27 January 2006

Thomas Merton continues to speak about what it is to take part in "Opening the Bible."

In saying that we must expect to be outraged by the Bible, I am not trying to maintain that we must let it insult our intelligence. The Bible may be difficult and confusing, but it is meant to challenge our intelligence, not insult it. It becomes insulting when it is distorted by fanaticism and by foolish religiosity; but we must not blame the Bible for the distortions imposed on it by others.

It is unfortunate that so many voices in the religious circles are so afraid of life and the movement of time and the wonders brought into our lives in a modern world that they can only see the need to become dumb. By dumb I mean that folks turn to a fanaticism that doesn't let the liberating word of the Bible continue to liberate us as the years unfold. Instead, we are to stay in another world. This is not the world of the Reign of God...that is already breaking in and transforming life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather, these voices attempt to say that nothing can exist in a new way that is not see in the Bible through their lens. Therefore, thinking and insight and new expressions of faithfulness that are caught up in the vision of the Reign of God are not accepted because they do not stick to a literalistic interpretation of the world. What is odd is that these voices are willing to see the world as round and not flat (that is they disagree with the Book they idolize) but they are not willing to see how God could act in the unfolding of life through evolution. Sometimes, we lock ourselves into our own limited version of the Biblical stories and then we attempt to put up a defensiveness that calls people to "lock and load" if others do not go along with our way of twisting the Bible into a story that is most comfortable for us.

Connection: Next time you hear someone throw out a comment about the what the Bible says, let yourself be comfortable with saying "it does?" or "that doesn't sound like that to me" or simply feel free to say "baloney." Baloney is only offensive to those who must have their view maintained as the only view. That...is really a good sign of baloney at its best.

When you challenge us through your Word, O God, we often spin around not sure where we will come down. Save us from ourselves whenever we attempt to control where your Word is taking us. Help us to fear not. Amen.