Herman - who?

One more post on hermeneutics and I'll let it go...for awhile, anyway.

During the Civil War, Christians on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line quoted Scripture in defense of their position on slavery. Southern Christians noted Paul's frequent references to slaves and masters without every explicitly condemning slavery as an institution (Philemon was a southern favorite). Simultaneously in the North, Christians quoted various passages to support their position that slavery was the antithesis of everything Jesus Christ represents.

Today, John Hagee of Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, TX, will explain how current events in the Middle East are not only the fulfillment of biblical prophecies, but signal the impending consummation of the physical nation of Israel.

The explanation of why Christians can sincerely draw totally opposite conclusions from the same texts is found in an appreciation of the differing hermeneutical presuppostions each side bring to the text. Why to people flock to hear John Hagee preach things that sound ridiculous to you and me? Again, an understanding of the hermeneutical underpinnings of Hagee's reading of Scripture will explain. I did not say hermeneutics justifies different readings of Scripture--I am simply stating that it explains.

My dad used to joke with me while I was studying therapy. He would say something to the effect--however much your client is different from me, that is the indicator of how normal or abnormal they are. Dad was joking, but we all feel this way to some extent. We naturally assume they we are normal and those that differ from us are abnormal.

I study Stone-Campbell history to understand what are my hermeneutical assumptions. I recognize that long before I ever read the first word of Scripture, much of the framework for how I would interpret Scripture was already in place. Simply put, I want to understand myself.

The fact is--no one is normal. The CofC is not the essence of all God has been doing since before the foundation of the earth. We, as individuals and as a brotherhood, are a combination of strengths and weaknesses. Others, also, are a combination of strengths and weaknesses.

God's Word is the one true guide and standard for living. An appeal for a greater appreciation of biblical interpretation is not a diversion from the Bible. It is quite the opposite. It is a call to see Scripture on its own terms, factoring out as much of our own noise as is possible.