Conversations from Campus: Ruth in 9a, part 1

Delta Airlines, seat 9c, Ruth was in 9a.   

9b -- between us -- was empty.

I asked if she lives in St. Louis.

"I go to school there."

"Wash U?"

"Yeah, pre-med."

"Wow, I could never do that. Must be hard."

"It's a challenge but I love it. And you?"

"College campus ministry. Headed to our national staff conference in St. Louis. Ever heard of InterVarsity? There's a chapter at your school."

"Yeah, one of my friends goes to InterVarsity. What do you do there?"

Only 60 seconds gone and I was fully engaged. She was sharp, conversational, mature.

"We study the Bible and try to apply it to our lives. You ever read the Bible?"

"I'm Jewish, Reformed. Not really practicing Judaism. So, no."

"How do you define what it means to be Jewish? I'm told by my rabbi friend that it's an on-going discussion in the Jewish community."

"True. Not everyone agrees on a definition. My parents are both Jewish, so I was born into it."

We talked a bit more about Jewish identity -- Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, secular. Something along those lines. Then she asked about my Christianity.

"I'm an evangelical Christian."

"What does evangelical really mean?"

"Evangelicals believe in the authority of the Bible and all that it teaches about Christ and salvation."

"So you take the Bible literally?"

This question comes up frequently in my travels. I was ready for her.

"Just the literal parts," I responded.

She smiled. 

After a moment's pause she looked me dead in the eye and said abruptly, "Am I going to hell? Please tell me. I want to know what you think. I won't be offended by what you say."

Next week: the middle of our conversation.

graphic credit: http://www.blisstree.com/2009/08/16/sex-relationships/new-airplane-seat-cover-by-sure-fit/

See you next week!

Conversations from Campus: Bible Interpretation 4: The Impasse (part 2)

Last week we saw that college students Bob and Alison disagree on the meaning of a Bible passage:

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well (3 John 2).

Alison thinks the text was written as a general well-wishing in the Lord, as if to say, "Be blessed in all things."

Bob thinks the passage refers to financial blessings. He's been in economic hardship all school year and believes the Holy Spirit gave him the text in a time of intense prayer as a promise of financial prosperity.

Two thoughts:

1. In their excellent book, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Fee and Stuart insist that "a text cannot mean what it never meant."*

So if the author of 3 John, under the inspiration of the Spirit, never intended to promise financial blessing per se, then we are not free to read it that way. We cannot override the author.

2. Bob seems to be spiritualizing things, making his interpretation unquestionable. Who can question anyone who says, "God said this to me."

I'm not saying God cannot speak directly to his people. He certainly can and does. 

But I do think we need to receive such direct words from God with a sense of humility, aware of our own fallibilities. Best to turn to trusted advisors and ask, "What do you think? I seem to be getting this message from the Lord. Does it sound right? Does it line up with Scripture?"

So: Both Alison and Bob cannot be correct here, in my view. I'm siding with Alison. What do you think?

* Introduction

Conversations from Campus: Bible Interpretation 3: The Impasse

Alison and Bob, two sincere, God-honoring, Bible-believing college students disagree on the meaning of a biblical text.

So who's right?

The choices are:

1. Alison is right, Bob is wrong. Or:

2. Bob is right, Alison is wrong. Or:

3. They're both wrong.

That all seems plain enough.

Question: Can they both be right?

Well, not in the same respect. To my thinking the Scripture cannot ultimately contradict itself. Thus opposing interpretations cannot both be correct.

At this point Bob, who's actually a sophomore at Big U, offers a way around his impasse with Alison. He insists the text "means" whatever it "means to me." That is, the Holy Spirit has led him to interpret the text a certain way for a specific situation in his life. Surely no one can forbid such reliance on the Spirit.

How would you respond to Bob? 

(I'll offer a suggestion next week.)