The Bible Does Not Read Like a Myth or Fairy Tale

This is post number six in my ten-part series entitled Church, Bible, and Interpretation - It's Not So Simple.

The scriptures are a great gift from God to us, His church. We have the wonderful and sometimes daunting task of interpreting the Bible the way God wants it interpreted. The writers of scripture meant certain things. We need to understand what they intended. It's my goal in this series to help however I can.

One consistent claim that haters of the scriptures make is that it reads like a myth or fairy tale. I sometimes wonder if those who make this claim have ever bothered to actually read the Bible. Their claim fails on many fronts. I bring up this issue because we, as readers, must understand that the Bible not only is not a fairy tale, but it doesn't read like one either. Rather, the scriptures read much more like actual happenings in space and time. That's because what we are reading did occur in space and time (eyewitness accounts).

To claim that the Bible is a myth or fairy tale requires that the one making the claim rule out the supernatural completely. In light of the relative insignificance of human beings in the scope of the universe, this is a staggeringly arrogant claim. Who is man to say that God does not exist? Man cannot possibly know enough to even make this claim.

When we read the Bible we run into the most important person who ever lived - Jesus Christ. He does not seem like a crazy person or fraud. He also doesn't act like a wizard or magician. Rather, he appears to be a normal person who happens to be very nice, care for people, and make some astounding claims. Jesus has an aura of reality and believability. A fair reading of scripture forces us to deal with this real person. That's not only because Jesus is real, but also because the Bible is written as a historical record, not a myth.

Myths and fairy tales do not have written records from thousands of years ago. The Bible does.

Myths and fairy tales change over time. The Bible does not.

People do not die for fairy tales. Many Christians have been slaughtered for standing up for the Bible.

We can be confident that the Bible is true. It is a written record of God's revelation to us. It describes real things happening in specific places at specific times in history. At its most basic level it is a book that is believable. When we read the Bible let's not interpret it as if it is some sort of fairy tale or myth. It was not intended as such. Rather, we must read and interpret it for what it is: God's record of His amazing acts in history, centering upon our glorious Lord.

The Biblical Text Has Meaning; We Do Not Bring Our Own Meaning To It

This is the third post in my blog series entitled Church, Bible, and Interpretation - It's Not So Simple.

Postmodernism has swept through our society over the past half-century leaving a trail of destruction in its path. Postmodern thought is essentially a rejection of modern thought. Objectivity has given way to subjectivity. Absolute truth has been rejected as old-fashioned. Postmodernists scoff at the idea of meta-narratives. Instead of the focus being outside of self, postmodernity emphasizes personal feelings and opinions.

One critical aspect of postmodernism is the idea that the reader of a book brings meaning to the text. In essence, this allows the reader to determine what any book means based upon the reader's own background, presuppositions, political leanings, beliefs, etc. This doesn't really matter if someone is reading something of little significance like this. However, it's fairly obvious how troublesome postmodernism is when it comes to Biblical interpretation.

Many churches and denominations have happily embraced the idea of the reader bringing their own meaning to the scriptures. This allows them to say that the Bible means whatever they want it to mean. In this way folks who claim to be followers of Christ can reject straightforward scriptural teachings on issues such as the atonement, homosexuality, women's roles, etc.

The problem with this line of thinking is that it reduces the Bible, or any other book for that matter, to meaninglessness.

The Bible is not a postmodern book. The Bible is also not a modern book. The Bible is an ancient book. It is an ancient one that remains meaningful and relevant for today. Its meaning and relevance stem from the fact that the text has objective meaning. A basic reading of the scriptures shows that The Biblical Writers Meant What They Said and The Bible is a Book That is Meant to be Understood. The writers meant certain things that had meaning then and have meaning now.

When we read the Bible at no point is there any suggestion that we ought to bring our own meaning to the text. Frankly, that idea is just ridiculous. God has spoken through the pages of scripture. He means what He means. It is our duty to responsibly interpret the Bible to comprehend what God means.

God gave meaning to the Bible. We do not bring our own to it.

What I'm Reading and Will Be Reading

I'm currently working my way through two very different books. The first, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, is Urban Legends of the New Testament. The book deals quite a bit with interpretive issues, in particular the critical importance of context.

