More Than Rules, Heroes and Doctrine
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."—Luke 24:27 (ESV)
Earlier this year, I embarked on a long-held dream: to begin my online Masters in Counseling program at Westminster Theological Seminary. I chose this program because it wedded both my desire to grow my counseling skill and my understanding of Scripture as one overarching Story. I had done a lot of reading and studying on my own in both areas, but knew I wanted more.
How Not to Read the Bible
For most of my ministry life, I have approached the Bible exactly the way Michael Emlet describes in chapter 2 of CrossTalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet:
I read the Bible looking for do’s and don’ts. Because of this, I would skip much of the “impractical” historical books. I would read Psalms and pick out the juicy verses that I liked (completely out of context, of course). I would read the epistles as prescriptions for a godly life.
Instead of understanding how a particular passage contributed to the overarching narrative of God’s redemptive purposes throughout all of human history, I also gravitated towards the things that would make my time on earth better. If I had a problem, I’d treat it as a book of remedies. (Feeling anxious? Apply Philippians 4:6-7. Struggling with anger? Keep repeating Proverbs 15:1 until I calm down.)
On better days, I’d read a passage and try to extract the timeless principles within it that I could use to improve my life today. If I read about Abraham’s faith to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22), I would think about what I could sacrifice today. If I read about the prophet Jonah’s entitled spirit (Jonah 4), I would conclude that I too need to be careful about that attitude in my own life. I’d read Jesus’s words in John 15 commanding us to abide in Him and conclude it meant I needed to have better quiet times every day.
People in the Bible became, like Emlet describes, a “casebook of characters to imitate or avoid.” Be brave like David as you face your Goliaths. Be faithful in prayer like Daniel in the face of persecution. Be courageous like Esther in times of danger. Don’t be like the proud Achan, the faithless Manasseh or the foolish prodigal son.
I’ve also been guilty of treating the Bible as a system of doctrines. My favorite parts of Scripture are the theologically dense books of Paul. I love tracing his arguments. For me, understanding the gospel’s deeper doctrines is supremely satisfying for not only my mind but heart. But as important as that is, the Bible isn’t about that either.
The Problem
The common theme running through all these, I’ve noticed, is that they tend towards 1) what I need for my life today and 2) chopping up the Bible into unrelated bits. And while the Bible certainly can help in my everyday problems, this approach actually has contributed to my small understanding of the Bible. How?
If the Bible is only about what it can do for me in today’s perplexities, then I’m going to find it has a lot of gaps. There is very little in it about how to care for an adopted child with disabilities as she enters young adulthood. I’m not told much about how to plan for a future with her. The “ditch” passages are few. Most passages feel like a “canyon” to apply in my situation.
Not only that, when I chop up the Bible into bits, I fail to find encouragement in the overarching Story of Scripture. Instead of seeing my life as fulfilling part of God’s plan, I stay isolated in my own little world, cycling through my own problems and concerns. I fail to see how God is at work in me through my troubles and how he is fulfilling his purposes even as I struggle to live faithfully day to day. I forget that how I live for him today has ripple effects into eternity.
Reading the Bible As One Story
If I only watched the opening scenes of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, I might assume that it was a book about happy hobbits celebrating life. If I only watched the middle of the movie with its harrowing encounters with the blood-thirsty orcs, then I might think it’s a horror movie.
But if I remember that this is a story of a little hobbit and his friends, supported by a team of others, who is making his way to the dark lord’s territory to get rid of the ring of power and save all of Middle Earth, then each scene has a purpose. Whether he is running for his life or solving an enigma or enjoying a pint with his friends, each scene is moving him towards the greater end.
So it is with us. The Bible lays out for us where God has been and where He is going. He has shown us what He has done and what He will do. Considering where each passage is placed in historical context as well as understanding it in its literal context helps us to grasp what it means more precisely in the big picture in the moment it was happening. Considering when it was written helps us discern its purpose to the original readers.
Then we can apply it to our lives, not just the juicy bits, but as someone who is taking her place in the overarching story. Though the canon of Scripture is now closed, God’s Word, brought into my life, now can continue on in my particular life and context.
One day, my story here on earth will end. I hope that on that day, I will know that I have lived my life, not only according to God’s precepts or with faith in His doctrines. I pray that I will have taken my place in the grand Story and played my part. As I continue to brush my daughter’s hair or brush her teeth or clip her toenails, I want to know that I am playing a part in fulfilling God’s grand epic until the day He comes again.
Knowing that will change everything about how I understand the Word, live the Word, and use the Word to counsel others.
Action
Do any of the ways not to the read the Bible resonate with you? Think about the situation you named in the last post. Which Scriptural “solution” are you most tempted to hand to you (or other) right now: a do or don’t, a remedy, a timeless principle, a character example, or a doctrinal truth? Ask the Lord to help you remember that His Word is a grand Story and teach you how to understand each part of it in light of this Story.
