NEWS OF COMING DISTRACTIONS
I've just subscribed to Christianity Today, the leading evangelical publication, and the one most recognized for intellectual respectability. It was started by Billy Graham, over fifty years ago. Speaking of Mr. Graham, an excellent cover story in a recent Newsweek told of the famous evangelist's movement in his later years away from the strict Biblical literalism that had characterized so much of his ministry. The same thing has happened to me. My seminary training was in an ultra-conservative
bastion of pre-millenial, pre-tribulational orthodoxy (Dallas Theological Seminary).
I have nothing but the warmest regards and deepest respect for those folks, but our
paths have diverged in understanding the Bible.
St. Augustine said, "discern the times, and the Scriptures harmonize." That's good advice. I would add: "understand the trope (figure of speech) and keep your hope." You might keep more than your hope (faith), actually. Origen, one of the great early church fathers, was tormented by his sexual urges, and had himself castrated. You know, it says, "if your hand offends you, cut it off. If your eye offends you, pluck it out," and so on. As he got older and wiser, he regretted that decision, and became leery of literalism in scriptural interpretation. He realized that not everything is meant to be taken literally. Sometimes hyperbole may be used to make a point. Origen was one of the Church's great intellects, and became a leader in understanding the Bible metaphorically and figuratively. He came before St. Augustine, and had a great influence on him.
The great divide in Protestantism today is between the literalists and the "spiritualizers," who look for a deeper and often metaphorical interpretation. Jesus confronted that division in his time, when he accused the Pharasees of following the letter of the law and missing its deeper meaning. The "fundamentalists" (and the same division is found in Islam as well) say that truth doesn't change. They are right, of course: how could it? What does change is our understanding of it. That's what Billy Graham was bearing witness to in Newsweek. When my Christianity Today
subscription kicks in in a few weeks, I'll probably take issue with something in each issue. More on that later.
Your suggestions welcome: jgoodwin004@centuryTel.net
I've just subscribed to Christianity Today, the leading evangelical publication, and the one most recognized for intellectual respectability. It was started by Billy Graham, over fifty years ago. Speaking of Mr. Graham, an excellent cover story in a recent Newsweek told of the famous evangelist's movement in his later years away from the strict Biblical literalism that had characterized so much of his ministry. The same thing has happened to me. My seminary training was in an ultra-conservative
bastion of pre-millenial, pre-tribulational orthodoxy (Dallas Theological Seminary).
I have nothing but the warmest regards and deepest respect for those folks, but our
paths have diverged in understanding the Bible.
St. Augustine said, "discern the times, and the Scriptures harmonize." That's good advice. I would add: "understand the trope (figure of speech) and keep your hope." You might keep more than your hope (faith), actually. Origen, one of the great early church fathers, was tormented by his sexual urges, and had himself castrated. You know, it says, "if your hand offends you, cut it off. If your eye offends you, pluck it out," and so on. As he got older and wiser, he regretted that decision, and became leery of literalism in scriptural interpretation. He realized that not everything is meant to be taken literally. Sometimes hyperbole may be used to make a point. Origen was one of the Church's great intellects, and became a leader in understanding the Bible metaphorically and figuratively. He came before St. Augustine, and had a great influence on him.
The great divide in Protestantism today is between the literalists and the "spiritualizers," who look for a deeper and often metaphorical interpretation. Jesus confronted that division in his time, when he accused the Pharasees of following the letter of the law and missing its deeper meaning. The "fundamentalists" (and the same division is found in Islam as well) say that truth doesn't change. They are right, of course: how could it? What does change is our understanding of it. That's what Billy Graham was bearing witness to in Newsweek. When my Christianity Today
subscription kicks in in a few weeks, I'll probably take issue with something in each issue. More on that later.
Your suggestions welcome: jgoodwin004@centuryTel.net
posted by John Goodwin at
10:44 PM
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