Whose Mail?

Reading Someone Else’s Mail

Green (2007) states, “The twenty-first-century reader in the United States, then, is cast in the unenviable position of reading someone else’s mail” (51).  Schenck (2009) adds, “The literal meaning of Deuteronomy or Romans or 1 Thessalonians requires us to recognize that none of the books of the Bible were strictly written to us” (p. 3).  We are reading someone else’s mail when we read the books of the Bible because each book of the Bible had an original audience, an audience different from us.  We are not being true to the scriptures if do not recognize this truth. 

Fee and Douglas (2003) assert, “To make this text mean something God did not intend is to abuse the text, not use it” (p. 25).  Determining the world of the original audience and the meaning that the scripture had for them is a necessary step to reading the Bible as Christian Scripture, because it prevents us from abusing the Scriptures.  This discovery cannot, however, be the end of the process. 

                                                          Reading Our Own Mail                 

The various books of the bible were written to someone other than us, and yet, “Because the Bible is God’s Word, it has eternal relevance” (Fee & Stuart, 2003, p. 21).  After we have determined who the original audience of scripture was and what God’s original message was for them we can, and indeed should, seek to determine what God is saying to us through the scripture.  Mulholland (2000) posits, “The Word of God that encountered the writers and to which they wrote, also addresses us” (43).  We must realize that scripture is for us, even if it was not originally to us. 

God’s revelation is alive and well.  The same scriptures that transformed the lives of its original readers and hearers still seeks to transform Christ’s followers today.  We must recognize that the books of the bible had an original intended audience, but we must also recognize that the Word of God is intended to speak to us, to transform us, today.

Fee, G.D and Stuart, D. (2003).  How to read the Bible for all its worth (3^rd Ed).  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.   

Green, J.B. (2007).  Seized by truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture.  Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. 

Mulholland Jr., M.R. (2000). Shaped by the Word: The power of Scripture in spiritual formation (2^nd ed.). Nashville. TN: Upper Room Books.

Schenck, K. (2009). Brief guide to Biblical interpretation. (2^nd ed.). Marion, IN: Triangle Publishing

Some Theological Guidelines for Reading Scripture

Green (2003) states, “A reading of the Bible as Christian Scripture can never be satisfied with anything less than interpretive practices oriented toward shaping and nurturing the faith and life of God’s people (p. 79).  Green (2003) goes on to focus on three implications of this understanding: “(1) the import of the Old Testament, (2) the reading of scripture as a ‘ruled reading,’ and (3) the significance of locating one’s community within its theological tradition” (p. 79).

The Import of the Old Testament

Green (2003) rightly asserts, “It is essential that Christian Study of the Old Testament interpret these writings specifically as Christian Scripture and that the New Testament be firmly situated within the grand narrative of God’s purpose that is incomprehensible apart from the Old Testament” (p. 79).    The story of redemption came to its fruition in the cross of Christ, but it was born long ago.  We see God pursuing his children, in the animal skins made for Adam and Eve, in the story of Noah and the Ark, in God’s calling of Abraham, the exodus, the life of King David, and throughout the stories of the prophets.  The story of God’s redemptive work is incomplete without the inclusion of the great many level one stories of the Old Testament.   

The Reading of Scripture as a “Ruled” Reading

Green (2003) states, “The church’s doctrine provides, as it were, the rules of engagement in a reading of Scripture…Biblical texts, taken on their own terms and without recourse to a history or community of interpretations…sola Scriptura can never guarantee that one is Christian” (p. 80-81).  There is mutual dependency between Scripture and church doctrine.  Scripture holds doctrine accountable, and doctrine helps individuals interpret scripture.  Specifically, doctrine helps to view specific scriptures in lieu of the totality of scripture (the nature of God as expressed in the totality of scripture impacts our understanding of specific texts).  

The Significance of Locating One’s Community Within its Theological Tradition

Green (2003) concludes, “As Christians, we read out of our tradition…all of us are reared, to some degree or another, within a particular ecclesial or theological tradition” (85).   Individuals from different ecclesial traditions can interpret a specific and to some extent, the bible as a whole quite differently.  A Calvinist vs Arminian understanding of salvation and the issue of female leadership in the church are clear examples.  Individuals on different ends of these theological issues faithfully approach the sacred text yet come to very different conclusions because of their theological traditions. 

Green, J.B. (2007).  Seized by truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture.  Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. 

   

On God's Revelation: And its Implications on how we Understand Textual Criticism

Two Main Philosophies of Transmission

The two main philosophies of transmission are formal and functional equivalence.  The question at play is how much emphasis to put on the original language and how much emphasis to place on the receptor language as well as how much impact historical distance has on the two languages (Fee and Stuart, 2003).

