“The Bible is the foundation of Christianity. In it we learn about the human condition, our need for salvation, God’s plan through Christ, the everlasting joy that awaits those who trust in Jesus, and more.”[1]
In the first semester at Luther Seminary, all students are required to take a course about Scripture. For some this is an eye opening course. It’s disturbing to a few and freeing to others. It reveals the diversity and complexity of the history and method in which we obtained the Bible we have today. The Bible does hold authority and is holy, but it is not as black and white on issues as many believe. Therefore, faithful Christians can and do disagree on issues within the church and none of us has all the answers. This realization leads some to question if what they think they know from Scripture passages is necessarily correct. How do we interpret Scripture faithfully? When reading Scripture, it’s necessary to read in love and humility. When interpreting and studying Scripture, it’s often helpful to engage the historical-critical method of study, especially for challenging passages.
When interpreting the Bible we must take into consideration the context and time for which is was written, the overall character of God, and the central act of Christ. We must weigh the words we read with the gospel. We study, meditate, and try to live out God’s Word, so that, perhaps, we can begin to understand what message God intends for us today from that text. Let us read Scripture through the lens of Jesus Christ and apply it to our lives with the gospel in mind. The Bible is a collection of stories about God’s salvific plan for humankind. If we keep this in mind, we will come closer to God’s will for each part of our lives. If, when reading the Bible, we remember Jesus said the most important commandment is to love the LORD our God with all our hearts and minds and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will not be so likely to get caught up on commandments which do nothing to help us live our lives in love.
God revealed God’s character to us in the person of Jesus Christ. If we, like Luther, intentionally read all of Scripture through the lens of Jesus Christ, keeping in mind what he has done for us and interpreting all else through that lens, we are more likely to interpret Scripture in line with God’s will. Furthermore, if we’re able to take Ellen Davis’ advice and read the Bible with humility, charity (love), and patience we’ll be able to disagree with one another with attitudes of love and respect and be able to learn from each other and grow together. More on Scripture next week. Read Ephesians 4:1-3, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!
Annie
Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A1-3&version=NRSV
Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida 