As Christmas approaches, I want to turn my attention to the Biblical narrative. Up until this point in the series, we’ve been talking primarily about emotional challenges that can come charging to the surface during this season. Frankly, it is much easier for me, in this season of my life, to talk about emotions than about the Bible.
The Bible, for me, was one of the defining factors in the beginning of my own deconstruction. I had always viewed the Bible as an instruction manual, a rubric, and a template on which to make decisions, judge behaviors, and set priorities. For those of you who may still view it in this way, you’ll find no judgement or condescension from me. I would, however, invite you to try on some new glasses – some new ways of seeing – even if it is just for the next fifteen days. We’ll dive into the stories Jesus’ birth, some cultural context surrounding the stories, and ways in which Christians have interpreted these stories over the years.
First, however, I want to spend a couple of days talking about different lenses with which we can view the Biblical stories – to set the frame for what’s to come.
I’ll start with me (because mine is the only story I intimately enough to share). The embedded concept of Bible as rubric, template, and instruction manual relied on a few deeply-held underlying assumptions. There was the assumption that God verbally inspired these words…meaning, there was no humanity in them…it was all divinity. Sure, human authors wrote the words down for us – but they had no control in what was said or how it was said. Second, there was the assumption that the words and stories written were prescriptive – meaning that they set up standards, rules, and instructions that would last forever. They were not written for a particular culture or a particular time, but for all cultures and all times. I also had the assumption that the Bible, in the form I viewed it in the early 2000’s, was consistent with the form and content from its inception.
And then I became a religion major. And I had to learn about authorship controversies, dating (no…not romantic dating…but when the words were written down), canonization and the controversies there-in (which books were “in” and which books were “out”). It was at this point that I had to face my assumptions. First, it was important for me to become aware of my assumptions. Second, I needed to take a critical look at the assumptions I held. How did my current social, political, geographical, and cultural location influence these assumptions? Have these assumptions existed consistently throughout the history of Christianity (no…) and if not, then how did they originate? What are some of the different views Christians have held about scripture throughout history? What about before Christianity – how did one relate or understand the scriptures (or the TORAH) in light of purpose, form, function, etc.
And these questions were really hard to address. It was emotionally tumultuous and psychologically insecure. But these were important questions to consider.
More to come tomorrow…stay with me. In the mean time – what are some of the assumptions you hold about the Bible? Where did those assumptions originate for you? In what ways have those assumptions been challenged over your lifetime?
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
{re}image 