Formal Equivalence

According to Fee and Stuart (2003) formal equivalence is “the attempt to keep as close to the ‘form’ of the Hebrew and Greek…as can be conveniently be put into understandable English” (p. 41).  The original language trumps the receptor language, and historical distance is downplayed.  The original form is more important than a highly functional translation.  It’s not good enough to have the same basic message, the actual language has to be as close as possible.

Functional Equivalence

Functional equivalence is “the attempt to keep the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek but to put their words and idioms into what would be the normal way of saying the same thing in English” (Fee and Stuart, 2003, p. 41).  Functional equivalence places a higher priority on the readability of the translation than keeping the original form.  Bridging the historical distance is a high priority.

Theology

Multiple theological issues are at play in these philosophies of transmission, but the issue of how one understands God’s revelation comes to the forefront.  Is the revelation of God “dead” so that He is only revealed though the original worlds of the Bible?  Is there only one message from each passage of the Bible?  Or, is God still actively revealing Himself and is His message from scripture fresh and unique for each recipient?  The way we answer these questions will largely impact which philosophy of transmission we adopt as our own. 

Implications of Preservation of Original wording

The issue of God’s revelation and each philosophy has implications God’s concern from preserving the original text.  If we believe that God’s revelation is unique and the clarity of the personal message of utmost importance, then God is more concerned with the recipient.  On the other hand, if we believe that God’s revelation begins and ends with the original text, then we must believe that God cares first and foremost about preserving the original text.

Our conclusions have a lot to say about what translation of the bible to read.  The more personal and dynamic we see the God’s revelation through scripture the more we focus on the recipient.  This will lead us to a functional, or perhaps even free translation. 

Fee, G.D and Stuart, D. (2003).  How to read the Bible for all its worth (3^rd Ed).  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.    

My Resolution...Do Less...Trust God More

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” – John 3:30

⁵ But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. ⁶ For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. – Galatians 5:5 & 6 

"Can I tell you something without you getting offended?"  

When the bedtime silence is broken by a question like this from my wife I automatically get defensive, but I cautiously asked her to proceed.  

She went on to share her observations and feelings, that my life was far too much about myself, and not nearly enough about God.  Her comments were something along the lines of, "It seems like something is missing, that your answer to life is to try harder.  If you try hard to be a good father, and good husband, a good church worker, that everything will be OK.  I don't see you looking to God.  I see you desperately trying to be good enough."

Crap!  She was right, she had figured me out.  The truth was I had really felt convicted about that very thing weeks ago.  Her observations were a poke in my eye.  They told me that I hadn't done enough to solve the problem...there I go again.  I went right back to trying hard and solving the problem.  But our relationship with God doesn't work like that.  

Faith in God is about trust, about letting go, ultimately about doing less.  I'm not going to be able to solve this with a little elbow grease.  I think this realization led Martin Luther to say "I'm too busy not to pray."  

I could easily make a resolution to spend x amount of minutes each morning in prayer, or read x amount of chapters from the bible each day, but that just becomes another thing to check off my list of things to do, another attempt at trying harder.    

Instead, I resolve to be less, to trust God more.  I resolve to rely less on myself.  I resolve to wait for God to transform me, rather than try harder to be better.  I resolve to trust God to show me what that looks like in my life, instead of adding a list of practices to adopt.  I resolve to ask God to help me in my duties as a husband, a father, and a full-time minister.  

Maybe you feel led to make a similar resolution.  

A Dirty Christmas

¹⁴ Because God's children are human beings -- made of flesh and blood -- Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. ¹⁵ Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. ¹⁶ We all know that Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham, not to help the angels. ¹⁷ Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.

It’s too easy for us to overlook the significance that Jesus was born in a barn and laid in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn.  That’s the unvarnished truth of Christmas.

Dirt, manure, terrible smells, these aren’t the things we usually associate with the Presence of God.  But Christmas announces to us that this is the kind of God we have.  It’s the dirt of Christmas that helps us understand just how great God is!!!

The author of Hebrews reminds us, “In bringing many [children] to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Christmas is about pain.  A woman gave birth that night.  Christmas is about God leaving heaven and coming down to be with us in the midst of our dirt!

Who of us would set aside our power and privilege and enter this world in the midst of the dirt and stench of a barn?

But God did.
And that is Good News!!!  That is the best news imaginable!!!

For with this knowledge we can know that we have a God Who loves us beyond comprehension.

Jesus suffered for our salvation!  Wow!

God “shared in” our “humanity”…Jesus was “made” like us “in every way”, and “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being temped.”

