United Methodist, I appreciate the United Methodist teaching that Scripture is sufficient for salvation; we receive adequate guidance through the Scripture for our relationship with the Triune God. However, adequate for salvation does not preclude Spirit speaking to us, as persons and communities of faith, in other ways.
Scripture itself never claims to offer all the advice that might help us, nor does it claim to provide precise details on what to do in every situation. Scripture does provide a narrative for us to read, meditate on, and continue, and the Gospels are central to the story. Scripture shows us a people struggling to discern the will of God in changing circumstances and the necessary adaptations for that plot to continue. Scripture shows us, then, that we find in Scripture not so much instructions as guidelines, or principles.
Scripture is much like a mountain range. As not every mountain is of equal height, not all the Scripture is of equal practical insight or value. Christians have never placed the value on Leviticus or Amos that they have on the Gospel of John. And, Jesus went beyond the Ten Commandments in his teaching the Beatitudes. Judaism has often assumed the Books of Moses primary, with the rest of the Scripture commentary on the Torah found in those first books.
Is there anything wrong with deep respect for and judicious use of Scripture? No. However, Scripture has been used to do much harm, when persons have allowed lesser teachings or aspects of the story to negate obedience to universal principles found in it. This is not the fault of Scripture, but rather of selfish or ignorant use of Scripture.
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Here is an example of a universal principle found in the Gospel: love everyone as yourself. That is a profound teaching and supported by teachings across time, culture, and religion. To fail to love another person in such a way, while applying another Scripture as justification, is wrong. Yet, Scripture provides valuable insight on what it means to love everyone. Scripture would support, for example, confronting another person whom you love, when you know that person is hurting herself needlessly.
As long as we have the Scripture, we will disagree on how to use it. But, there are some wise guidelines we can all share. Aim, as part of community of faith, judiciously to use Scripture. Take into account what has been taught in the past, apply reason and common sense, and discern how personal and collective experience informs interpretation. Look for the higher principles; that is, seek what is universal wisdom, in contrast to cultural teachings. Pray to receive guidance from the Spirit in how to apply Scripture. Stay in a faith community that disciplines you not to interpret Scripture in a manner that always suits your biases. If a teaching is hard for you to accept, that does not mean it is wrong. Focus on the Gospels. Most of all never use Scripture as an excuse to act harmfully toward anyone or any group. Scripture is present to challenge us to learn to live less selfishly and, in Christ, to die to one way of living, so that we might live another way.
Reflection
Do you read Scripture daily? Why? Why not?
What did you struggle to agree with in the above writing, if anything?
Did you learn anything new from this writing?
What is meant by a “universal principle”?
How do biases influence how you interpret Scripture?
Can anyone read Scripture without biases shaping what she interprets? Explain.
Spiritual Exercise
Consider reading daily three Psalms, a chapter of Proverbs, and a chapter of the Gospels. Read sequentially through each book.
Keep spending at least twenty to thirty minutes daily in Silence, resting in the Lord of Love.
Make sure you have a sacred space in your home for time alone in prayer and spiritual reading.
Make sure you are in a covenant group. For more information on covenant groups, write me at the address below.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
Brian’s book An Ache For Union can be purchased at major book dealers.
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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