Monday
Aug232010
White Horse Inn Producer, Shane Rosenthal, on "Issues, Etc."
Monday, August 23, 2010 at 03:05PM 
Our producer and good buddy Shane Rosenthal was on "Issues, Etc." earlier today talking about "Me-Centered" Bible interpretation. Good stuff.
Here's the link: Me-Centered Bible Interpretation
Reader Comments (7)
But if the book of Corinthians was written to the Corinthians, an ancient group in Greece, does that mean the book of Corinthians is a dead book, dead to us, since the original Corinthians are dead now, too? No.
"The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, KJV). And let's always remember what's that each individual Christian is a member of the Priesthood of All Believers, and therefore each individual one of us DOES have, by God's Holy Spirit, the ability to correctly interpret Scripture.
I Peter 2:5
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
This priesthood of all believers was uncovered by Martin Luther and the other Reformers, to free people from the Catholic priests who lorded it over the people with their authority, refusing them their right to any interpretation not sanctioned by the Pope.
Jenny's reference to Hebrews 4:12 rips us from that sort of narcissism by revealing how unworthy we really are before a Holy God. A Christ-centered focus takes us away from our personal notions of fulfillment and the "higher life" thinking and translates us to the reality of God's story. Throughout Scripture we read how God will visit this world in fiery judgment and will set up His eternal kingdom. It is a kingdom that is breaking into this present evil age every time Christ is preached and made manifest through baptism and the supper.
A Christ-centered focus will kill us before it makes us alive. If left to ourselves, we have nothing to look forward to except an eternity in hell because we have all violated God's law. But in Christ we are made new creatures who live in this world but who are not of this world. We may endure severe trouble now, but Christ has made us joint heirs with Him in the heavenly places and will one day come back to this world to take us to be with Him. As Christians, we are destined to reign with our Savior forever in His kingdom. On that day, all individual kingdoms, crowns, and purposes will lie in a heap as Christ is made all in all as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the wondrous privilege that we share as believers.
By God's incomprehensible love toward us, He makes us a part of this blessed inheritance. This is what it means to be part of Christ's story. The reward our Savior has earned is eternal life for His people in His kingdom. This beats anything that our post modern, narcissistic culture, and all its enticements of self fulfillment, has to offer.
Michael Horton said quite accurately that if you want to be a better you, then listen to the plethora of self help gurus like Osteen, Oprah, and Dr. Phil. But, if you want to be part of the new creation where sin, death, and hell are forever vanquished, then throw yourself aside and trust in Christ. "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3)"
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours . . . " (I Corinthians 1:2)
The Bible is not just about God. It's also about God's people in the past presented for our example (I Cor. 10:6), AND it IS also about God's will for me and my life and my soul. 2 Peter 1:2-4 teaches that "through the knowledge of Jod, and of Jesus our Lord," he has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him . . . " I certainly am glad that this is the case otherwise I'd just look at the Bible as a dead history book. Then I'd be a powerless Christian. Of course, the creeds and catechisms, while not given by inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17), are very useful in correct interpretation.
This interview prompts a question in me: If the Bible isn't "about me," it's "about God," then how come the Belgic Confession says, in
Article 7: The Sufficiency of Scripture
* We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it. For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no one-- even an apostle or an angel from heaven, as Paul says--^2 ought to teach other than what the Holy Scriptures have already taught us. For since it is forbidden to add to or subtract from the Word of God,^3 this plainly demonstrates that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects.
Therefore we must not consider human writings-- no matter how holy their authors may have been-- equal to the divine writings; nor may we put custom, nor the majority, nor age, nor the passage of time or persons, nor councils, decrees, or official decisions above the truth of God, for truth is above everything else.
For all human beings are liars by nature and more vain than vanity itself.
Therefore we reject with all our hearts everything that does not agree with this infallible rule, as we are taught to do by the apostles when they say, "Test the spirits to see if they are of God,"^4 and also, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house."^5 ^2 Gal. 1:8 ^3 Deut. 12:32; Rev. 22:18-19 ^4 1 John 4:1 ^5 2 John 10
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"through the knowledge of Jod, and of Jesus our Lord,"
Sorry, folks, I didn't mean to write "Jod," I meant to write "God." Would be nice if there was an "Edit" feature for comments.
Never worry . . .our great and powerful Jod, knows your heart! (Scary, huh?)
Isn't it neat He even forgives us for silly things like typos? lol
:)
Robin
"I want God to fix my problems because I deserve it. I'm so wonderful and God would be unjust if He doesn't help me. This is the type of catechesis we are getting on a daily basis from the the culture, and sadly, most churches.
Jenny's reference to Hebrews 4:12 rips us from that sort of narcissism by revealing how unworthy we really are before a Holy God."
I'm not sure I understand that. Hebrews 4:12 says nothing along the lines of narcissism for wanting God to fix our problems, or our unworthiness. Perhaps you need to re-read the verse.
And I don't think it's at all narcissistic for us to want God to solve our problems.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He sshall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth." Psalm 57:1-3
Also, Ben H. said:
"As Christians, we are destined to reign with our Savior forever in His kingdom. On that day, all individual kingdoms, crowns, and purposes will lie in a heap as Christ is made all in all as King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
Just a friendly correction here: we ALREADY reign with our Savior in His kingdom, which has ALREADY been made manifest, and NOT just during the administrations of word and sacrament. The kingdom of God is none other than God's people, gathered in from amongst all people in the world.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:" Matthew 13:47
We have ALREADY been brought into God's kingdom.
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" Colossians 1:12-13.
Westminster Confession of Faith, XXV: II also points out that the universal Church under the gospel is the kingdom of God.