Today's question is: What in this first section of the book has challenged you the most? What questions or concerns has it raised for you?
I disagree with Borg about the Bible being an entirely human product. That's what Borg says and I don't agree. I do think it's possible for parts of the Bible to be inspired. However, I am not clear on which parts are and which parts aren't. I am ok with this ambiguity and know that others are not. That part of the book was a big challenge to me.
What about you. What has challenged you so far in Borg's book?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Which Christmas Story do you Want me to Tell?
Today's question is: Read the birth narratives of Jesus in the four gospels. What do you think each author wants us to know about Jesus by telling the story the way he does? How are the messages similar/different?
Wow. This is such a good exercise for us! The birth narratives are so different from one another. Each one emphasizes something different and reveals something about each community that produced that particular gospel.
Here's the quick and dirty on each of the birth narratives and what they might mean:
Matthew starts with a genealogy that traces Jesus, through King David, back to Abraham. It concludes with the visit from the Wise Men and the flight to Egypt. So, my bet is that Matthew's community wanted to emphasize the kingliness of Jesus.
Mark's gospel doesn't have a birth narrative. (Did you know that?) Instead, this gospel begins with John the Baptizer and the baptism of Jesus, two sentences about 40days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted, the launch of his ministry and calling the first disciples. Mark gets down to business. So, my hunch is that the Markian community wanted to emphasize Jesus' ministry and the urgency that surrounds it in the storytelling.
Luke's gospel gives the back story on the births of Jesus and John. This is the most magical of the birth narratives because it's the one with all the angels. Form Gabriel to the throngs of angels singing to the shepherds in the hills, this story is chalked full of them. That's why I think the Lukeian community wanted to emphasize the holiness of Jesus. At the same time, the emphasis on Mary uplifts his humanity and royalty - it's through Mary that Jesus' roots can be traced back to King David.
The gospel according to John also lacks a birth narrative. Instead, we find that beautiful poetry about the Word being with God. Without a doubt, the folks who wrote this gospel must have wanted to emphasize the divinity of Jesus the Savior.
Wow. This is such a good exercise for us! The birth narratives are so different from one another. Each one emphasizes something different and reveals something about each community that produced that particular gospel.
Here's the quick and dirty on each of the birth narratives and what they might mean:
Matthew starts with a genealogy that traces Jesus, through King David, back to Abraham. It concludes with the visit from the Wise Men and the flight to Egypt. So, my bet is that Matthew's community wanted to emphasize the kingliness of Jesus.
Mark's gospel doesn't have a birth narrative. (Did you know that?) Instead, this gospel begins with John the Baptizer and the baptism of Jesus, two sentences about 40days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted, the launch of his ministry and calling the first disciples. Mark gets down to business. So, my hunch is that the Markian community wanted to emphasize Jesus' ministry and the urgency that surrounds it in the storytelling.
Luke's gospel gives the back story on the births of Jesus and John. This is the most magical of the birth narratives because it's the one with all the angels. Form Gabriel to the throngs of angels singing to the shepherds in the hills, this story is chalked full of them. That's why I think the Lukeian community wanted to emphasize the holiness of Jesus. At the same time, the emphasis on Mary uplifts his humanity and royalty - it's through Mary that Jesus' roots can be traced back to King David.
The gospel according to John also lacks a birth narrative. Instead, we find that beautiful poetry about the Word being with God. Without a doubt, the folks who wrote this gospel must have wanted to emphasize the divinity of Jesus the Savior.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Not a Ouija Board....
How might Borg’s historical-metaphorical approach help you interpret a passage of scripture? How is it different than the way you have interpreted scripture in the past?
First, let's clarify what Borg means by historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture. When taking a historical approach, we should ask the question, "What did this text mean in the ancient historical setting in which it was written?" When taking a metaphorical approach, we should ask the question, "What does this story mean as a story, independent of its historical factuality?"
When we are taking a historical-metaphorical approach to scripture, we ask both questions. This is very different than how I used to read the Bible. I used to read the Bible wondering, "What is God saying to me, today, through these words, about this particular situation in which I find myself...?"
And, yes, the Spirit may add understanding to our reading of scripture, but, we should not confuse cracking open our Bible with cracking open a fortune cookie. See, the problem with my old approach is that I was treating the Bible like one of those fortune telling machines you find in arcades. Furthermore, the Bible is not a Ouija Board - we can't ask a question, randomly open the book and expect to find an answer. (Actually, we shouldn't expect to be able to do that with a Ouija Board either...but that's another story for another blog entry.
