emergents and the bible

In Scripture reading, differing modern and postmodern scriptural interpretations offer a sharp contrast.

I'm thinking, "oh oh, where are the authors of Emerging Churches going with this?"

Under modernity, evangelicals defended the authority of the Bible primarily by arguing for its inner consistency and for the fact that Jesus upheld the inspiration of Hebrew Scriptures. The Bible was considered a book authored by God that gave answers to life's problems. The various books, incidents, and propositional statements provided the pieces of a jigsaw that if fitted together correctly would present a complete picture. The problem was that there seemed to be pieces missing and pieces that did not fit, no matter how hard one tried.

Ok - I'm getting ready to jump on the "Emergents are heretics" bandwagon.

The Bible was a book to be defended against all detractors. The combatants came out of their respective corners for an intellectual boxing match, each opponent seeking to score points against the other. After each round, they returned to the protection of their respective corners for encouragement, advice, and refreshment. Under postmodernity, however, the "ring" became a circle with no secure corners in which to retire.

Argh - at first reading I think they are saying we ought not defend truth. By the fourth reading I am relating to what they are saying. It's not that the Bible isn't true but where do we get off attacking each other as if we hold the market on truth. It's sickening to read some of the stuff out there and then the comments from like minded people patting their hero on the back after delivering what they perceived as a thrashing to the opponent. Sadder yet, the opponent is a fellow believer doing the same. Definitely not the picture Scripture paints of the Church.

Emerging churches became increasingly dissatisfied with using the Bible in a modern way. ... Once enlightened, you can never go back, because certainty is such a warm blanket to wrap yourself.

Oh no ... now I'm nervous again. But then they make a stab at redeeming that.

[Emergents] are looking to the Bible afresh without the presuppositions and restricted vision of modernity. ... The Bible is an invitation to share in the excitement, commitment, and risk of a journey of a lifetime rather than a book providing answers and a safe place.

Yes and no. I like the journey of a lifetime. However, as we penetrate its richness, we find answers. And in those answers, ultimately a safe place - certainly a place of comfort and rest in the journey. So if we handle it as revealed truth for our journey, I disagree with the Emergent position. If the authors are simply attempting to counter the use of Scripture as a weapon to beat up fellow sojourners, than I accept their point.

[The Bible] is not a jigsaw but a painting that has exquisite detail and rich colors in some areas yet is sketchy in others. It is a finished product in the sense that we are not going to get any more, and we have to live with what we've got. But it will be complete in our eyes only when we are in the presence of the Lord at the fulfillment of human history. We are not at liberty to treat it as a paint-by-numbers canvas or to paint over what has been given either because we do not like it or because we insist on details being included out of our own imaginings or under the claim of new revelations.

Ok - I'm back with them now. I don't see the heresy here. It seems Biblical and edifying "to those with ears".

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