Pastor’s Corner July, 2019
Why is the Bible so hard to understand?
As a pastor, I get lots questions regarding Bible teachings and what do you think sort of questions. Sometimes the questions are deep and valid, sometimes they are ridiculously nonsensical. In either case, I usually enjoy delving into theological/Biblical questions. I have spent many hours reading and studying and I have gained much enjoyment from that effort. It is human nature to enjoy people coming to you as if you are some sort of expert and sharing your work with them. But, is that really helping people?
I have been told I’m a deep thinker. That is a relevant term, as I’m sure there are many more people who are much more educated and deeper in their thinking than I am. There is one thing that I do well (how you define well is important because some would challenge this assessment) and that is I question everything to a ridiculous level. By that I mean, I won’t accept simple answers.
I remember when I was in Seminary, a relatively new professor was lecturing and moving rapidly from point to point and then came to a rather rapid conclusion in his lecture. He may have had two or three points from his beginning assertion to the conclusion. I immediately (and much to his chagrin) rejected his conclusion because I felt he hadn’t given enough evidence to prove his conclusion conclusively. I think I hurt his feelings as I got called into his office later asking me what my problem was. My problem, I stated, was that he didn’t do a complete job in presenting enough connecting links between his assertion and his conclusion and I rejected his conclusion until further evidence was provided.
I share this story to help you understand my thinking and how I view things. I won’t accept the simple explanations (even from so called experts) without a thorough exploration of the data. The big picture is important to me, the steps getting from point A to Z have to make sense in the larger scheme of things. I find that when one takes a story of the Bible and attempts to understand it without fitting it into the grand theme of scripture, they usually come to a stunted and immature picture which can lead to some unusual conclusions.
With all this said, I want to move on to the point of this reflection. Why is there so much confusion and differences in Biblical interpretation? I don’t have all the answers and this list isn’t intended to be inclusive, but I have some speculation on this that I would like to share.
First, people are lazy. That’s not a purgative statement but a statement of fact. Very few people are willing to put in the effort to truly understand Scripture. They want someone else to do it for them and give them the “Bible Theology for Dummies” answer. People the answers to be simple and don’t bore them with the details sort of thinking. This leads to people getting their answers from some “expert” and then instead of verifying the information that is provided by checking Scripture for themselves, they compare all data with what their favorite “expert” says.
Secondly, people tend to think with their emotions rather than their logic. It doesn’t “feel right”, therefore it can’t be right. I can’t tell you how many people have followed their feelings right into a terrible relationship, physical move, job or other decisions that have led to disaster. If feelings are the primary method of determining truth, then we would all be addicts enjoying our preferred drug of choice that makes us feel good.
Third, people are like sheep, they want to be led and not take responsibility. There seems to be a conscientious attempt to defer responsibility to someone or something else. It’s almost like a person wants to point the finger and say “I’m not at fault, he/she told me”. Somehow by deflecting responsibility they think they are in the clear.
I know this sounds harsh but as I observe people’s behaviors I see these traits far too often. If I can observe these things, don’t you think Satan does too and then uses this knowledge to his advantage to deceive people? As we get closer to the end of all things (even secular people are agreeing that the world can’t continue much longer with the trajectory we are on in world population and use of resources) the controversy over truth will increase and so will the confusion of ideas and theories. How will one know the truth? By personal study! I cannot stress this enough. Don’t read what people say about the Bible, READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF!
My prayer for you in this is that you might be filled with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to give you a willingness to study, the ability to study and a clarity of thought. I pray that your life would be changed by this work. And I pray that you would become a light to your community and a blessing to the heart of a yearning God who longs for His children to come home!
Remember, God loves you like crazy,
Pastor Kevin