The Bible is a relevant tool we can and should employ to navigate faithful lives. But, we must do so knowing what this tool will and won't do. Using the historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture and avoiding reading the Bible like a our daily horoscope will help. Using this approach helps us utilize the Bible appropriately.
First, let's clarify what Borg means by historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture. When taking a historical approach, we should ask the question, "What did this text mean in the ancient historical setting in which it was written?" When taking a metaphorical approach, we should ask the question, "What does this story mean as a story, independent of its historical factuality?"
When we are taking a historical-metaphorical approach to scripture, we ask both questions. This is very different than how I used to read the Bible. I used to read the Bible wondering, "What is God saying to me, today, through these words, about this particular situation in which I find myself...?"
And, yes, the Spirit may add understanding to our reading of scripture, but, we should not confuse cracking open our Bible with cracking open a fortune cookie. See, the problem with my old approach is that I was treating the Bible like one of those fortune telling machines you find in arcades. Furthermore, the Bible is not a Ouija Board - we can't ask a question, randomly open the book and expect to find an answer. (Actually, we shouldn't expect to be able to do that with a Ouija Board either...but that's another story for another blog entry.
The Bible is a relevant tool we can and should employ to navigate faithful lives. But, we must do so knowing what this tool will and won't do. Using the historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture and avoiding reading the Bible like a our daily horoscope will help. Using this approach helps us utilize the Bible appropriately.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Unlocking History
Today's question is: The Historical approach focuses on the question, “What did this text mean in the ancient historical setting in which it was written?” The Metaphorical approach focuses on the question: What does this story mean as a story, independent of its historical factuality.” Which of these two approaches are you most/least comfortable with? Why?
I am very comfortable with the historical approach to scripture. However, I have a Masters of Divinity degree and minored in theology in undergrad. Learning about the importance of the historical approach to scripture and how to find such information was a regular part of my theological education. When we look through the lens of history, we find a depth and richness in the text that an otherwise cursory read would overlook.
The problem is this, if I were I lay person, I don't think I would be comfortable in this arena at all.
So - how can lay people get more comfortable unlocking the historical context of a text? It's all about the tools. For starters, everyone needs to have a good Bible. If you are still using the Bible that your church gave you in 1972, it's time to get a new one. And for goodness sake, if you are trying to read the King James version of the Bible, unless you like reading Shakespeare in your spare time, run, don't walk, to your local book seller and get a New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. When looking for an NRSV, I would suggest getting a study Bible with hearty footnotes. For the casual reader, all the historical background you will ever need will be in those footnotes. For the more curious reader, you can buy a good commentary, or check some online source like www.textweek.com.
When you begin to read the Bible with its historical context in mind, how does that change your reading and interpretation of it?
I am very comfortable with the historical approach to scripture. However, I have a Masters of Divinity degree and minored in theology in undergrad. Learning about the importance of the historical approach to scripture and how to find such information was a regular part of my theological education. When we look through the lens of history, we find a depth and richness in the text that an otherwise cursory read would overlook.
The problem is this, if I were I lay person, I don't think I would be comfortable in this arena at all.
So - how can lay people get more comfortable unlocking the historical context of a text? It's all about the tools. For starters, everyone needs to have a good Bible. If you are still using the Bible that your church gave you in 1972, it's time to get a new one. And for goodness sake, if you are trying to read the King James version of the Bible, unless you like reading Shakespeare in your spare time, run, don't walk, to your local book seller and get a New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. When looking for an NRSV, I would suggest getting a study Bible with hearty footnotes. For the casual reader, all the historical background you will ever need will be in those footnotes. For the more curious reader, you can buy a good commentary, or check some online source like www.textweek.com.
When you begin to read the Bible with its historical context in mind, how does that change your reading and interpretation of it?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Taking the Red Pill
Today's question is this: Borg concludes with three metaphors for seeing the bible (Finger Pointing the Moon, Lens, Sacrament). What metaphor would you use to describe the Bible? Complete the sentence: To me, the Bible is like...
To me, reading the Bible is like taking the red pill in "The Matrix". Now, if you haven't seen this movie, stick with me...and if you have, hear me out - the metaphor works, I promise.
In the movie "The Matrix", taking the red pill frees a person from the Matrix, a computer-generated world within which people, unknowingly, live their entire lives. If you take a red pill, you'll be awakened from the Matrix to the truth of reality. If you take the blue pill, you'll still be connected to the Matrix and remain blissfully ignorant in the midst of the grand illusion.
