A little bit of post-modern, post-emergent, post-whatever religious angst here so feel free to ignore this one if you are so inclined.
One of the difficult things about Christianity, in particular the Protestant branch, is that there are so many different versions of it, which differ in so many ways in their interpretations of the Bible. We’ve heard recently in our church about William Tyndale, the medieval saint who fought to bring an English translation of the Bible to the common man, setting in process a train of events that led through Henry VII and then King James right through to the abundance to different translations we have at our disposal today. This is a good thing. But, the inevitable and unavoidable side effect of this, along with Protestantism’s rejection of the Roman Catholic doctrines of Tradition (capital T) and the magisterium, are that we left with such a divergent range of interpretations of what the Bible actually means.
How are we to negotiate this mine-field to actually get some idea of what might be the actual truth underneath it all? Here’s a few thoughts :
1. Be aware of the issue. It seems that some many Christians think that there is just one simple way to understand the Bible and assume that everyone must think the same way about things. For example some people have a vague idea of ‘the rapture’ and seem to accept that this is a standard part of Christian belief, blissfully unaware that the majority of Christians throughout history haven’t subscribed to this doctrine. And that’s just one example. It may be unsettling for people, but becoming aware that there are alternative views on a huge range of issues and admitting that it is not always easy to determine who’s right and who’s wrong is important. Naivety is not a healthy aspect of Christian character.
2. Be suspicious – not in a nasty, paranoid way but in a healthy way. Ask questions? If you are reading a book or listening to a speaker try and find out where they are coming from – what is their denominational background and/or doctrinal view? For example it helps to know if an author is Reformed or Pentecostal or Anglican or Catholic. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read or listen to someone who’s outside your particular tradition or chosen viewpoint (on the contrary, this is a very good thing to do) but it is very important to appreciate how their beliefs influence what they are saying. Beware of the author without a Bio, and even more of the one who presents their views with an arrogant certainty of “this is just how it is” or who doesn’t seem to have an appreciation that others may differ (see point 1).
3. Following on from this – we need to cultivate a humility of knowledge. We don’t want to be just floating aimlessly – it is good that we do decide what we believe on topics, guided by sources we trust, our own knowledge and study (whether limited or broad), and to some extent by our feelings. But we should be humble about these opinions – conceeding that we may actually be wrong and that we won’t know anything for sure until the next life. And while the less knowledge or education we have on a subject the more humble we should be, no amount of education will obviate the need for some humility. I like what N T Wright says along the lines of “of what I’m saying I’m probably wrong on at least a quarter of it – the problem is I don’t know which quarter”
4. Develop an idea of what constitutes basic Christian orthodoxy and what are the elements that Christians legitimately differ on. Start with the Apostles and Nicene creeds to get a good idea of what pretty much all Christians agree on. For example the Trinity, virgin birth, and physical ressurection are pretty important central doctrines. The fact that Jesus is coming back to judge and set things right is important but the details about the “end-times” are more arguable and less important. God as creator is important – whether he did it in 6 days or 13 billion years is less critical. Be certain about the central points and humble about the less central ones… the problem is that different groups disagree on what the essential central core points are! I’d suggest making this core as narrow as possible – once again, start with the creeds.
5. Be guided by people you trust – people who are educated, knowledgeable, and also humble about their own beliefs. Usually this will be pastors, church leaders, reputable Christian authors etc. But remember it is still your choice and judgement to trust them, so still maintain the humility that you and they may not have everything completely right.
6. Respect other traditions and learn from them. Even those we disagree with and strongly (but humbly!) feel are incorrect about some things, still undoubtedly have other positive characteristics we can learn from. We all get some things right and we all get some things wrong – no one is 100% right about everything. non-Pentecostals can learn from Pentecostals about vibrant heartfelt spirituality and faith in the miraculous; and non-Catholics can learn from Catholics about reverence and devotion and tradition. Don’t write anyone off completely – try to see the positives and where that might spotlight the areas where we might fall short.
6. Trust God. He created our world, planned our salvation, and gave us the Bible. We have to trust that he is in control, has a plan, and that somehow all this disagreement and confusion and denominations are something that he will ultimately use to bring his plans to fruition. Whatever we believe about the details, we can all agree that the good news about Jesus is something the whole world needs to hear..
The other night some of us were commenting that some Bible translations sound a bit like they were spoken by Yoda (and no I’m not going to explain who Yoda is… if you don’t know, go back and hide under the rock you’ve been under for the last 30 years…)If with the tongues of men and of messengers I speak, and have not love, I have become brass sounding, or a cymbal tinkling;
read the book you’ll get the analogy). In particular Scot looks at some misguided methods of approaching the bible, like as a law book or manual for life, or as a puzzle to work out – these misguided methods too often result in fixed interpretations that become hardened traditions.