Scripture as Narrative

Two snippets from two different "Statements of Faith". The first is from an unnamed Bible Church that has a website. You can find this kind of wording everywhere:

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES -- We believe the Holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:20,21; Matt 5:18; John 16:12,13).

This is the common teaching in many, many churches and institutions today. "Obedience" is the ONLY WAY to relate to a book like that, and the organized church has been using this approach for years.

Here's a snippet from the statement of faith of Mars Hill Bible Church:

Mars Hill is devoted to joining the God of the oppressed in the restoration of all creation.

We believe the Bible to be the voices of many who have come before us, inspired by God to continue to speak to us today. God calls us to immerse ourselves in this authoritative narrative and to continue to faithfully live out that story today as we are led by the Spirit.

The difference between the two is subtle but incredible. In the second, you read the stories, let the light of them shine into your heart, and seek the voice of the Father for clarity to walk through today.

And you wonder, "Where is it all going?"

There was an age when He simply allowed the written Law to dictate what to do when people fail one another and sin. That era is over. Those who subscribe to the first statement above would have us believe that it still works that way, that "God has spoken" and now we simply abide by it or pay the consequences.

Well, He doesn't work that way anymore. This is the New Covenant, my friends. He spoke a new Word, and that Word is alive, He shows up in our lives in a thousand different ways a day, and He guides us through crap.

The specific action (murder, divorce, adultery, hatred, etc.) isn't the issue any more.

What happens in the space between us IS the issue.

Is God happy with the breaking up of a marriage? No. Does He condemn the divorced ones simply for divorcing? No. He cares deeply about the restoration of their hearts and souls with Himself. I believe God frequently thwarts or kills that which we believe makes us feel righteous, things like having a happy family, no debt, perfect church attendance, never having committed adultery, never having had a homosexual thought, never having divorced.

Let the story of your life play out, including your failures. Confess, then let God intervene as He wishes. It's not up to you to maintain your purity. It's up to you to walk with God.

In a narrative view of life and the scriptures, you wonder what will happen next, and always join God in desperately seeking restoration and restored communion with God and fellowship with each other.