Biblical Perspective

In order to truly comprehend how and why the New Testament Course has influenced my perspective on the Bible in relation to that of the majority of modern day Christians, particularly in the Western world, one must understand not only the religious tradition I was raised in, but also, the more recent biblical influences on my life.

Also, one must understand the way in which I view and process information. I have always had a “Read Between the Lines” approach to the way I read, see, and hear. I strongly believe in getting all facts and understanding the context of a report on any given subject, including the Bible. This approach has had a significant impact on my opinions involving the Bible and how it relates to my walk with Jesus Christ.

By grasping the significance of my background, influences, and the way in which I view the world around me, it becomes apparent that this course has confirmed many of my beliefs about scripture and how Christians should approach, and use it. Most important and directly tied to my views, the course has given me the tools, and facts, that allow me to argue my understanding of scripture with other believers who don’t see the world through the same lens as I. From the time I was old enough to understand anything about the Bible this was difficult for me.
I was raised in a Christian home. I attended a small country church from the time I was four years old until I was old enough to make my own decisions. It was within the walls of that small peculiar building that I attained the basic foundation for a strong Protestant knowledge of the Bible.

Because I have always been what my father would refer to as a “Three Dimensional Thinker,” I began to have too many questions about the Bible without enough educated answers. When I sought answers to challenging questions, I would always be treated as though it was heresy to ask the question instead of getting a reasonable answer.

For this reason I chose, for the most part, to reject the Bible. Sadly, this was not because of the Bible, but because of the people who where teaching me about its significance. I began to feel as though Americans were “Westernizing” an Eastern religion all in the name of the “Good Ol’ Red, White and Blue.” This is to say that instead of trying to really live life according to the “ Way” of Jesus, I saw a trend amongst American Christians, by which they would take the Bible out of its true context. They would do this in order to justify material consumption, selfishness, pride, and unjust war. They felt that as Americans, they were part of a Christian nation, and that whatever they desired must have been what God desired. Therefore they “justified” there lives in accordance. Although you couldn’t tell by looking at your average Christian, it was quite clear that Jesus wasn’t a middle class white Republican, and since I couldn’t serve two Masters… I chose to serve none at all.

It wasn’t until about four years ago that I truly developed a relationship with Jesus. Around that time I was introduced to a group, of what could be described as Charismatic Evangelicals, who would change my life forever and lead me into a desire to really study the Bible. Although in the beginning I was completely sold on this version of Christianity, and I’m thankful that through them I found my faith, I have since parted ways. This is because as I grew and learned, I discovered that my theology and understanding of the Bible didn’t line up with their particular doctrine. They took a fundamentalist approach to the Scriptures and because of this, along with their obsession with the “Prosperity Gospel,” I realized that we were such polar opposites that it was not possible to co-exist.

At the same time I was growing apart from the Charismatic church movement, with which I was involved, I began to read and follow the teachings of Rob Bell. He’s the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is on the front lines of the Emerging Church movement. Bell is not only a great teacher, but he is also a biblical scholar. It has been through his messages that I have found a Pastor who understands that in order to truly live a Christian life and to follow the Bible, you must know the original authors, audience, occasion, and purpose. He emphasizes Jewish influence, language, and the context in which the scriptures are written. Bell would argue that any take on scripture is interpretation. To read… is to interpret. This is why the context of scripture is so important. If we hope to have any accuracy in our interpretation the context is pivotal.

This history of my relationship with the Bible has led me to where I am now, close to the end of the semester of the New Testament course. Through Dr. Marc’s class, I am fairly confident that my beliefs about the Bible have been confirmed. This is contrary to the opinion of the majority of Evangelicals that I know. Until now, this has been very frustrating, because I have felt as though I couldn’t talk to many of my brothers and sisters in Christ about my beliefs. The education I have received in this class has helped to develop my communication skills. It has given me the facts that allow me to argue my points without offending my fellow believers, while at the same time opening their eyes to things that they may not have understood, because of their lack of contextual knowledge.

