Truth

Aren't there moments where you need someone to spell out what you believe in the simplest of terms? For instance, have you ever struggled with why we read the scriptures. As a chaplain I read the scriptures mostly for those who are dying, as a comfort for families and give permission and hope to the dying. If you have a traditional church upbringing like I do, you have heard everything from "soup to nuts" about why we have the scriptures: map, guidebook, how to book, love letter, etc. And maybe this is nothing new under the sun for you. However, I needed the affirmation; probably because I have been too churched or overchurched or something.

Recently I read an article in Relevant Magazine entitled "The Right View of the Bible," written by Scot McKnight. This article was written as a response to a student's question: "What good is inerrancy, if you don't do what God says? If I do what God says, doesn't that show that my view of the Bible is the right one?" Inerrancy is lack of error; infallibility. All in orthodox, in the evangelical tradition believe that the scriptures are inerrant. This perspective has been argued by orthodox and "liberal" Christians for centuries. Some have believed that you can't be Christian if you don't believe in the inerrancy of scriptures.

McKnight wrote and I love this ... "Deep inside we know that the reason God gave us the Bible was not so we could figure out what the right view of it was. No, God gave us the Bible so that we could love God with reckless abandon and let that love overflow into reckless love for ourselves and for others in this world. There is a big difference between those who have the right view of the Bible and those who live it out." Scriptures are present so God can remind me and lavish me with his love, remind me how I am supposed to respond to that love ... how I need to react to my circumstances, how and why I am to build relationships with others. In other words, McKnight reminds ... reading scripture should lead us to a missional life, loving God and love others. This affirms what I say to clients and staff that religion is more about the relationship between loving God and loving others. This definitely helps with working at hospice.

Mr. McKnight thanks for the affirmation!

James 2:14, according The Message, speaks to this ... "Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?"