Link (Archive)
Keeping in mind, that Scripture was used to justify the crucifixion of Jesus, and, seeing as how we worship a crucified Lord, we, of all people, should oppose the misuse of the Bible to injure people.
Ever since I watched in dismay as then President Trump waved a Bible above his head outside the Episcopal Church in Washington, D. C., I have thought there ought to be warning labels on the holy book of the church. “Don’t do that with the Bible.”
Trump raised the Bible as if the book alone, in his hands, and turned upside down, by the way, was enough to justify the menacing mistreatment of protestors. The Bible used as a license to bully, abuse, and oppress free expression of American citizens screams “Unjust.”
That’s the theme: There ought to be warning labels on the Bible. All the side effects should be listed. The dangers of misusing the Bible should be delineated. Slap on the warming labels. Here is a suggested sample:
Warning labels will benefit those readers who come to the Bible with the assumption that a book filled mostly with symbolic language is somehow literal. Warning labels will help prevent “proof texting.” Whenever the Bible gets hijacked to appear that it aligns with human prejudices, assumptions, and false beliefs, we are in trouble. Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis says, “Using the text to confirm our presuppositions is sinful; it is an act of resistance against God’s fresh speaking to us, an effective denial that the Bible is the living word of God.”
Nine Theses for Interpreting Scripture
In The Art of Reading Scripture, the story of a group of scholars involved in “The Scripture Project,” there are “Nine Theses on the Interpretation of Scripture.” Each thesis guards against using the Bible in dangerous and harmful ways.
Following these guidelines for interpretating Scripture and being aware of the warning labels that attach to any reading of the Bible, I reached a series of conclusions.
A Prayer for Faithful Bible Reading
As the congregation I serve prays prior to the reading of the lectionary lessons for the day:
Almighty God, enable us to know that this is the Church’s Bible and it contains your guidance for our lives. Teach us again that the Bible tells the truth about God. Help us know that the four Gospels tell the truth about Jesus. As we read the Bible together as God’s people may God’s Word be a light to our path. With boldness, we sit under the authority of your word and will engage in the faithful interpretation of the Bible. We will gladly hear the Word with open minds and full hearts guided by the Holy Spirit. We commit to you that together we will hear and do the Word from God as a faithful and obedient people. Amen.
Put Warning Labels on the Bible
Warning labels cover every package of every product we purchase. A country singer has even crooned, “They ought to put warning labels on those sad country songs.” By definition a, warning label is a label attached to a product, or contained in a product’s instruction manual, warning the user about risks associated with its use. When I survey the ways the Bible has been used to hurt, demean, and dehumanize Others, while promoting the most disgusting kinds of exclusion, I’m tempted to believe that it’s time for warning labels on the Bible. “DON’T DO THAT WITH THE BIBLE.” This book is not intended as a weapon in the culture wars of the USA. The Bible is not an actual sword. This book should never be used to hurt, injure, maim, or kill anyone under any circumstance.Keeping in mind, that Scripture was used to justify the crucifixion of Jesus, and, seeing as how we worship a crucified Lord, we, of all people, should oppose the misuse of the Bible to injure people.
Ever since I watched in dismay as then President Trump waved a Bible above his head outside the Episcopal Church in Washington, D. C., I have thought there ought to be warning labels on the holy book of the church. “Don’t do that with the Bible.”
Trump raised the Bible as if the book alone, in his hands, and turned upside down, by the way, was enough to justify the menacing mistreatment of protestors. The Bible used as a license to bully, abuse, and oppress free expression of American citizens screams “Unjust.”
That’s the theme: There ought to be warning labels on the Bible. All the side effects should be listed. The dangers of misusing the Bible should be delineated. Slap on the warming labels. Here is a suggested sample:
Warning labels will benefit those readers who come to the Bible with the assumption that a book filled mostly with symbolic language is somehow literal. Warning labels will help prevent “proof texting.” Whenever the Bible gets hijacked to appear that it aligns with human prejudices, assumptions, and false beliefs, we are in trouble. Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis says, “Using the text to confirm our presuppositions is sinful; it is an act of resistance against God’s fresh speaking to us, an effective denial that the Bible is the living word of God.”
Nine Theses for Interpreting Scripture
In The Art of Reading Scripture, the story of a group of scholars involved in “The Scripture Project,” there are “Nine Theses on the Interpretation of Scripture.” Each thesis guards against using the Bible in dangerous and harmful ways.
- Scripture truthfully tells the story of God’s action of creating, judging and saving the world.
- Scripture is rightly understood in light of the church’s rule of faith as a coherent dramatic narrative.
- Faithful interpretation of Scripture requires an engagement with the entire narrative.
- Texts of Scripture do not have a single meaning limited to the intent of the original author.
- The four canonical gospels narrate the truth about Jesus.
- Faithful interpretation of Scripture invites and presupposes participation in the church.
- The saints of the church provide guidance in how to interpret and perform the Scripture.
- Christians need to read the Bible in dialogue with diverse others outside the church.
- Scripture calls the church to continually fresh rereadings of the text in light of the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in the world.
Following these guidelines for interpretating Scripture and being aware of the warning labels that attach to any reading of the Bible, I reached a series of conclusions.
- The Bible is not an advocate or promoter of Christian Nationalism. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- The Bible celebrates creation, but not creationism. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- Rejecting women in ministry. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- Denying climate change. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- Denying evolution and science. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- Building a wall to shut out immigrants. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- Supporting a serial liar and indicted candidate. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- The rapture. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- America founded by God as a Christian nation. Don’t do that with the Bible.
- Demonizing the LGTQ community. Don’t do that with the Bible.
A Prayer for Faithful Bible Reading
As the congregation I serve prays prior to the reading of the lectionary lessons for the day:
Almighty God, enable us to know that this is the Church’s Bible and it contains your guidance for our lives. Teach us again that the Bible tells the truth about God. Help us know that the four Gospels tell the truth about Jesus. As we read the Bible together as God’s people may God’s Word be a light to our path. With boldness, we sit under the authority of your word and will engage in the faithful interpretation of the Bible. We will gladly hear the Word with open minds and full hearts guided by the Holy Spirit. We commit to you that together we will hear and do the Word from God as a faithful and obedient people. Amen.
