Hermeneutics and, umm, hermeneutics

Posted by Paul | Filed under uncategorised

There are currently a number of controversies bubbling around evangelicalism (e.g. atonement theories, ‘what is justification?’, etc.) At some level or another these are interwoven with issues of hermeneutics. Given the discussion in my last post, I wonder if we can ask ourselves the following question: Leaving aside the precise content, do the discussions themselves act as a good hermeneutic of the text? Does our performance/acting correctly interpret the Bible? The astute reader will, perhaps, guess from the fact that I ask the question that I wonder if we really handle disagreements well — especially now that the web allow us to wind one another up swiftly and with ease.

Given that we live with a text that includes the following…

Phil. 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

Eph. 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

1 Pet. 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

…what do we think a good lived-hermeneutic is in the face of disagreement?

Or, on the other side, perhaps when we act we should ask ourselves which text our actions are interpreting?

Coincidentally, I’ve just started reading The Mission of God by Chris Wright — which also considers hermeneutics (for some reason, I’m suddenly surrounded by it!). He starts by considering the diversity of interpretation coming from the movement of the Christain centre away from the West. This emphasises our need to learn how to deal with differences between us. If we can’t do it well amongst western Christians, what are we going to do when we realise that 75% of Christians live outside the west — and not all see things the same way as us?

Wright:

The plurality of interpretive stances requires that we speak and listen to one another with respect and love, affirming our common humanity and out common commitment to the same biblical texts.

Not that we are saying anything goes. We need to find the appropriate centre. Wright also quotes James Brownson:

Once we have affirmed plurality, however, we need also to grapple with how the Bible may provide a centre, an orienting point in the midst of such diversity. What does it mean to speak the truth in love?

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Permalink | May 7th, 2007

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