Good, Trouble.
Often Jesus answers his opponents by quoting a scripture that, to my sense, seems to miss the point. And of course that just proves that my sense is unreliable, and that I haven't been understanding the real point. And I think, "Good, trouble with my system. I'm ready to learn something."
For example, in John 10, the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for blasphemy because he makes himself equal to God, and Jesus answers them by quoting "I said, ye are gods" from Psalm 82. So I look up Psalm 82 and I'm left wondering, "how does *that* establish Jesus' claim to be the Son of God?" I mean, if I wanted to establish the divinity of the incarnate Word, I wouldn't pick Psalm 82 -- I'd go someplace like Isaiah 9. What's the matter with Jesus: couldn't he think of a better prooftext?
But no surprise, I've missed the point of the discussion in John 10, which turns out to have multiple connections with Psalm 82. (No space to list them here -- you'll have to come to Zion on Sunday for my sermon. And remember to set your clocks ahead Saturday night.)
Anyway, in Jesus' citation of Psalm 82, there is the familiar theme of rebuke, which usually sounds something like, "Have you not read..." or "Do you not believe what God said in the Scripture ..." These guys, experts in the Law, by the way -- they'd trounce everybody I know on any Bible content exam -- these guys were reading wrong. And the fact that we're no less likely to be confused than they were shouldn't be of special comfort to us, either.
So it's not like this doesn't remain as one of the stealthliest deceivers in the church. Every man tends to read the Bible in a way that will not disturb what's truly important to him. So whatever his idol, he will be blind to the scriptures that condemn it. I have heard Christians, in all sincerity and with all conviction, make the silliest arguments for and against this thing and that. And I think, how can they honestly be convinced of *that*? But now I get it: I'm dealing with a guy who is reading the Bible in a way that will not disturb what's really important to him.
And I pray, dear God, let me hear your word without regard for the trouble it gives me.
For example, in John 10, the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for blasphemy because he makes himself equal to God, and Jesus answers them by quoting "I said, ye are gods" from Psalm 82. So I look up Psalm 82 and I'm left wondering, "how does *that* establish Jesus' claim to be the Son of God?" I mean, if I wanted to establish the divinity of the incarnate Word, I wouldn't pick Psalm 82 -- I'd go someplace like Isaiah 9. What's the matter with Jesus: couldn't he think of a better prooftext?
But no surprise, I've missed the point of the discussion in John 10, which turns out to have multiple connections with Psalm 82. (No space to list them here -- you'll have to come to Zion on Sunday for my sermon. And remember to set your clocks ahead Saturday night.)
Anyway, in Jesus' citation of Psalm 82, there is the familiar theme of rebuke, which usually sounds something like, "Have you not read..." or "Do you not believe what God said in the Scripture ..." These guys, experts in the Law, by the way -- they'd trounce everybody I know on any Bible content exam -- these guys were reading wrong. And the fact that we're no less likely to be confused than they were shouldn't be of special comfort to us, either.
So it's not like this doesn't remain as one of the stealthliest deceivers in the church. Every man tends to read the Bible in a way that will not disturb what's truly important to him. So whatever his idol, he will be blind to the scriptures that condemn it. I have heard Christians, in all sincerity and with all conviction, make the silliest arguments for and against this thing and that. And I think, how can they honestly be convinced of *that*? But now I get it: I'm dealing with a guy who is reading the Bible in a way that will not disturb what's really important to him.
And I pray, dear God, let me hear your word without regard for the trouble it gives me.
Labels: Bible
posted by The Presbyteer | Wednesday, March 07, 2007
1 Comments:
Every man tends to read the Bible in a way that will not disturb what's truly important to him.
Y'know, I feel sorry for people like that. ;-)
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