I've also begun reading George Orwell's classic 1984. Somehow I've never read this one. In light of our current age, filled with political correctness and thought police, it seemed appropriate.

I'll post about each book when I finish them, but since I work a lot, run almost every day, and read slowly it will be a while before I conclude either one.

Additionally, I've ordered two books that will be arriving within the next few weeks: Unoffendable and Christ Alone: Five Challenges Every Group Will Face.

Looking Forward to Reading This Book!

This just arrived. I can't wait to read it! Dave Black said he was enjoying it; that's good enough for me.

Twenty Books That Have Deeply Impacted My Life

I'm guessing that you like to read. So do I. The following are twenty books that have, for one reason or another, had a significant impact upon me. This is simply a list; if you'd like me to expand on why any particular book had its impact, please ask in the comments. Additionally, if you like you can comment leaving your own list of books that have changed you.

In alphabetical order by title:

Christ in the Passover, by Ceil and Moishe Rosen

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer

Fight: A Christian Case for Non-Violence, by Preston Sprinkle

The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis

The Holiness of God, by R.C. Sproul

House Church: Simple-Strategic-Scriptural, by Steve Atkerson

How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil, by D.A. Carson

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will, by Kevin DeYoung

I Kissed Dating Goodbye, by Joshua Harris

Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions, by John Piper

Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

The Myth of Adolescence: Raising Responsible Children in an Irresponsible Society, by David Alan Black

Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices, by Frank Viola and George Barna

The Pilgrim Church, by E.H. Broadbent

The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan

The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God, by John Piper

Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity, by Frank Viola

Through the Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot

To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson, by Courtney Anderson

When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community, by Joseph Hellerman

"7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave"

A few weeks ago my good friend Norm gave me a copy of 7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave. Since I knew I was soon flying to India, I also knew that I would have some travel time to read. During my time in the air and on the ground I completed and greatly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

The author, Dave Breese, looks at the lives, influences, and writings of seven men whose ideas still rule much of today's thinking around the world, especially in the West. The seven men are Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Julius Wellhausen, John Dewey, Sigmund Freud, John Keynes, and Soren Kierkegaard. Each of these men has, in his own way, deeply impacted the culture in which we live; this despite the fact that all seven have been dead for decades.

This book reminds us that ideas have consequences. For example, Marx's flawed view of human nature, government, and economics directly led to the murder of many millions of people in the Soviet Union and communist China. Freud's thinking on human sexuality directed the path to the "sexual revolution" of the 1960's. Wellhausen, one of the first German biblical critics, destroyed high education's view of the truth of scripture. Dewey is in large part responsible for the travesty that has become the public school system today. Many of President Obama's decisions today descend directly from Keynes, who was one of the first proponents of bigger government.

As for Charles Darwin, his thinking reigns supreme at all education levels in our society today. To even mention biblical creationism is to be laughed at and scorned.

I would wager that most Americans know little to nothing about most of these seven men. However, most Americans' worldviews and thought patterns are directly affected by what these men thought and taught. Why is our society like it is? Read these men and you will know.

The only negative about this book is that the author speaks positively about Christian fundamentalism. However, this does not impact his views of what these seven men have written. Therefore, it is not a significant issue.

I highly recommend this book. It is well-written, well-researched, and interesting. Most importantly, it helps us understand the culture in which we live. The title of the book could not be more accurate. These seven men still rule.

The Book Gets the Last Laugh

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The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

This book can best be described in one word: context.

The author, Frank Viola, contends that the ordering of the New Testament books has caused confusion for many people. In particular, since Paul’s epistles are generally ordered by length instead of chronology, numerous Christians do not understand the historical context into which they fit.

Viola sets out to place the epistles into the context described in the book of Acts. The vast majority of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church walks the reader through the book of Acts, explaining when, where, and how each epistle fits in. When that point is reached, Viola encourages the one reading to set down this book and read the corresponding epistle.

Context is absolutely critical for correct biblical interpretation. We’ve all experienced others pulling verses willy-nilly out of context in order to make a point. Let’s admit it: we’ve all done it as well. Viola’s book combats that problem by forcing verses, chapters, and books back into their original contexts. For this we should be grateful.