In learning about New Testament history, its authors, Jewish roots, and also its Hellenistic influence, I feel we find the keys to unlocking the Bible’s true relevance in today’s changing world. I find, particularly interesting, three very strong parallels between the New Testament scriptures in the world they were written, and the culture we live in today.

Rome played a vital role in the New Testament scriptures. We find this evident in the two-volume work of Luke and Acts, along with Paul’s letter to the Romans. As Egypt was “Empire” to the Jews, Rome was “Empire” to the early Christians. History has a way of repeating itself and I believe it has. We now have the United States of America. It is the Rome or “Empire” of the modern world. By understanding this, I believe that modern Christians can learn a lot about how we should treat our relationship to government and what that relationship means. First there was Egypt, then Rome, and now America. We, as Christians, must not compromise with the Pharaoh. I believe we are at a turning point in history. It is crucial, in furthering God’s kingdom that we must recognize, metaphorically speaking, the need to come out of “Egypt” in order to reach the Promise Land. All things American, in the name of diplomacy, economics, and democracy are not God’s will. Until we understand this, people from other nations and religions will continue to associate our beliefs with the American flag and “Empire,” as opposed to a just and true God.

Also, there is a clear parallel between Gnostic Christianity and the New Age religions within our own culture. Although most Gnostic ideologies are not correct, it is evident, as we have learned in this course, that several Gnostic principles have actually survived within the Church and even been canonized within Scripture. The Gospel of John is an example. By understanding the few threads of truth within these teachings and how the Church dealt with Gnosticism and mystery religions 2000 years ago, we can better understand how to approach the occult today. This is important because most occult teachings have derived from the Gnostic church that existed around 100 to 200 AD.

Most important of all, I feel is the strong similarity between the Western Church and not only the Pharisees, but also the Judaizers that Paul defends himself against in both Galatians and Romans. For example, we learn in the Gospels, and Paul’s letters that dogmatic adherence to scriptures, which at the time was the Torah, is not how we become justified in the eyes of God. The Gospels, particularly Matthew, clearly state that Jesus came to fulfill the “Law,” but Paul also makes the point in his undisputed works, by using Abrahams covenant with God as an example, that it is faith in Gods promise that justifies us, not the “Law.” I believe the actions of the Western Church parallel those of the Pharisees, and Judaizers that existed during the early Church. This is relevant today. The Bible, like the Torah, and dogmatic adherence to it does not justify or sanctify us in the eyes of God. The Bible is not our ultimate authority, God is! We must not waste time arguing over things in the Bible that are questionable, but use the Bible for what it is. It is scripture inspired by God, but written by men. It is truth, but it is not always 100% accurate. It is our guide in following the ways of God, but it is not God Himself. The Western Church has made the mistake of being like the Pharisees and Judaizers in the sense that sometimes it puts adherence to the Bible above God, when it is below Him.

Another important tool that has evolved for me out of this class is the further development of my critical thinking, my writing skills, and my reading skills. By learning how to correctly approach critical analysis of the Scriptures, along with repeated reading exercises in the class, and writing about what I have learned, I have grown in my understanding of literature and my ability to write outside of this class. For that I am grateful. It has not only allowed me to grow in my understanding of my faith, but it has also helped me to become more well rounded as a student, person, and husband.

In closing, I cannot deny the feeling that the majority of the Western Church has missed the boat in their understanding of how the different languages and cultures 2000 years ago must impact how we view the Word of God today. It is imperative that we understand the Hebrew and Greek translation of words when reading the Bible. It’s crucial that we comprehend Jewish custom in order to understand Jesus and his Church. We must not forget what the Roman Empire was, and how it affected Christianity in comparison to the American culture in relation to the Bible and Christianity. I look forward to taking this knowledge, and the skills that I have learned within the class into the world. I will use these skills, and the approach to the Scriptures that I have learned, to help strengthen my witness, and address social issues from a Biblical perspective, rooted in a real understanding of what the terms “Faith, Justification, and Truth,” really mean.
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