[Jesus said,] “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.”
John 5:39-40
With the invention of the Gutenberg press and the printing revolution of the 1400-1500’s, a major shift began in how we read scripture. There was a movement from “hearing” God’s Word to “studying” it. At the time, very few had a written copy of Scripture. They relied on others to orally pass it down. There was a sense of community and interdependence. No one studied the Bible privately; each person participated in the hearing of God’s Word. Listening was assumed and participation was necessary.
Then came the printed word. The Bible became available in book form and continues to be translated into more languages to this day. What a gift that we have become accustomed to: to be able to study the Bible and develop a personal walk with God. But some things have been lost.
While studying the Bible is incredibly personal, it was never meant to be private.
In my garage is a collection of tools. Over the years, I have compiled an assortment of gadgets to meet the need of most “fix-it” situations. If I need to hang a picture, I have a measuring tape, level, hammer, and nails. If I need to put together a new toy for the kids, I have screwdrivers...flathead and Phillips. If the showerhead is getting a little loose, I just pull out the faithful pliers. Got a problem? I can find a solution somewhere in my garage. Tools are great for fixing problems and keeping the house in order.
Sadly, we have traded participating in the larger story of God’s Word for a toolbox of helps and techniques. Grab a few verses, apply it to the problem, and a solution is provided. Or we delve into chapters and verses like we would a garage full of new tools. Hours are spent in studying, dissecting, handling, and checking off our tool, “to-do” list. All the while, something great is being lost. We have exchanged the beauty of story and walking with God through His Word for a system of Bible study. A relationship has been traded for a toolbox.
Listen to the words of a present-day sage who has spent many hours living in the Word…
“Another way believers can develop listening ears is by noticing that the Bible comes to us as a story. It does not come to us systematized into doctrine, or arranged as moral instruction. It is a story; and the story form is as important as the truth the story tells. This narrative style is intended to shape the way we read, for our spiritual life will not prosper if we are not drawn into the action of God through history, a story that has a beginning, an end, and a plot. Listening to Scripture in the form of story we learn that we are also in the story, traveling toward God, being drawn toward him. We develop a sense of journeying and discipleship. If we fail to develop this “story sense” we inevitably start “applying” the Bible — taking charge of a verse or doctrine or moral with which we intend to fix some fragment of ourselves. This is an excellent recipe for creating good Pharisees (who were great readers of Scripture, but notoriously poor listeners to God).” — Eugene Peterson
Read back through that again...a little slower this time. It is so vital that we recover the beauty and greatness of Holy Scripture. Instead of reducing it down, it is time to be caught up in it.
So, I offer a challenge and guide this month to help us recover “participation” in scripture. This suggestion is merely a way to help unclog our ears and our ability to listen. It is a path to receive the Word as it was originally intended to be heard.
First, go to www.biblegateway.com and print out Ephesians from the Message Translation.
Let’s call this the E3 Challenge…
E1...Read and receive this as a letter. If you got a letter in the mail from a good friend, would you dissect each word and read it in fragments? Of course not. You would sit down and read the letter as a whole. You would want to hear the person’s heart through the pages of the letter. So, the first part of the challenge is to do just that. Take 30 minutes or so and read this letter from Paul. (If you really want to get the feel for how early believers received this letter, have someone read it aloud. Try listening to Ephesians versus reading it.)
E2...Move from dissecting to story. Instead of dissecting parts, hear the overall flow of the letter. What is Paul speaking to? What is the overarching story being told? There is certainly nothing wrong with digging into the details of the story. We are merely trying to steer clear of dissecting and getting bogged down while missing the point of the letter.
E3...Move from toolbox to relationship. Make it personal. Now comes the art of listening to God. What is God speaking to in a present-tense way? If this is a conversation, what are you hearing from God as you read and listen? This may be a good place to journal your thoughts and the things God is bringing to the surface.
This is the E3 challenge for this month. Are you up for it? We would love to hear how things go. Enjoy walking with God, listening to His voice, and soaking up His Word. May your heart be encouraged this month.
Caught up in the story…
Randy Hemphill
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