"We need to be reasonable when we approach scripture, but we submit our reason to its revelation" (Charles Price)
This is a quotation I heard a while back and it kinda stuck with me. What does it mean?
I think what Paster Price is trying to explain is that we don't always take scripture literally or at face value. To do so would be foolish and not good exegetical practice and here is an example why? For instance in a number of places throughout the Psalms, God is described as a Rock. In Psalm 28 David says..... "To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me." Does this mean David worshiped a stone? Of course not! He is saying, that God is like a Rock, he is strong and unshakable. A literal understanding of this scripture would be most unreasonable. This is a very basic example but in some circumstances we can confuse various passages of scripture and can argue over smaller things and miss the more vital truths.
We must approach scripture prayerfully. We need to ask for the Lords help in our reading of His word so that we may understand what it says, means and what God is saying to us. By prayerfully approaching the Scripture we are acknowledging the need for God and reliance on Him in our understanding. This is where our reason needs to submit to the scriptures revelation. It is through Gods Power that the Holy Spirit reveals things in the bible to us and in fact the very scripture is a revelation, as it is Gods word to us. The scripture reveals Jesus to us and he shows us the way to the Father........ (John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So we need to submit to Jesus and give our lives to him as there is no other way to Salvation.
Being reasonable in our study and interpretation of scripture is very important but that is not where we should stop. There should also be the working of the Holy Spirit in our interpretation and we need to allow him to speak through the word and to reveal to us all that God is saying.
Is that an intertextual echo from 'Three Questions' that I'm reading?: "...that we may understand what it says, means and what God is saying to us."
ReplyDeleteWho would have guessed that good methods of hermeneutics were being drilled into us through the medium of a kids song?