In Christ’s all too ordinary birth in Bethlehem we meet God, not in some terrible and frightening holiness that makes us sinners shake in our boots but in His loving and merciful holiness, which is God’s true holiness!!!

Christmas and Culture

¹⁹ Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. ²⁰ When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. ²¹ When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,^[d] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. ²² When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. ²³ I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

I recently got myself into a little bit of trouble for bashing Santa Claus…with a microphone in my hand.  I didn’t destroy the dreams of a mob of children by revealing to them that Santa isn’t real.  I’m not that crazy.  I simply bemoaned the fact that our communities Christmas parade is called the Santa Parade.  I may have actually said something like “we are not a big fan of Santa.”  Here’s the thing, the mom could get over my comment, but she was genuinely concerned that the church planned to destroy her son’s belief in Santa Claus.  Interesting isn’t it…I wonder if she is that concerned about whether or not the public school is going to destroy his belief in Jesus Christ, but I digress. 

Besides the obvious lesson, plan out carefully what you are going to say before you grab a hot mic, there is much more at play in this scenario.  A couple of months prior a member of are Christian Education committee expressed displeasure with our church’s participation in Halloween festivities (handing out candy the day of and throwing a trunk-or-treat the Wednesday before).  This is more than just can’t win scenario.  Two sides are at play here.  How is the church deal with the non-Christian customs of our culture?  This question really comes to a head at Christmas. 

I get just as upset at the competition Christ’s birth gets as the next Christian.  In spite of that, I need to remember that culture has always had an impact on the Christian Faith, and as our culture changes, so will the “average American Christian.”  I’m not saying that everything is fair game, but I am saying that much of what we hold dear is more cultural than Christian Core.  I am also saying that a combatant attitude never gets us anywhere.  I think the key is to bring Christ into culture more than it is to stand against culture. 

With this in mind, A Chrsitmas prayer:

“Holy LORD,

We come with joy to celebrate the birth of your son, who rescued us from the darkness of sin by making the cross a tree of life and light.  May our Christmas tree arrayed in splender remind us of the life-giving cross of Christ that we may always rejoice in the new life that shines in our hearts.  We ask this through Christ, our LORD.  Amen” - Unknown

Gained Perspective: Helping the Young Samuels of the World

⁸ A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. – 1 Samuel 3: 8 and 9

Young Samuel, like so many of the young people that we encounter on a daily basis lacked perspective.  He did not have the previous experience to know what was going on.  It was up to Eli to give Samuel the perspective he needed, and once he did, some amazing things happened!  Adults can play the role of Eli by:

1)      Listening instead of Dismissing

At first Eli didn’t really know what was going on and without knowing what was really going on in Samuel’s life he dismissed Samuel’s experience, telling him to go back to sleep.  It wasn’t until Eli knew what was going on, until he truly listened to Samuel’s sharing of his experience that he was able to give helpful and authentic instruction.  I believe there is a subtle difference between lecturing and faithful instruction, and the difference is authentic listening. 

2)      Asking Questions instead of Lecturing

I can’t help but wonder how much faster Eli would have figured things out if he had asked a question or two before dismissing Samuel.  Asking questions is a great way to get us in the right mindset to really listen to young people.  In addition, asking questions, unlike lecturing, can be effective way to steer young people in the right direction.  Powell and Clark (2011) rightly point out, “Parents lecturing kids hasn’t worked…Picture you and your child talking about premarital sex.  Does your child know what you think about it?  Does your child know what you would want to say about it?  Odds are good that the answer to both is yes” (77-78).   Our communication with children needs to help them come to their own understanding of what Christ would have them do, not force our views down their throats.  

3)      Sharing Personal Faith Stories

Samuel had never heard the LORD speak before.  It was something that Eli had encountered prevously.  Eli’s past experience allowed him to interpret what was going on in Samuel’s life.  Young people today still need the experience of others to interpret what is going on in their own lives.  This is especially true during times of doubt, and during times when young people feel that God has let them down.  We tend to doubt God’s faithfulness when we lose sight of how He has been faithful in the past.  Sharing the stories of the bible is an obvious and powerful way to remind young people of God’s faithfulness, but it is equally important for young people to hear personal stories of God’s faithfulness from the adults around them.  Sadly, most young people have never heard the salvation stories and other personal stories of God’s faithfulness from parents and other caring adults. 

Adults are right to believe that young people need their wisdom to gain perspective.  The problem is, adults tend to go about sharing that wisdom the wrong way.  By listening instead of dismissing, asking questions instead of lecturing, and sharing their personal faith stories adults can help young people gain perspective about how God is working in their lives, just as Eli helped young Samuel realize his call to follow God. 

Powell, K.E. & Clark, C. (2011). Sticky faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.