I found this book to be extremely helpful. Seeing how each epistle fits into the overall Acts narrative gives a much fuller understanding as to why each letter was penned in the first place. I recommend this book to all Christians, especially those who struggle with understanding the NT. It would be a boon for new Christians.

The only negative is that the title is not spot-on. A better title would be “The Story of the New Testament Church in its Historical Context.” Of course, that title is not too exciting and would never make it past a publisher’s desk.

Regardless, this book is worth the read.

Four Books, Four Quick Reviews

Despite my busy work schedule, I've managed to do to little reading over the past few months. I'd like to share some brief thoughts with you about four books:

I love short books. They usually get right to the point, don't add fluff, and remain focused. This is the case with Jon Zens' Christ Minimized? A Response to Rob Bell's LOVE WINS. In only about 60 pages, Zens thoughtfully counters Bell's unbiblical, vague, and illogical arguments. Zens also shows that despite what Bell claims, Bell is in fact a universalist. Additionally, Zens is gracious in his approach; he doesn't bash Bell while rebuffing his ideas. Because Bell is influential in this culture, I recommend this book. As a bonus, it is inexpensive.

I admit to reading this book in part because it has caused some controversy. Tullian Tchividjian's primary thesis in Jesus + Nothing = Everything is that Jesus is everything. We'd all agree with that. The controversy, I think, is that Tchividjian believes that our main duty in the process of sanctification is focusing on what Jesus has done for us. He almost implies that what is required is a thought process (about our justification) as opposed to striving for holiness and obedience. If asked, I doubt the author would state it in quite those terms, but that's the idea that comes through the pages of the book. Despite this, I enjoyed this text because Tchividjian spends a good amount of time discussing Colossians, one of my favorite books of the bible. The author simply glories in the gospel. This book is worth the time.

I normally enjoy Frank Viola's books a great deal. His Pagan Christianity? and Reimagining Church have had a great impact on me. Because of that, I was surprised by Revise Us Again. Frankly, it seemed a little dull. In this book, Viola questions various aspects of living the church life. He challenges the reader to think outside the traditional church box. In that respect, it might be good for someone to read who has always ingested traditional American evangelicalism without question. This book would also benefit new Christians. However, if you have already asked hard questions of yourself and sought biblical answers, then don't bother with Revise Us Again.

Sometimes books are simply disappointments. That's the case with Keith Mathison's The Shape of Sola Scriptura. The main problem with this text is that the author shows little objectivity. He seems to set out from the beginning to show that the Reformed idea of church is the most biblical. The book could more accurately be entitled, "A History of Sola Scriptura from a Reformed Perspective." Mathison criticizes Roman Catholicism for depending too much on tradition, but then criticizes Anabaptists for discarding tradition. The author tries to show that it is Reformed churches that are most in line with the early Christian creeds; he does not make a convincing case. Mathison portrays all Anabaptists as being the same. This is simply not the case. Anabaptists were a diverse group. Finally, the book is too long (over 350 pages). If you are interested in the doctrine of sola scriptura, buy a different book.

Translation Need

Ever since I learned to read, I've enjoyed searching through the pages of the bible. Since English is my first language (and only fluent one, he said sadly), the scriptures have always been easily accessible. We English speakers have an embarrassing abundance of translations to choose from (click here to see an example of this).

What if I or you had been born with no access to the bible in our heart language? What if this was still the case? What a sad situation that would be! I cannot imagine.

Bible translation is a critical aspect of getting the gospel to all the nations. I thank the Lord for organizations like Wycliffe Bible Translators. I encourage you to look at their website. Two interesting pages caught my eyes. The first is entitled The Worldwide Status of Bible Translation (2010). The Second is called The Areas of Greatest Need.

"Cup and Cross"

The more I read about those Reformation-era outcasts called the Anabaptists, the more I like them. They were generally either killed off or exiled because their beliefs did not mesh with the church/state relationships of the day. The reason for this? They wanted to be biblical in all they did.

