12.08.05

Funny Things

Posted in Reflections at 19:53

Sometimes we as Christians like to hold on to funny things. We have convictions, some of which are biblical, and some of which are, well… spurious. Whenever we read something that seems to agree with our convictions, a feeling of affirmation stirs in our hearts. Yes! we think. Exactly!

Sometimes our opinions even colour our reading. We take something to be agreeing with our position when in reality it is saying something else entirely, or even disagreeing with us. This happens with the Bible. All of us have denominational (or non-denominational) biases. We are influenced by the people we interact with, the messages we listen to, etc.

For example, some of us get defensive when scholars suggest that a certain portion of the Bible was not written by the person to whom we attribute it, or that it has been edited, or that there is a mistake or human element in it. Some of us try really hard to show that Paul didn’t really mean the things he said about women. Some of us are really sure that it’s a sin for alcohol to touch our lips. Some of us are really sure that prophecy and tongues are a thing of the past and future, but not of the present. Some are convinced of a de facto ecclesiastical hierarchy outlined in the Bible. Some of us don’t like to imagine that God still pours out judgement. Some of us don’t really see anything wrong with homosexuality. Some of us are Calvinists. Or Arminians.

I’m a Charismatic. I’m biased. I’m wrong about some things, and there are times when I like to think the Bible says things it doesn’t really say.

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