111. The Idolatry of the Bible

2 Timothy 3:16&17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The last installment on this series of that which we idolize in our spirituality is the bible.  And before I get going let me be clear, I have a reverence for scripture.  I agree with the verse in 2 Timothy.  My faith is largely based on scripture.  I also see what 2 Tim 3:16 & 17 does NOT say. First, my understanding is that this passage would refer to the Old Testament – the Jewish scriptures, but for argument sake, I include the New Testament. Second, it states that scripture is inspired – God breathed, not that it is without errors. Third, it also does NOT say that all scripture is literal.

              Yet, through the doctrine of inerrancy we have made the bible part of divinity.  We have given the Bible the same stature as God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  We use our interpretation of scripture as being the direct decree of God.  I have previously discussed how we pick and choose from the Bible.  This carries it one step further.  That what I pick and choose is the way it is – God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.

              There is only one problem with this approach.  It is utter nonsense.

First, scripture itself is not inerrant.  There a number of mistakes in it, and some quite significant.  The census that is used for the cause of why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem did not happen when scripture says it did.  And while that may not change the significance of the story, it does alter it.  As well, the question then is asked if that was not accurate, what else is not accurate?

        The census is discussed here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_of_Quirinius

         Second, the bible was written in three different languages, by dozens of different authors.  Some of the recordings are centuries after the events happened. Some of the Bible was written by committee.  But none, not one word, was written for the context of present day North America.  Further, not one word, jottle, tittle, or dot, was written to you.  

              Third, a concerning number of Christians do not read the thing.  The reading of scripture is left to others to do. 

              Far too often, the entire concept of the inerrancy of the bible is nothing more than theological bullying.  It ends the entire conversation. To use one of my favorites examples, the doctrine of penal substitution. Often when I challenge this doctrine, I am dealt with as though my faith is questionable.  Yet, when I offer verses that challenge this doctrine I am shut down by stating my understanding of scripture is lacking – and therein lies a subtle truth.

Let’s forgo the entire argument about biblical inerrancy. For the sake of this entry I will go one step further than scripture being God inspired – let’s say that it is God dictated.  Thus, as you read scripture it is from the mouth of God, to the ear of the writer, to the paper.  Thus the entire Bible is without error. 

              Even with that being the case, as you read, you interpret.  One's own experiences, biases, and understandings shape what we read. That is a good as it gets.  One time when I was being corrected on my misunderstanding of the doctrine of hell, the person correcting me offered to tell me what Paul meant by a specific verse.  And in all fairness to the person involved, I do the same.  I would imagine that you might do so as well.

              I stopped the person and asked them if they had written the verse. Of course not! I then asked if the verse was written to them.  Of course not!  The person was none to pleased with me when I countered that they could not explain what Paul meant.  The best the person could do was offer me an interpretation of the verse.  And the best we can do is not be wrong.

But as with the other aspects of where we engage in idolatry, we in fact limit God.  God is not made better, bigger, more loving or compassionate by the doctrine of inerrancy.  When the answers aren’t clear, when scripture is questioned and challenged is when our faith has an opportunity to flourish and grow.      It is in the prayerful contemplation of why would God do this?  Was that simply how it seemed to the people who were writing it?  How does this impact my striving to be a good Christian?  These and other questions, and the answers, is where I believe I meet God. 

              Karen Armstrong, whose journey of faith has been as convoluted as my own, talks of the point of scripture is often to read it until the Grace of God can been seen.  She then adds that sometimes it takes longer to see the Grace of God in some verses.