The Beginning of BS

Scripture should create questions in us. Not questions of doubt, although those will come too. But I'm talking about deeper questions like "if this passage says this, what implications does it have for then and for now?" I know that's pretty vague, but the point is to allow the questions to begin to flow in us, to seek more from the scriptures than mere words on a page. It's the difference between simply taking in information from the scriptures to allowing the scriptures to transform us.

In today's Bible readings (get yours here), there are several questions that have come to my mind... (and I want to encourage you to let them come. Invite them. Learn from them.)

1. Genesis 22:15-ff (and following) Abraham is taking Isaac up to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him as a burnt offering according to the word of the Lord. As he makes the preparations, he is stopped from the sacrifice and told, "Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son..." 

But wait a minute, Isaac isn't Abraham's only son. Ishmael was born to Abraham and Hagar almost 14 years earlier. Curious. But maybe what God meant is that Isaac is the only promised son, the only son of the covenant. That makes more sense.

It is clear, especially as the New Testament writers wrote, that Abraham's life is a foreshadowing of what God will do with Jesus when he allows the sacrifice of his only Son, Jesus Christ. But then is Jesus the only son of God, because are not all of us called sons and daughters? Jesus was called the only begotten Son; the only Messiah (anointed One), so the parallel still works, but on a different level. 

2. In Matthew 7 Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with some great challenges and says, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew7:13-14, NRSV)

A straight forward lesson from Jesus, or is it? 

I've always wondered what exactly Jesus was talking about. What does it mean to find and take the narrow road? Is it the road to perfection that I mentioned the other day? Or are there other requirements?

While the perfection comment comes in a previous chapter, it's still in the same sermon. So what is he talking about exactly? 

• Matt. 6:33, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This was about worry and trusting in God daily, that like Abraham, God's righteousness will be given to us, not earned as we grow in faith.
• Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (see previous post) This is about living up to a new standard, even taking the 10 commandments to a new level. It's beginning to see through the specifics of the law and see the reasons for the law and begin to keep the spirit of the law as true faithfulness. (Because it's well documented that we cannot live up to the perfection that seems to be required. Since we all fail miserably, what's the point of continuing? It's about the journey toward perfection (a key Wesleyan concept).
• "Do not judge." (or be hypocritical!) "Do not give what is holy to dogs." Or rather, don't make the holy common, or take what is holy for granted. The Golden Rule (do to others as you would have them do to you).

These are what immediately precedes the "narrow gate" comment. Now while I believe that Jesus was beginning to close this sermon and so is referencing all that went before it, we cannot forget these final and key ideas about the narrow gate. In fact, is it not because of their placement, that they should be given greater attention? I believe that the narrow gate Jesus describes is a life free from judgment of others, a healthy fear (awe, respect) of God's holiness (including laws, scripture, tradition) and a life that is defined by humility, love and grace toward others. This is what it means to really live that abnormal life, along a narrow road.

I know that there is more than one post here, and while there are several points to this, the one I really wanted to stress today is the questioning that lead to the discovery. 

Yes, all of this is BS...but the right kind of BS...Bible Study. And it happens only when we allow ourselves time in them and their work in and on us.

Keep at it!

Peace ><>

pc