A Better Covenant

In the picture above each way is up depending on the perspective/position! I think this picture describes Christianity to a tee.  As I read more and listen more and wrestle more, I have begun to see a trend that many of you may have noticed a long time ago. Maybe I was blinded by mind own theologicalcentricity. Or in other words I was right and the way I did things and what I believed was right and differing opinions were not just different opinions, they were misinterpretations of the bible. It wasn’t a chance that there may just be diversity on some theological issues. Either you were right or either you were wrong and a certain camp (mostly those with a Reformed Bent) were right.

I have start to realize something. The truth is that there is diversity within interpretations. My brother CJ has a really good post on this found in his post called “The Bible: Theocentric or Christocentric: God or Christ? (Part II)“ . That diversity is driven by many factors. The type of church we were raised in, our experiences, our culture, our socioeconomic conditions…..

Not being able to agree on such diversity leads to what we have today. Words like Heretic, or liberal, or seeker sensitive, or Charismatic, or Fundamental or ______ fill in the blank become the norm. Oh, I forgot to mention emergent has now been added to that list as of late. These words are typically used to keep people at bay because they don’t agree with our theology. But I don’t want to take this paragraph any further.

I want to go back to the presuppositions. Let me give you an example. I currently uphold a Calvinistic position on how mankind is saved. I think it to be the most faithfully biblically (as for now). The problem lies when I meet a verse that contradicts that. I have one of two options.  1. I can say hmmm, maybe I need to reconsider my position (nooootttt!) or 2. I can make a theological category and thus say “well because Calvinism is correct this scripture can’t mean that”. 

Now if presuppositions drives my interpretation number 2 is the only viable option. There is no way the bible can disagree with Calvinism, well, because Calvinism is the truth thus those who take a different position than me because of a certain section of scripture is just “misinterpreting” the bible! Right?!! 

Well that depends on if there is diversity amongst the writers of the bible. Now one thing is for sure. All of the writers of the bible are building the story of God’s redemption in Christ. Thus the sum purpose of the bible is to reveal God sending His Son to redeem the world from the curse and defeat the god of this world, disabling him on the cross and destroying him with his second coming.

Could there be a possibility that the writers saw things differently from one another and that there is more diversity in the holy scriptures than we allow? It is funny that we sometimes allow (we wouldn’t call someone a nonchristian due to a different doctrinal slant) for such diversityamongst us but not with the scriptures. 

I again will try to sum this up with a brief perspective. If your theology drives your hermeneutic and not your reading of the scriptures then you will be robbing yourself of a fruitful work of the Spirit. If your bible is in a box or is interpreted with theological lenses you will never allow fresh perspectives to help illuminate the scriptures. Let me put it this way, your bible reading will always be a refresher course not something new God is teaching you through the work of the Spirit and the community of faith (a topic to come later).

I honestly believe our bibles become small, though I will say it is the safest way to read your bible. If my theological camp holds the truth and they are always right then I don’t need to wrestle with a specific text because it can’t mean what contradicts my theological camp. So it is like riding a bike with training wheels even when you are thirty. No, okay it is like riding a bike with training wheels, knee pads, a helmet, goggles, and a chest bad, in a grassy field. The chances of you scrapping your elbow just went from 25% to 0%! The same goes for presuppositions!

I am not saying that this is easy to undo! I think it is not only difficult but scary. Difficult because most times we don’t even know we do it, and scary due to the fact that we may have to question something we have held on to for years, or even question our prized theologians, maybe even a pastor or a friend that we respect and love dearly who may have it totally wrong regardless of their sincerity.

I close with this. The Spirit is our safety net! Jesus promises the disciples (and I believe us) that the Spirit when He comes He will guide us into all truth. I think for many of us it is time to take off our training wheels, knee pads, and goggles and allow ourselves to experience the bible in a new way. A living way. If this sounds “dangerous” to you then this shoe is a perfect fit for you. I promise you one thing for sure. Even if you start to go the wrong way, the Spirit has you safely in His arms, He won’t allow you to go to far off course