Reading the Bible, for me, is like taking the red pill: it enables us to see the world form God's point of view -- from the viewpoint of God's greater justice and mercy. We get to see the world from Jesus' point of view -- from the viewpoint of one who insisted upon loving our neighbors and our enemies. Most importantly, instead of seeing the world from the viewpoint of consumerism, which has become the overriding qualifier of what it means to be American in 21st century life, we see the world from the viewpoint of God's preferential love for the poor. If God cares for the poor, then we, as lovers of God, must figure out how we will care for the poor of the world. When we figure out that this is one of the biggest responsibilities of the faithful, the whole world changes.
So, which pill will you be swallowing?
To me, reading the Bible is like taking the red pill in "The Matrix". Now, if you haven't seen this movie, stick with me...and if you have, hear me out - the metaphor works, I promise.
In the movie "The Matrix", taking the red pill frees a person from the Matrix, a computer-generated world within which people, unknowingly, live their entire lives. If you take a red pill, you'll be awakened from the Matrix to the truth of reality. If you take the blue pill, you'll still be connected to the Matrix and remain blissfully ignorant in the midst of the grand illusion.
Reading the Bible, for me, is like taking the red pill: it enables us to see the world form God's point of view -- from the viewpoint of God's greater justice and mercy. We get to see the world from Jesus' point of view -- from the viewpoint of one who insisted upon loving our neighbors and our enemies. Most importantly, instead of seeing the world from the viewpoint of consumerism, which has become the overriding qualifier of what it means to be American in 21st century life, we see the world from the viewpoint of God's preferential love for the poor. If God cares for the poor, then we, as lovers of God, must figure out how we will care for the poor of the world. When we figure out that this is one of the biggest responsibilities of the faithful, the whole world changes.
So, which pill will you be swallowing?
With a Capital "W"
Today's question is: What does it mean for you to call the Bible “the Word of God?” What doesn’t it mean for you?
Flipping through an art history book long ago, I came across a painting of Saint so-and-so writing the Bible. In this depiction, an ethereal hand reaches down out of the heavens. It grasps the saint's hand and the quill pen therein. The painting was commissioned as a teaching tool - to let the common folk know that this book contained The Word of God as written by God himself.
This is not what I think of when I think of the Bible being The Word of God with a capital "W".
When I think of the Bible being the Word of God, I think of the millions of faithful people who, for millenia, have looked to the words of the Bible to reveal something about the "character and will of God" as Marcus Borg puts it. In those stories, letters and poems, there are profound glimpses of who God is, how God works, what we can expect from God, and what God expects of us.
Flipping through an art history book long ago, I came across a painting of Saint so-and-so writing the Bible. In this depiction, an ethereal hand reaches down out of the heavens. It grasps the saint's hand and the quill pen therein. The painting was commissioned as a teaching tool - to let the common folk know that this book contained The Word of God as written by God himself.
This is not what I think of when I think of the Bible being The Word of God with a capital "W".
When I think of the Bible being the Word of God, I think of the millions of faithful people who, for millenia, have looked to the words of the Bible to reveal something about the "character and will of God" as Marcus Borg puts it. In those stories, letters and poems, there are profound glimpses of who God is, how God works, what we can expect from God, and what God expects of us.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sacred Contextual Texts
Today's question is: Does scripture ever function as a sacrament in your life? What helps you listen for the Spirit of God speaking through the words of the biblical text?
Have you ever been driving along, listening to the radio and, all of a sudden, the perfect song comes on? The song seems to fit the exact moment of life you are living in, as if some divine intervention was at work when the DJ picked the next tune. It's like those words were written just for you. When that happens with scripture, that's when the text becomes sacramental for me.
In order to listen for the Spirit of God speaking through the words of the biblical text, I have to start new every time. I have to stop thinking that I know what this particular passage is about, forget that I've read it before, and start over. I have to have an open mind and open heart. But, I also have to bring my life to the text and be willing to let the text speak to me and my situation in life. In other words, I have to provide my own context in which to hear the text. Again, when I do that, there is a sense that the text really is speaking to me.
Have you ever been driving along, listening to the radio and, all of a sudden, the perfect song comes on? The song seems to fit the exact moment of life you are living in, as if some divine intervention was at work when the DJ picked the next tune. It's like those words were written just for you. When that happens with scripture, that's when the text becomes sacramental for me.
In order to listen for the Spirit of God speaking through the words of the biblical text, I have to start new every time. I have to stop thinking that I know what this particular passage is about, forget that I've read it before, and start over. I have to have an open mind and open heart. But, I also have to bring my life to the text and be willing to let the text speak to me and my situation in life. In other words, I have to provide my own context in which to hear the text. Again, when I do that, there is a sense that the text really is speaking to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)