Cup and Cross tells the story of the Anabaptist movement. The author, Michael Martin, does an excellent job in differentiating between what he calls the faithful Anabaptists and the fringe Anabaptists. While the faithful are the true Anabaptists, the fringe element simply used some Anabaptist principles to advance their bizarre and destructive ends. Sadly, the fanatics have given the term "Anabaptist" a negative connotation.

The faithful in the movement took the Reformers' insistence on scriptural authority to its logical end point. They did not simply apply the bible to salvation but also to all of church life. This got the Anabaptists in hot water with basically everyone in positions of power in that society.

Cup and Cross is divided into two primary sections. First, Martin details Anabaptist history, focusing on the Swiss Brethren, Dutch Anabaptists, and the Hutterites. In part two, the author looks at Anabaptist beliefs. These include sections on scripture, the church, discipleship, and the state.

The only negative to this book is that the author makes some statements that call into question whether or not anyone outside of Anabaptism is actually part of the real church. He doesn't makes these statements about today but rather about the situation in Europe during the 1500s.

The Anabaptists are one of those groups that make us uncomfortable. The reason is that they lived out what they said they believed. Even in the face of immense persecution, they stuck to scripture for salvation, the church, the state, etc. They were not perfect, but they also did not shrink back in the face of great opposition.

This book is worth the read because it challenges us to ask whether or not we are living what we say we believe. If interested, read more about it here.

"God's Gospel of Grace"

While on vacation, I've also been able to finish off God's Gospel of Grace, a compilation of Puritan writings from the Free Grace Broadcaster. I'll be honest. I struggle to read many of the Puritans. Their books intimidate me. I'd like to think it is simply the linguistic differences, but it also probably has to do with the depth of their writings.

The great thing about the above text is that each writing is only 5-10 pages long. That I can handle.

God's Gospel of Grace is broken down into five subsections: the gospel, substitution, justification, imputed righteousness, and repentance. Authors include (in no particular order) Spurgeon, Edwards, Bonar, Ryle, Pink, Owen, Hodge, Calvin, and Gill. You can read what you like and skip the rest; I did.

I've tried to find this text online but have failed in my efforts. However, I know that it comes from the Chapel Library. If you were to request a subscription - which is free if you reside in North America - of the Free Grace Broadcaster, you could probably also ask for a free copy of this book.

Three Books I'm Looking Forward to Reading

Yesterday we visited our favorite store in New York State.  Sauders Store, which is owned and operated by Mennonites, has a wide variety of products. While we like the bulk foods, we love the books. My initial plan was to purchase one text; I ended up with three.

The more I study scripture, the more I find myself coming in line with Mennonite beliefs related to pacifism and involvement with the state. Because of this, the following three texts looked to be worth reading:

One Anothering, written by Simon Schrock, looks particularly interesting to me because I've been thinking about this topic quite a bit. Over and over in scripture we are instructed to encourage one another, exhort one another, teach one another, etc. In particular we are to love one another. How do we go about doing this in a practical manner? What does it look like? This book deals with this issue.

Separation and Nonconformity looks fascinating because this is an issue we all face as Christians. We all struggle with one degree or another with the issue of being in the world but not of it. It is far too easy to go to one of the extremes rather than seek biblical principles. My hope is that this book does this. My guess is that if the text leans too far in one direction it will be toward separation (thus the title). The chapters on church and state, marriage, and social customs ought to be intriguing.

Cup and Cross takes a look at Anabaptist history and beliefs. I'm interested is this text for a few reasons. First, Anabaptist history is controversial in nature because of its different streams of thought and practice. Second, I tend to agree with much about the Anabaptist view of the church. Third, the book is penned by an author who comes from this heritage (as opposed to an outsider). One minor negative is that this book is somewhat difficult to find online.

Now off to read.

Reading Less, Reading Slower, Reading Better

Now that God has graciously granted me a full-time job, I have far less time to read. This is somewhat of a problem because I'm a relatively slow reader anyway. In light of this, I may now end up only reading one book every couple of months.

This forced reading slow down has caused me to think about how I read, what I read, and why I read. My tendency in the past has been to read fairly quickly through numerous books.  I think seminary had something to do with this.  I find myself "finishing" a book after a few days, but at the same time I don't have a deep sense of what the author was trying to communicate. That sort of defeats the purpose.

