. . . we all need to do this, come clean that is. What am I talking about, you ask. I am talking about the idea that any of us read Scripture without “presuppositions;” this is just straight rubbish and pure slop, as far as thinking Christianly. And yet, it seems to me that most Christians, if they think about this kind of stuff at all, approach Scripture in this very way (that they are reading Scripture in a vacuum). How long must this nonsense go on? This reality holds true for all Protestant Christians — whether Confessional or Evangelical — we all do it! So what’s the remedy? It is to become aware of our presuppositions, and then once we take this step we need to ask if we have healthy presuppositions or unhealthy. The way we know this is by checking our presuppositions by the text of Scripture (of course this is a spiraling/dialectical process — a shaping and reshaping process). I don’t think anything irks me more — seriously — than the attendant naivete and arrogance of most Christians; when they assert and practice the notion that they approach Scripture without any presuppositions. This is a disease of epidemic proportions within Protestantism; and it needs to be dealt with . . . pronto!!!
Athanasian Reformed
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Yikes!
And I was just asking my readers what attitude they tend to have when reading scripture…
I didn’t think any of the answers sounded naive or arrogant, though.
Hey Heather,
I wasn’t really thinking of your post, at all; instead, my point is more general, and really comes out of a frustration I have with “Bible Teachers/Pastors” who don’t teach their people orthodox or right teaching on this reality. It peeves me . . . I’ll have to come and read the responses you got on your post.
But, yes, I am passionately frustrated about this; there’s really nothing I can do about this, that’s why I put this post in a new category “rant” π .
LOL! I didn’t think you were referring to my post. Just thought it was an interesting coincidence.
But you’re right. I think we all have preconceived ideas that color the way we view scripture.
As a matter of fact, Bobby (and Heather) I have a long history of 2nd guessing myself and back-checking, which is why the GES gospel hangs me out to dry on the stipulation of “nothing doubting”.
The truth is, I am too well aware that I come from a particular evangelical school of thought – free grace. It was the 1st one that I comprehended, and it resonated with me. I believed it, and essentially, still do. But what if I’m wrong? What if my reading of scripture just slides nicely into my learned mold like jello, but is not THE TRUTH?
I think I could make scripture fit a lordship salvation mold pretty easily, but that would leave me as lost as a kitten. That would drive me bat crap crazy.
That is the source of my doubt; I believe my doubt is wrong – rather mistaken, not morally wrong. But it does keep me somewhat honest, because I have to always back check my system, and if someone like Bobby or Ron comes along to challenge the jello, I am able to test what they have to offer. : O)
Many people who have no doubt, are totally sold on their faith or philosophical system. I think that is a different personallity type than I have. For GES types I call it the “gift” of total assurance. I might say now that I am 99.99% confident that I am secure in the Gospel I received, or more accurately secure in Jesus Christ.
I find that it is easier to reject something I had if I instead embrace something new. In the case of presuppositions, I suppose I do still have some, but in the last 5 years many have emploded under their own weight in the light of scripture.
The solution? In my humble opinion, I must approach scripture with the desire to know Him, His power, fellowship in His suffering, being like Him in His death, so that I can attain His resurrection. Not that I have already attained it, I press on to grasp that for which I have been grasped.
Then I have to ask some specific questions as I read. What does it say? No, really what does it say? How does that differ from what I’ve always thought it said?
I agree, we must come clean, and we must do so daily as we read His word. I don’t want to be putting words in God’s mouth. I prefer that His Word be on my lips.
Craig
Perhaps to be a bit more clear:
I used to “have it all figured out” Or pretty close to. Much of my study was to shore up the defenses. (this is what I have rejected)
Now I don’t care about “having it figured out”
I want to know Him. (This is what I have embraced instead) I want to make Him known. He is the point, and I grow in the knowledge of Him daily. I seek to provoke others to the personal knowledge of our Savior as well. He is not a specimen in a bottle to be coldly examined. He is the King of Heaven, and He loves us. I want more of that!
Now in this new pursuit, there are things I get figured out, don’t get me wrong there. And I do think it is a good idea to “figure things out” But it isn’t the goal, and He has the liberty to knock my house of cards down any time. π
Craig
Hey, it might not be as bad as you make it sound. I think a lot of people get it. And that’s probably worse! They realize they have presups, and they think their presups are golden!
Incidentally, I’d like you to come by and respond, if you want, to my last post. Given your recent battle with cancer, your thoughts on the subject, I think, would be priceless.
This is why I wish that literary criticism would be taught as an entire class beginning in junior high and continuing throughout the rest of our education. If you consider the different schools of literary criticism when approaching a text, you can’t help but realize the vast amount of presupposition that surrounds it. It teaches you to consider your own mindset in approaching a text, the mindset of the author, the mindset of the audience (both present and historical), and the mindset of the characters in the text itself. Pure objectivity is an illusion…even devices (computers and phones) are programmed by humans who bring their presuppositions to the work. This is why they program devices with the ability to store words unique to the user in a dictionary file. The decision to leave certain things out of the machine comes from someone’s presupposed projection onto the user.
It’s not possible to separate ourselves from this, but we can minimize it’s impact by being aware of what is guiding our thought process when we study scripture, embracing the healthy presupposition and discarding the unhelpful. (Which is almost exactly what you said.)
Conversing with Scott Clark again I see, huh? π
Thanks all, great points!
I think literary criticism is an important exercise in distanctiating ourselves into a situation where we can approach the text more “critically” — great point, Mike!
I think you’re attitude is exactly what I’m calling for, Duane . . . thank you, brother!
Craig, exactly; we need to read the text “relationally,” realizing of course that this entails understanding the “points” or boundaries of the relationship (or doctrine π ).
Chris, point well taken. Although many I’ve come across don’t admit they have presuppositions (they just “read” the Bible); but you’re right, there is a continuum here. I’ll be over to your blog, soon . . .
Brian, funny π . . . yeah, of course the Pyros are right around the corner (a good illustration for what I’m getting at).
Heather, it is an interesting coincidence!