Spiritual Hiccups - The Bible Tells Me So

I saw an opinion piece in the newspaper the other day discussing the "truth" of the biblical Christmas story.  The author, who argued for the historical truth of the Luke nativity story, seemed unaware of the conflict between Matthew and Luke regarding Jesus' origins.  (Both writers say Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but Luke has the family come to Bethlehem because of a Roman registration while Matthew assumes they are residents of Bethlehem who end up in Nazareth only because of the threat from Herod.)  But of more concern to me, the opinion piece seemed not to appreciate some basic problems inherent in "believing" the Bible.

Such problems are on display in today's reading from John.  Jesus' opponents use Scripture to buttress their argument that he cannot be the Messiah.  "Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."  Like many modern day arguments that end with, "See, it's right there in the Bible," the religious authorities of Jesus' day find proof positive right there in the Bible.

I've always loved the ordination vows my denomination uses for pastors, elders, and deacons.  The first speaks of Jesus as Lord of all and Head of the Church, and the one through whom we know the triune God.  The second speaks of the Old and New Testament as "the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ..."  These vows call me to follow Jesus as I see him revealed in Scripture.  And that is a bit different than simply believing the Bible or using it as a proof text.

My Reformed/Calvinist tradition has also seen idolatry as one of the more fundamental human problems.  We are forever substituting things other than God for God.  And sometimes Christians do this with the Bible.  We can use Scripture to confine God within the limits that we find comfortable.  We can use Scripture to create God in our image.

This is a temptation for all of us, regardless of denomination or religious leanings.  And there is no easy solution.  But fighting this tendency requires a much greater knowledge of the Bible than most of us have.  It requires us to listen to the larger witness of Scripture so that we get the best possible picture of Jesus as he is witnessed to there.  And it requires a real humility about our own certainties, so that are open to the surprising and amazing ways in which God comes to us.  Otherwise, we could find ourselves rejecting the living Christ just like the religious leaders in our gospel today.  "Oh, that can't be God.  See, it says so right here in the Bible."

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