Connect 4

As I facilitate Connect 4 sessions around the Region, we explore the way we read the Bible and have it speak into our Lutheran School context. Lutherans have a way of approaching scripture that helpfully avoids the poles that are sometimes characterised as literalistic vs liberals. (Even using such labels is fraught and often doesn’t do justice to the nuances and subtleties we are seeking to express).  Let me share some excerpts from Malcolm Bartsch’s excellent resource; ‘A God Who Speaks and Acts’.

Jesus Christ is the centre of God’s revelation
Jesus is the living ‘word of God’ who most clearly reveals God to human beings. Jesus reveals God’s grace and mercy for all people through his life, death and resurrection for them [the ‘gospel’] through which they have forgiveness of sins and are brought back into a right relationship with God [‘justification’].

The Bible is the living ‘word of God’
God’s story with God’s people is recorded through the prophets of the Old Testament and the writers of the New Testament, and particularly through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s clearest revelation of his love and grace. The Bible is a collection of literary documents, poetry, hymns, historical documents, letters, etc, which are the written word of God, written by human beings. However, at the centre of the Bible is Jesus Christ, the living ‘word of God’ [Lutherans read the Bible ‘Christocentrically’].

The Bible is both fully divine and fully human
Christians believe that just as Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine, so the Bible is also both fully human and fully divine. As a human writing, the personality and style of the writer is apparent [for example, the language, literary methods, knowledge of nature, history, science and philosophy, etc]. Christians also believe that the Bible is fully divine as the various writers were ‘inspired’ by the Holy Spirit [2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21]. This is why the Bible is seen as a dynamic, living book, God’s living and creative word through which the Holy Spirit creates faith and helps faith to grow.

The authority of the Bible
Christians accept the authority of the Bible but may understand this in very different ways. Lutherans hold to the view that the authority of the Bible relates to Jesus Christ as the centre of God’s revelation. The Bible, therefore, is God’s word ‘as a whole and in all its parts’ through which God speaks particularly through Jesus Christ. The ultimate authority of the Bible is in its gospel content. Martin Luther continually stressed that if the Bible is not seen in the light of Christ, then the Bible becomes just an ordinary book and its teachings will be misinterpreted.

Interpreting the Bible
The interpretation of the Bible [called ‘hermeneutics’] is the process of trying to determine not only what the text says within its original historical and cultural context, but also what the text means for our current context and situation.  Lutherans believe that in interpreting the Bible nothing should in any way conflict with the central message of the Bible of justification by grace through faith on account of Christ.

I also enjoy the insights from Daniel Erlander on Living Word. You can find a link to this easy-to-read section (with cartoons!) https://padlet.com/davidspike/connect-4-bible-nxtytzhcb3di89xo/wish/R7dXadb2d16yZ6bl

May the Holy Spirit enrich and guide you as you hear God’s precious word to you.