I admit there are parts of the Bible I have skimmed over, and there have been quiet times where I’ve felt like what I’m reading isn’t useful. I’ve been distracted or have simply felt like there’s a block in my mind or my understanding, or like God is particularly silent or distant that day.
Even before listening to a SATS panel discussion on reading the Bible responsibly, I had become aware of different experiences during my quiet times and/or time spent reading the Bible. Sometimes, I’d approach God and his word with a completely open mind; sometimes, I’d come to him looking for a specific answer (We humans can be demanding and self-centered at times, can’t we?); and sometimes, I’d even dismiss a verse or passage as irrelevant. Although my desire is to be Spirit-led, as an imperfect human being, I fall short.
So how do we overcome these human shortcomings? And how do we approach texts that are hard to understand or downright uncomfortable? To read the Bible responsibly, we should approach it prayerfully, we should ask the Spirit for guidance, and we shouldn’t forget to read in community and learn from one another.
Philemon is one such challenging book. When I read Philemon a few years ago during a Bible-in-a-year challenge, I read at such a pace that I did not digest it—and had forgotten about it, even, until watching a recent SATS symposium which tackled it. I hadn’t considered how the context of the story and letter—specifically, its reference to slavery—could be problematic. Another example of a challenging passage is the rape of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13. Why is there a story of a rape in the Bible?
The most important thing to remember is that we don’t walk away from texts that we don’t understand or texts that are uncomfortable. The panelists on the SATS symposium covering Responsible Bible Interpretation suggested approaching these texts in the following way:
- Ask questions
- Be careful of reading literally
- Be patient
- Ask the Spirit for guidance
- Be aware of opinions you are bringing to the text
- Don’t impose your own assumptions on the text
- Allow the text to invite you in
- Seek to understand the context
- Take small steps
- Don’t give up.
Another wonderful tool at our disposal is the people around us. The beauty of the Church being a global community is that it gives us the opportunity to experience each other’s realities. In this multicultural context, paying attention to what is not normally within our frame of reference gives us a new perspective. This is such an important part of reading the Bible responsibly: Taking note of and appreciating the understanding of others in turn enriches our own. What a lovely example of the unity that God has accomplished through Jesus Christ.
A common thread woven through all of the above tools—as well as reading the Bible in community—is the need for humility and a heart that seeks to understand. There’s a part of me that’s thankful I don’t have all the answers and am not expected to. It reminds me how small I am and how big God is, and I find that comforting when there are things either in his word or in my life that I don’t understand.
With that in mind, let’s remember to pray each and every time we approach God’s word, asking the Spirit to prepare our hearts for what God wants to teach us that day.
- Follow this link to watch the full panel discussion on responsible Bible interpretation.
- If you’d like to learn more about reading the Bible in context, start with this related blog article. (Click Here).
- The SATS symposium on Philemon, Onesimus, and cruciformity can be found here; and a related blog article on the subject can be found here.
- Don’t hesitate to contact SATS for further information here.
Short Bio: Carrie Milton is a veterinarian and language practitioner. After completing her Bachelor of Veterinary Science and working with a variety of animals for a number of years, she reawakened her love for the written word. Accredited by the Professional Editors’ Guild, she has tried her hand at everything from theses to fiction
