Not the Same As It Ever Was

I’ve used the phrase “history of interpretation” in church a few times recently. Briefly, it means that the ways that we interpret things, such as texts and traditions, are influenced by the ways that they have been interpreted before. In turn, each of those previous interpretations were influenced by what came before them. This is not just a nerdy, academic …

Seriously

One criticism progressive Christians often receive is that we “don’t take the Bible seriously.” Even as a young Southern Baptist, I would often hear this cited as the problem with mainline churches, like the Methodists. However, it seems that me and my critics have a different understanding of what it would mean to take the Bible seriously. Often, in conversations …

I Don’t Know What to Say

The high liturgical seasons are behind us and now we enter “ordinary time.”  No fancy name, like “Eastertide;” it is just called “the Season after Pentecost.”  I like ordinary time, though.  We get to spread out a bit, immerse ourselves in the stories of Jesus’ ministry, this year from the Gospel of Mark.  Maybe pick up some of Paul’s writings, …

How to Read the Bible: The Allegorical (Program and Sermon)

Program Sermon Outline (roughly followed) I.        Back up a.       Scripture as revelation 1.      How does God intervene in writing Scripture? 2.      How does God intervene in the world? b.      Review series 1.      Literal a)      Plain reading b)      Modern rationalist, truth-seeking tendencies 2.      Allegorical 3.      Moral 4.      Anagogical II.     What is allegory? a.       Lisa is a fox b.      Bernie Madoff is …

How to Read the Bible: The Allegorical

If you spend enough time on Internet message boards, you will see a lot of bad analogies.  In the course of a discussion (pronounced “argument”) someone will try to make a point by referencing something that is presumably a point of common interest and common understanding between the two dialog partners (pronounced “combatants”), say, football.  One might compare a political …

How to Read the Bible: The Literal (Program and Sermon)

Program Sermon Outline I.        Classical a.       Descriptive b.      Just the facts “Usually, even a non-Christian knows something about the earth, the heavens, and the other elements of this world, about the motion and orbit of the stars and even their size and relative positions, about the predictable eclipses of the sun and moon, the cycles of the years and the …

How to Read the Bible: The Literal

When I was in 8th grade, I was placed in the advanced reading class, as I had been since the 2nd grade.  Yes, this is a brag.  But wait.  It’s all downhill from here.  One day we were learning vocabulary and the teacher asked for someone to give the definition of “literally.”  Since my mom used that word literally all …

How to Read the Bible: Introduction (Program and Sermon)

Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I.                               Questions a.       How do you view the Bible? b.      How do you use Bible? c.       Do know the Bible? d.      Do you want to know the Bible? II.                            Classical understanding a.       Literal b.      Allegorical c.       Moral d.      Anagogical III.                         Post-modern twist IV.                          Why read it?  Why does it matter? a.       Cultural defense 1.      Literary …

How to Read the Bible: Introduction

Growing up in a Southern Baptist church, the Bible was at the center of most of what we did.  We were Protestants, which meant that we believed in the power of the Bible alone to guide our lives.  And, because we were Baptists, we might yell at you if you disagreed.  Looking back, I often think we worshipped the Bible …