Bible interpretation is not something Bob the bloodhound always agree with me (Tim) on. He sometimes doesn’t like what I say on the subject of interpreting Holy Scripture. In fact, there are times I get under his skin (which isn’t very hard to do – Bob has lots of skin).
The matter of bible interpretation is an important discussion. No matter which Christian tradition we come from, there is disagreement as to how to deal with certain Bible verses. Even most parishioners within the same local church do not agree on how to treat particular passages of Scripture.
The Real Issue of Bible Interpretation
Just so you know, I was trained in a seminary that largely looked through the lens or the starting point of biblical authority, as if we had the right view on it all. Biblical authority, however, is not really the issue, in my opinion. Before you pick up stones, hear me out. The issue, as I see it, is this:
No matter who we are, we pick and choose what Bible passages are authoritative, and which are not.
Although Christians say the Bible is authoritative, we all have what I would deem as “boss verses.” That is, verses which control other verses. For example, I take Matthew 28:18-20 as “boss verses” that control other verses. The words of Jesus from those verses help me interpret and view other Bible verses. Because of this, I am not willing to concede that the mission of the church is primarily about something other than making disciples.
An Example
Okay, you might be with me so far. So, let’s pick a hot potato: LGBTQ+ folks and the Church. When it comes to same-sex relationships, it seems to me that there are those who take seven verses out of the over thirty-one thousand verses in Scripture and make them boss verses.
Even if we camp on verses where the word “abomination” shows up, it only ends up talking of same-sex relations once. Things like worry, procrastination, and gossip are addressed much more in Scripture and are also much more prevalent everywhere. But we do not make “boss verses” out of these, so we pretty much let them slide.
I’m not seeing Christians, Churches, or denominations talking about biblical authority and sins of the tongue in the same breath; or, looking to bring discipline to gossipers; or, getting upset about chronic whisperings behind others’ backs. Instead, we mostly just live with it. We wish it were different, but it doesn’t make our blood boil. If gossip began to take away our power or authority, then I am sure it would make it to the floor of denominational meetings and annual congregational meeting scream-festivals.
Who or What Is in Control?
All Christians hold to biblical authority. To me, this is not the issue. The real issue is which Bible passages call the shots for us.
Until we are able to confess this bible interpretation practice of particular verses controlling other verses, it seems to me we will get nowhere.
So, in the meantime, I would rather be looked at as a friend of gays. Because that controls my thought and practice more than injunctions from the book of Leviticus.
I take loving my neighbor as a boss verse, so this determines how I speak and act more than whether I speak in tongues or not. I will choose to go out of my way to emphasize that all people are made in the image of God, because I take the Bible’s reference to God’s creation of humans as a boss verse. This does not mean I ignore other verses; it just means I have identified which verses of Holy Scripture I believe control other verses.
Let’s Be Honest about Our Bible Interpretation
I am really not trying to stir the pot (Bob differs with me on this!). I am simply making a plea for us to be honest about how we handle the Bible.
And if we have never read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation (and more than once) then it seems to me we are thin ice to make pronouncements about what are to be the boss verses or what is the clear teaching of Scripture.
If you need to go pet your own dog after reading this, I understand. I hope he or she is lot more furry than Bob. Please just do me the respect to think about these things without jumping to conclusions or condemnation. After all, I believe that grace and love are the boss of everything in the Bible, and control how we ought to do our bible interpretation.