I'm beginning philosophical change to my reading habits. My goals are to read less, read slower, and read better. The reading less part has already started. Instead of trying to read quickly to catch up to some sort of arbitrary, self-imposed reading schedule, I now plan to read slower than in the past.  I hope that the slow down will cause me to read better.  By this, I mean improved retention and critical thinking.

In addition, I'm going to try to be more selective in what  I read.  I have had a tendency to rush to Amazon.com to order the newest copy of whatever is popular among Reformed evangelicals.  No more of that.  I'm instead going to wait, see what people are saying, and then make a purchase if it seems wise to do so.  On a related note, I'm going to branch out by reading a wider variety of authors (even some Arminians!)

I hope my reading improves.  If you are in a similar boat to me, I encourage you to slow down and read better as well.

Reading is a Means to an End

Reading is quite a gift from God. For one thing, we get to read His word. I can't imagine going through life without a bible close by. We also get to read great works of theology and literature. We are particularly blessed as English speakers since so much has been written in the English language within the past 400 years.

Although reading is a blessing, we can fall into a trap. The trap is the assumption that reading is an end to itself. It should not be. Rather, reading ought to be a means to an end.

Those who spend quite a bit of time in theology texts can fall prey to reading as an end. I really don't care how many times someone has read Augustine's The City of God, Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, or Herman Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics. When people begin to talk repeatedly about which great theologian they are reading, they may be walking down a dangerous pathway toward pride.

Resolved: To Read the Bible More Simply

I have made one resolution for 2011: To read the bible more simply. I'd like to read it like a child.

I still desire to understand the great truths of scripture. My hope is that by the end of 2011 I will also have a better understanding of the depths of the bible.

What I'm referring to in this post is the danger of not reading scripture for what it simply says but rather for what we think might lie behind the words on the page. An example of what I'm talking about can be found in John chapter 13:13-17. After Jesus washes His disciples' feet, He says, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

My tendency in the past has been to read this passage and then try to determine the principle behind it. I've always come to the conclusion that this is an example of servanthood. I'd then think about how I can serve others. What I didn't do was actually do what the passage says - wash others' feet.

My desire this year is to read a passage like the one above and understand it simply. My hope is to come to a conclusion something like this, "Jesus washed feet as an example to us. Therefore, I should also wash feet as an act of service." Of course, it's also appropriate to ask about the broader principle of serving others. I just don't want to miss out on the simple, straightforward meaning.

What I'm not going to do is walk around randomly asking people if they need their feet washed. However, if the opportunity presents itself I'm going to take it. We'll probably do this as a church family sometime.

I have absolutely no desire to engage in the discussion of whether or not foot washing is a third ordinance of the church. I'm tired of arguments that amount to little good. Rather, I simply want to be obedient to the words of our Lord Jesus.

I'm resolved to read differently. My hope and prayer is that this leads to a fuller, more meaningful, more profound, and more accurate understanding of the bible.

May the attempt honor Christ. It will only happen through His grace.

Take Advantage of This

I continue to be amazed by what Chapel Library offers free of charge.

Through this ministry, you can receive writings of great Christians from years gone by. Click here to read about it. Go here for their Title Catalog.

In my opinion, the best part of all this is the quarterly Free Grace Broadcaster.

Something Old, Something New

Don't worry - this post is not about weddings. Rather, it is about reading.

Maybe you don't know what to read. Maybe you have too many books to read. Maybe you are stuck in a reading rut.

C. S. Lewis suggested that we alternate reading old books and new ones. I'd like to tweak that just a bit. My suggestion is that you always be reading a couple of books at a time - one old and one new. I've found that this method keeps me interested and challenged.

Right now the old book that I am reading is The Bruised Reed by Puritan Richard Sibbes. Old books usually take longer to read than new ones because the English language has changed over the years. However, the good old ones are almost always very rich and worth the effort.

As for the new, I just completed John Piper's Jesus: The Only Way to God. I'm now going to start Mere Churchianity. This book was written by the late Michael Spencer (formerly the Internet Monk). I don't know if I will like this one but I know it will force me to ask myself some hard questions. Sounds good.

So read something old and something new. Don't concern yourself with reading anything borrowed or blue.