IT was never God’s intention to pull the wool over our eyes. His Word is plain as day. Yet it still is something we wrestle and struggle with. The gift of scripture is that it always leads to conversation. Our individually, wonderfully created selves interpret what we read in an infinite number of ways.

          But it’s still true.

True at all times and in all places. We learn and grow from it and in it. Then there are the times it’s tricky. We question whether we’re actually supposed to do literally everything it says. Of course not; otherwise we’d all be walking around maimed. We would be slaughtering all of our supposed enemies. “Love your neighbor”. Wow. We make a royal mess of that!

This is where Luther’s Catechism helps us out some. It follows up every command with “What does this mean?”

           I think we never stop asking questions of scripture. That’s how we learn. We all struggle with what to take literally and what is strictly contextual (only applies to the time it was written). God’s Word invites us into holy conversation. We have an ongoing dialogue with Him and what we believe He has recorded for us. They are ultimately words of true life; the ideal. Read it and digest it spiritually and prayerfully. Let the Bible scholars analyze it. Don’t get too much head and logic into it; allow it to embrace your heart with unconditional love.

Pastor Art